Built On Love, Broken By Truth

Synopsis

It was our company's IPO ceremony. My husband, Charles Rivers, stood right beside me. He was dressed to the nines in a sharp suit, the very picture of success. Just as the cameras were about to turn our way, he suddenly turned, cupped an intern's face, and kissed her. It wasn't some polite peck. He went all in, tongue and everything. The crowd gasped. Camera shutters clicked nonstop, almost deafening. I stood to his left, wearing the champagne dress he'd picked out for me the night before, gripping the ceremonial gavel we were meant to strike together. He let go of the intern and turned to look at me. Cold and composed, he stood there with her lipstick glaring at the corner of his mouth. "Emily, Sophie is pregnant," he said. "It's mine. "She's young and sensitive. She can't handle the gossip. You need to cover for us. Just say... we hired a surrogate together." I looked down at the gavel in my hand. Then I slammed it to the floor. The sharp bang cut through the room like a blade.