Chapter 2

I stared at the pregnancy test in my hands, the two pink lines blurring through my tears. A baby. My baby. Grant's baby.

"No," I whispered, pressing my hand against my still-flat stomach. "Not now. Not like this."

The revelation of Grant's betrayal still burned fresh in my mind. Every word I'd overheard in his study echoed in my head: "The festival incident wasn't an accident... I planned it... My true love has always been you, Mallory."

I couldn't tell him. Not yet. Not when everything between us was built on lies.

I hid the test in my bathroom drawer, beneath a stack of unused makeup pads. Then I wiped my tears and straightened my shoulders. I needed time to think, to plan.

Over the next few days, I moved through our house like a ghost, watching Grant with new eyes. I smiled when he smiled, kissed him when he kissed me, all while documenting every suspicious text message, every late-night call he took in another room.

"I'll be working late tonight," he announced on Wednesday evening, avoiding my eyes as he adjusted his tie.

"Again?" I kept my voice light, neutral.

"Big client meeting." He glanced at his watch—the expensive one I'd given him on our second anniversary. "Don't wait up."

I nodded, already reaching for my phone to note the time and his exact words. My private journal had become my sanctuary, the only place where I could be honest about what was happening.

Thursday afternoon, the doorbell rang. I was alone in the house, Grant having left for what he called a "lunch meeting." I opened the door to find Mallory standing there, her perfect blonde hair catching the sunlight.

"Rose!" she exclaimed, her smile not quite reaching her eyes. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything."

"Come in," I said, stepping aside. My heart hammered against my ribs as she swept past me, her expensive perfume leaving a trail through our foyer.

"I was just in the neighborhood," she said, running a manicured finger along our marble countertop. "Thought I'd stop by and see how my little sister's doing."

We sat in the living room, the afternoon sun streaming through the windows. Mallory's eyes never stopped moving, taking in every detail of my life—of Grant's life with me.

"He's been so busy lately," she remarked, stirring her tea. "Grant mentioned he's been working late a lot. Such a dedicated man."

I forced a smile. "Yes, very dedicated."

"Some men just have that special quality, don't they?" Mallory's voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper. "That ability to divide their attention so effectively."

My teacup trembled slightly in my hand. "What do you mean?"

"Oh, nothing specific." She waved her hand dismissively. "Just that some women are better at keeping their men satisfied. You know what I mean?"

The implication hung in the air between us. My cheeks burned with humiliation as I realized what she was suggesting.

"I should really get going," I said, standing abruptly.

Mallory followed me to the door, her hand briefly touching my arm. "Take care of yourself, Rose. Pregnancy can be so... demanding."

My blood froze. How did she know?

The next morning, I made an appointment with Dr. Winters for what I told Grant was a routine check-up.

"I'll drive you," he insisted, keys already in hand. "No arguments."

The drive to the hospital was silent, the weight of unspoken truths hanging between us. I watched his profile as he drove—the strong line of his jaw, the slight furrow between his brows. Had I ever really known this man?

"I'll wait with you," he said as we walked into the medical center.

I nodded, relief washing over me. Maybe this was a good sign. Maybe he would be excited about the baby.

We sat in the waiting room, Grant scrolling through emails on his phone while I clutched my purse, heart racing with anticipation.

"Rose Montgomery?" A nurse called my name.

I stood, Grant rising beside me.

"I'll just be a minute," I said, suddenly nervous about sharing the news.

We had barely taken our seats in the examination room when Grant's phone buzzed. He glanced at it, his expression changing instantly.

"I'm sorry," he said, already standing. "There's an emergency at work. I have to go."

"What? Now?" Disbelief colored my voice. "But we're in the middle of—"

"It's important," he cut me off, already moving toward the door. "You understand, don't you? It's just business."

The door closed behind him with a soft click that echoed in my chest like a gunshot.

Through the window, I watched him hurry across the parking lot, his phone pressed to his ear. A text from Mallory, no doubt.

Dr. Winters entered a moment later, her face brightening with a smile that dimmed when she saw I was alone.

"Is everything alright?" she asked gently.

I pressed my hand against my stomach, suddenly aware of how alone I truly was.

"My husband had to leave," I whispered. "Emergency at work."

The lie tasted bitter on my tongue as tears welled in my eyes.