His flat tone makes a shiver run down my spine as the warning bells continue to clang inside my head.

“I came last evening,” I reply as calmly as I can, while internally every bit of me is trembling. He throws a venomous glance at me and then at Gabe and Jonathan.

“So, you lied to me last night,” he declares. “It makes me question what else you’ve lied to me about.”

“Damien...” Gabe starts to say.

But Damien glares at him. “I’m not talking to you, Gabriel. I’m talking to her. This woman, whom I trusted and who I know has played me for a fool.”

I take a step towards him and grasp his arm. “Please, I can explain, Damien.”

He shrugs my hand off, recoiling. “Don’t touch me!” He backs a step away from me, making my heart sink. “Were you with Gabriel at Hyde park today?”

“What?” I sputter in shock. “How do you know this?”

“Your reaction answers my question. So, you have a son?”

“Yes...yes I do.”

“And it wasn’t important for you to tell me that?” Damien yells. “That night, when you received the phone call, it was your son. He was unwell, isn’t it? I was worried about you. I thought it was your father. And you never thought to tell me then that it was your son who was sick? What kind of a woman are you?”

Before I can reply, Gabe interjects. “Aaliya and I have something to talk to you about. You need to calm down first.”

Damien turns to Gabe, his eyes flashing. “I’m not done asking my questions, Gabriel.  Remain silent or it will get ugly.” The threat of violence in his tone is unmistakable.

Jonathan takes a step towards Damien, but Damien halts him with a flick of his hand.

I move towards Damien. “I apologize for lying. I did return yesterday and I should have told you that. But I couldn’t because I brought my son back with me from India. I have my reasons to not tell you about him. If you could just let me explain...”

“Explain what?” he yells. “That you and my best friend were involved at some point in the last five years that I don’t remember. That you have a child from that affair? That he was okay with you fucking me when you are the mother of his child? That both of you lied to me?”

Tears pool in my eyes and my heart breaks at the bitterness in his words. But I have to make him understand.

“Damien that is not true. Gabe and I have never been involved. How could you think that of me after all I’ve shared with you?”

Gabe clears his throat. “Damien, you need to listen to her.”

His voice is deadly calm considering all the vile accusations his best friend is throwing at him.