Harper was running late. She quickly did her hair and makeup, then slipped into her green dress\u2014the perfect choice for her friend Emily\u2019s birthday party. On her wrist was her mother\u2019s silver watch, a delicate piece she had always considered her lucky charm. She grabbed her purse, put on her shoes, and ordered an Uber.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The driver\u2019s name was Ethan, and he would arrive in five minutes. Harper rushed out of her apartment, her heart racing as she hurried down the stairs. Outside, a sleek black car waited. Ethan rolled down the window and asked, \u201cAre you Harper?\u201d
\u201cYes, that\u2019s me,\u201d she replied, breathless.
\u201cHop in,\u201d he said with a friendly smile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As they drove through the city, Ethan made small talk, his calm demeanor putting Harper at ease. By the time they reached Emily\u2019s street, Harper was beginning to relax\u2014until Ethan glanced at her wrist. His expression suddenly shifted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh gosh,\u201d he murmured, almost trembling. \u201cIs your mom\u2019s name Janet Wilkerson?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Harper froze. \u201cYes\u2026 how do you know her?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat watch,\u201d Ethan said, pointing at it. \u201cI gave it to Janet when we were in college. We dated for a while, but the truth is\u2026 she stole it from me the day we met.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shocked, Harper listened as Ethan explained how her mother used to steal to survive. Despite that, he had fallen for her. But one day, Janet took all his money and ran away\u2014with Harper\u2019s father.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShe wasn\u2019t perfect,\u201d Ethan said softly. \u201cBut she must have loved you very much to give you that watch.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Harper stumbled out of the car, shaken. She couldn\u2019t face the party now. Instead, she went home and called her mother.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHi, sweetheart! How\u2019s the party?\u201d her mom answered cheerfully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMom,\u201d Harper said, her voice trembling, \u201cwe need to talk. I met someone tonight\u2014Ethan Ross. He told me you dated in college\u2026 and that you stole from him. That you ran away with Dad after taking his money. Is it true?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There was a long silence before her mother sighed. \u201cHarper\u2026 I never wanted you to know. I was young and desperate back then. I made mistakes\u2014things I\u2019m not proud of. I\u2019ve spent my whole life trying to leave that past behind.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tears stung Harper\u2019s eyes. \u201cWhy didn\u2019t you ever tell me?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI wanted to protect you,\u201d her mother whispered. \u201cI didn\u2019t want you to see that side of me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But Harper couldn\u2019t shake the betrayal. She removed the watch from her wrist and set it on the table. \u201cI need time to process this,\u201d she said firmly, before hanging up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Curling up on the couch, Harper felt her world had changed forever. The watch, once her lucky charm, now seemed heavy with secrets. And she knew things would never be the same again.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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