Chapter 2
I checked my boarding pass.
It was almost boarding time.
But as I reached the gate, I spotted Nicole.
She was playfully holding William's hand.
"William, I've missed you. I came to keep you company on the flight."
William looked startled for a moment, but he didn't refuse.
While waiting in line, she spotted me.
She came over and tried to link arms with me, but I stepped aside.
She flashed an awkward but polite smile. "It's been a while, Anna."
I smiled back politely, "Yeah, it has."
She looked me up and down. "What's with the outfit today?"
I just smiled and kept quiet.
Actually, this outfit was designed by my husband himself.
Couldn't blame them for not recognizing its value.
Nicole flashed a bright smile as she handed me a boarding pass.
"Here you go! Don't say I'm not taking care of my old bestie.
"Economy's so cramped and stuffy—I couldn't let you suffer through that. I already bumped you up. Bet you didn't see that coming."
William stood off to the side, quiet as ever, but his eyes kept drifting over to me.
He finally cut in, "Just take it."
I couldn't be bothered to argue with them.
It didn't matter anyway—I was already in first class, so I just took the boarding pass.
He let out a quiet sigh to himself.
Nicole looked like she was grinding her teeth.
I figured someone must've tipped her off. That was why she showed up here today.
Once we boarded, Nicole claimed the empty seat right next to William.
She kept leaning in for kisses and hugs, clinging to him like glue.
She didn't care one bit that I was sitting right there.
Or maybe she was just putting on a show for me.
It wasn't until some of the other passengers started giving Nicole disapproving looks that she finally quieted down.
William put on his eye mask and quickly fell into a deep sleep.
As I stared out the window at the sky and clouds, memories from the past came flooding back.
Not long after I married William, I was pregnant.
At that time, Nicole was still working as a junior flight attendant.
She came to me, pleading for help.
"Anna, I know being pregnant is rough. Since we go way back, why not let me take your shift?
"I just want to experience being a head flight attendant, just once—please?"
Eventually, I caved.
After all, we both grew up in the same small town and started out together as flight attendants at this airline.
She hardly ever asked me for favors, and honestly, I really did need someone to cover my shift.
I thought Nicole was the perfect choice.
But late in my pregnancy, at 36 weeks, everything changed.
William never drank, but that night he came home wasted.
He was blackout drunk. Ignoring my protests, he forced himself on me, even though I was so far along.
And the whole time, he kept calling out Nicole's name.
In the middle of it, I suddenly felt a warm rush between my legs.
I reached down, and my hand came back smeared with blood.
For a moment, I froze—then my mind went blank and I shoved William off me with all my strength.
I told the housekeeper to call 911 and rush me to the hospital.
The doctor said, "Why would you do something so reckless when you're this far along?"
My water had broken, and I needed an emergency induction.
When they delivered that tiny life I'd carried for so long, my world collapsed.
I lost my first child because my water broke, and I sobbed uncontrollably right there in the delivery room.
William was nowhere to be found. He just sent his assistant to tell me to rest, as if that would fix anything.
Still hurting and desperate for answers, I went to the office to find William.
From afar, I saw Nicole and William in a helicopter, wrapped around each other.
The helicopter windows were clouded with thick mist.
It was like a hand clamped around my throat, suffocating me with shock and rage.
Furious, I stormed over and yanked open the helicopter door.
Nicole was still scrambling to cover herself, half-dressed.
William moved in front of her protectively, his voice cold and sharp. "Anna, aren't you supposed to be resting at home? What are you doing here?"
I broke down and screamed, "William, our baby is gone!
"And here you are, fooling around with my best friend?"
William stood up, his expression hardening with fury. "So what? Are you any different from her?
"She's more understanding and sensible than you—she never argues with me.
"If I wanted to, I could replace you with anyone. It all depends on my mood.
"Nicole did a better job than you when she filled in as head flight attendant."
With every word, my heart grew colder.
Turns out, what I thought was true love was just me being another toy for William.
But I wasn't about to be anyone's plaything.
I kept making a scene, and soon everyone at the company thought I'd lost my mind.
They even wiped my fingerprint from the door system, locking me out of the office.
Nicole found me, crying. "Anna, please don't blame me. We're both just girls from small towns.
"Why is it that you get to make it, while I always have to settle for less?
"I can't stand it, Anna. If you could make it to the top with William, then anyone can."
"Besides," she said, her hand resting on her stomach, "I'm carrying William's child now.
"Why don't you just divorce him? He loves me now anyway."
The timing was cruel—I'd just lost my child, and now she was pregnant with his baby.
Rage took over.
My hands flew to her throat, squeezing with all the strength I had.
My eyes burned red with fury as I snarled, "It's you—you killed my baby!
"Give me my baby back!"
I was losing control completely—until William yanked me back to reality.
He ripped Nicole out of my grip, then grabbed my hair and threw me aside without hesitation.
I hit the floor hard, coughing up blood, and all I could see was him—his eyes fixed on Nicole, his face full of concern.
Heartbreak, jealousy, and fury churned inside me.
William let out a tired sigh. "Anna, enough. If you want to end this cleanly, I'll give you a generous settlement once we're divorced—more than enough to live comfortably for the rest of your life.
"Nicole's carrying my kid. Just leave her alone."
Why should I just let her take this happiness I'd fought so hard for?
I took a photo of their affair and posted it online, letting the whole world judge them.