Chapter 2

Philip didn't get home until midnight, reeking of booze. He collapsed onto the bed and was snoring in seconds.

At two in the morning, the baby woke up, hungry for milk.

I slipped quietly out of bed and made my way to the nursery. Philip rolled over and grumbled, "It's so loud."

I sat on the window seat, cradling the baby as I nursed her.

Moonlight slipped through the curtains, falling softly on the baby's face.

Out of eleven prenatal checkups, Philip only came with me twice. The first was for the initial registration, and the second was for the big anatomy scan. The other nine? I went by myself.

I used to believe that having a baby would fix everything. That he'd actually change.

I really was naive.

Before the paternity test results even came back, Janice had already gossiped about it to everyone in the neighborhood.

"I heard Philip's wife is cheating on him."

"No wonder the baby doesn't look like his dad."

"My my, they tied the knot after just three months. Who even knows who the real father is?"

I could feel their eyes on me every time I went out for groceries—full of judgment, curiosity, and that sneaky ridicule.

I didn't bother explaining. What was the point? The paternity test results weren't back yet, so anything I said would just make me look guilty.

On Friday night, Philip called me into the living room.

"If you're okay with the paternity test, then fine," he said, sprawled out on the couch with his legs crossed. "But if you're not, you'd better explain yourself."

I stared at him. "Explain what, exactly?"

"We don't have to do the test," he said, putting his phone down and looking at me. "But you owe me an explanation."

"An explanation for what?" I asked.

"What's the real story between you and that Sienna Ogley?" he demanded.

I was stunned.

"I looked through your phone. She's always messaging you—stuff like 'I miss you,' 'Can't wait for you to come back,'" Philip said, sounding like he was interrogating me. "Is Sienna trying to hook you up with guys or something?"

I almost laughed at how ridiculous this was.

"She's just a former coworker," I said.

"A former coworker? Since when are they this friendly?" Philip stood up and stepped closer, his tone sharp. "Tell me the truth. Is this kid really mine?"

I stepped back until my back pressed against the wall.

"What do you want from me?" I asked.

"If you won't do the test, then we're getting divorced," he said. "Mom's got a point—better safe than sorry. If you've got nothing to hide, why not just do it?"

I just looked at him.

Three years. Three years of marriage, and he never really trusted me—not once.

I used to think it was all Janice, that she was the one turning him against me. I thought if I just explained everything, he'd finally understand.

But now, here he was, standing in front of me, saying, "If you won't do the test, then we're getting divorced."

He'd always been on his mom's side. Always.

"Alright," I said. "It's your call."

He froze for a second, clearly not expecting me to agree so quickly.

"Let's wait for the results then," he said, turning to leave.

I watched his back, then suddenly called out, "Philip."

He turned around.

"Are you sure this is what you want?" I asked.

He frowned. "What do you mean?"

I didn't bother replying—just headed straight back to the nursery.

Behind me, he muttered impatiently, "You're crazy."

I closed the door and unlocked my phone.

Sienna's name just sat there in my contacts.

I stared at it for a while, then tapped on another contact—Basil Baldwin, the divorce lawyer Sienna had sent me.

I saved it.

My mom came all the way from back home the very next day.

She walked in and immediately wrapped me in a hug, her eyes red with tears.

"Why didn't you tell me earlier?" she said, her voice thick with tears. "I had no idea how much you've been through."

I didn't cry. After forty days stuck at home with the baby, I'd already cried myself dry.

"Mom, I'm fine," I said.

"Fine? How can you say that?" she whispered, her voice low and trembling with anger. "A paternity test? Who does Philip think he is, anyway? You married him a virgin. What right does he have to question you?"

I helped her sit down. "Mom, just take it easy. Let's just wait for the results, okay?"

"The results?" She was so angry that her voice was trembling. "Even if the test shows the kid is his, he doubted you before—how can you possibly keep this marriage going after that?"

I didn't say anything.

Janice stepped out of the bedroom, and her expression soured the moment she saw my mom.

"Oh, Mrs. Swanson, you're here?" Janice said, pretending to be polite.

"I'm just here to see my daughter," my mom replied, her voice icy. "Heard you've been spreading rumors that she's got no morals?"