Chapter 6

James never helped me put together the crib in the nursery.

But when I checked his shopping app history, it was all pregnancy pillows, maternity pads, and breast pumps.

I had saved the info for a postpartum care center for my own baby on my computer, but I hadn't even gotten around to booking it yet. Then, in James' email, I saw that he'd already reserved a luxury private room for Celia.

He even put himself down as the emergency contact.

I stared at that confirmation email for a long time, and then I suddenly burst out laughing.

So I wasn't just overthinking it.

It turned out that James treated Celia better than he treated me.

*****

When Claire Dawson came over to see me, I was sorting through the drawers in the living room.

She was my high school friend, and the only friend I told about my marriage to.

As soon as she walked in and saw the stack of papers on the table, she frowned. "What's this? Are you moving out?"

"Pretty much," I said, handing her a printed list of expenses.

The more she read, the darker her face got, until she finally snapped, "Is James out of his mind? You're this far along, and he still has the guts to spend your money on that girl Celia?"

"He thinks he's some kind of saint," I replied.

"Saint my ass," Claire said, slapping the table. "He just wants to be the good guy but can't stand paying the price himself, so he's using your money to play the hero for Celia."

Claire nailed it. She summed up all the grievances that I couldn't explain these days.

I nodded. "Exactly."

"So, what's your plan?" she asked.

"First, I'm taking back everything that's rightfully mine. Then, I'm divorcing him," I said.

Claire looked at me, her eyes shifting, like she was finally relieved. "I thought you'd just put up with it."

"I used to think that too," I said.

I lowered my head and gently touched my belly, speaking softly. "But suddenly, I don't want my daughter to ever know her mom tolerated something like this."

Claire's eyes grew misty as she turned away, cursing under her breath, "James is such an asshole."

She helped me sort through all the documents until late that night. Just as she was about to leave, she suddenly remembered something and asked, "Didn't you say you registered all the flagship brands for your company's top products?"

"Yeah," I said.

"Then what are you waiting for? Just terminate the license," she said.

I smiled. "Alex Sterling said the same thing."

Claire's eyes lit up, her gossip radar instantly on high alert. "Alex Sterling? The law school heartthrob from college? You two are still in touch?"

"Yeah, we're talking again now," I said.

"Is he still as good-looking as he was back then?" she asked.

I rolled my eyes at her. "Don't get any funny ideas."

"I'm just trying to look out for you," she leaned in and lowered her voice. "Olivia, listen to me. James isn't the only kind of man out there.

"Some guys make you feel small because you were never their priority. But there are others who, just by looking at you, know exactly where it hurts."

I smacked her with a pillow. "Don't be ridiculous."

She caught the pillow and suddenly got serious. "I mean it. Right now, the most important thing is to stop holding onto any hope for James."

I didn't say anything.

I didn't need her to remind me. I'd already given up on James.

*****

Three days later, I went to the company that James and I own.

Ever since I got pregnant, I'd barely shown up in the office. Most of my work was handled online. So when I walked into the conference room, a bunch of people looked stunned.

James was in the middle of a meeting with a few department managers. The moment he saw me, his face instantly soured. "What are you doing here?"

I set my folder down on the table and pulled out a chair. "Just here to take care of some business."