They are spotted

The burger shop was a greasy little spot tucked near the arcade. The line was short, the music bad but the smell was heavenly.

Chase was halfway through his order when a familiar voice cut through the crowd.

“Yo… Chase?”

He turned.

It was Ethan, some dorky kid from his Chemistry class, standing beside his dad—Mr. Winters, Diego’s orthodontist. Both were blinking rapidly at Ethan and his interesting companion.

Their eyes suddenly locked on Val.

Shit he didn’t account that there might be people around who would recognize them.

Chase didn’t say anything. He didn’t have to.

Val turned, one hand on her hip. Her lips curled into a smirk.

“Heyyyy Ethan,” she cooed. “Didn’t realize nerds were allowed in public at the mall.”

Ethan flinched. Confused.

Mr. Winters squinted. “Is that… Dr. Rivera?”

Val let out a theatrical gasp. “Doctor? Please. That hag probably shops at some thrift store.”

She stepped forward, hips swaying, closing the gap between them. Mr. Winters took a step back.

Val grinned and dragged a finger along the collar of his shirt.

“But you? You don’t look like the doctor’s type anyway…” she murmured, leaning close. “You look like fun.” She punctuated the word fun by groping the stumbling man’s cock with her right hand.

Mr. Winters flushed beet red. Ethan looked like he was trying to melt into the floor with embarrassment.

Val gave his shoulder a playful push. “Tell your son to stop snitching on Chase in chem class, by the way. Or I’ll stuff him in a locker next time.”

Then she twirled, winked at Ethan, and strutted back to the counter like nothing had happened.

They walked off together—Chase holding the greasy paper bag, Val eating a fry she had fished out of the bag.

Behind them, Ethan and his dad stood frozen, blinking in stunned silence.

Chase bit into his lips, grinning. Val was more useful than he thought.

Diego

Diego sat curled into the corner of the couch, his knees pulled up, arms wrapped around them like he could somehow shrink into the cushions. The TV was on, but muted, some forgettable show flickering light across the walls. His eyes were fixed on the hallway where his mother had disappeared hours ago.

She hadn’t come back.

And worse—when she’d left, she hadn’t been his mother.

She’d slapped him. Called him weak. Her voice hadn’t even sounded like hers. There was a cruelty in it, cold and precise, like someone else had reached inside her and pulled out her soul.

He didn’t know what was happening. But he knew it had something to do with Chase.

His stomach clenched just thinking about him.

The text message tone on his phone startled him.

He looked down at it.

Ethan: "Dude… I think I just saw your mom at the mall??"

Diego furrowed his brow. What? That didn’t make sense. His mom never went to the mall. Not unless she had a gift to buy or a phone to upgrade. And after last night he didn’t think he was receiving any presents.

He typed back: "U sure it was her?"

A second later, another ping: "Just look."

There was an image attached.

Diego tapped it. And everything inside him sank.

There she was. His mother.

Dr. Valeria Rivera. The same woman who wore white coats, dictated tough love, made him eat kale.

Except… she wasn’t that woman in this picture.

She was wearing a skin-tight black crop top that barely covered anything, and a skirt so short it looked like it was made of duct tape. Her makeup was heavy, her hair messier, and she was laughing like a carefree teenager.

She didn’t look stern. Or thoughtful. Or maternal.

She looked… wrong.

His eyes darted to the figure next to her.

A familiar smirk. Laid-back posture like he owned the world. A careless arm around her bare hips. Pressed uncomfortably close into her figure.

Chase. Diego’s breath hitched.

No…No no no.

He dropped the phone.

That couldn’t be real. It couldn’t be happening.

His mother. With Chase. Dressed like—like some cheap whore no less? And smiling.

Like she wanted to be there. Like she liked him.

The room felt like it was spinning. He gripped the couch tighter, trying to ground himself, but the image was already burned into his mind. Her bare midriff. Her cleavage. His smirk.

Something twisted and dangerous was happening to his mother. Diego was certain now.

Diego shut his eyes tight and breathed in through his nose.

Whatever Chase had done if he didn’t figure it out soon…

He was going to lose her. For good.