His Mistress Had His Baby Too

Synopsis

I arrived at Le Bernardin an hour early, my heart fluttering with anticipation. Tonight was Alexander's thirty-fifth birthday, and after three years of marriage, I finally had the perfect gift—one that couldn't be bought with his Wall Street money or connections. The maître d' recognized me immediately. "Mrs. Hayes, your husband's private room is ready. Would you like to wait there?" "Yes, please. I'd like to surprise him when he arrives." As I followed him through the restaurant, I clutched my small gift box containing the sonogram photos I'd received just yesterday. Three months pregnant. Our baby. The heir to the Hayes fortune that his mother Eleanor had been not-so-subtly hinting about since our wedding day. The private dining room was immaculate—crystal glasses catching the light from the chandelier, white roses arranged in perfect symmetry. Alexander appreciated precision in all things. I adjusted a slightly off-center fork, a habit I'd developed over years of trying to create the perfect environment for him. "Would you like something while you wait, Mrs. Hayes?" "Just water, thank you." I rested my hand instinctively on my still-flat stomach. After the server left, I took out my compact mirror, checking my appearance one more time. I'd spent hours preparing—my dark hair swept into the elegant updo Alexander preferred, wearing the midnight blue dress he'd once commented favorably on.