Chapter 6

Shelly hadn't just slept with Declan; she'd been playing the role of hostess in my home.

While I, the actual hostess, was kept completely in the dark.

"Thank you for telling me all this," I said.

Emery said, "Mrs. Sterling, please don't be upset. Maybe there's some misunderstanding."

"Absolutely not." I took a deep breath. "I'm coming tomorrow to fetch my things. If Declan is home, could you find a way to keep him occupied?"

"Well..."

"Emery, please. As a final favor?"

Emery was silent for a long time. "Alright, Mrs. Sterling. Mr. Sterling has a company meeting tomorrow at 10 a.m. Come then."

"Thank you."

Hanging up, I finally broke down and cried.

Even Emery, the maid, knew what Shelly had been up to in my house—and I was the damn hotstess kept in the dark.

"How pathetic and silly am I?" I wondered.

I cried for a long time before wiping my tears.

Crying wouldn't solve anything.

I needed to toughen up and fought for what was mine.

*****

That evening, Laurel came to see me, carrying my favorite pancake and soup.

"Claire, eat something—don't make yourself sick over this," Laurel said with concern.

"Laurel, am I just an idiot?" I said.

"Stop that. You're not an idiot."

"Three years, Laurel. I didn't suspect a thing. Shelly was staying overnight at my house, and I just naively believed she was only his assistant."

Laurel took my hand. "This isn't on you. They're just really good at bullshitting."

"But I'm his wife. I should've known him best."

"Exactly—being his wife is why you were the easiest to fool." Laurel sighed. "Claire, there's something I need to tell you."

"What is it?"

"Well, I actually had a feeling something was off with Declan a while ago."

I froze. "What do you mean?"

"A few weeks ago, I saw them shopping at the mall—him and Shelly. They were way too cozy to be just boss and assistant."

"Why didn't you tell me?" I asked.

"I thought maybe I misread it, or that it would just hurt you." Laurel looked guilty. "Claire, I'm sorry. I should've said something sooner."

I shook my head. "Not your fault. I just trusted him too much."

*****

The next morning at ten sharp, I arrived at Sterling Manor. Declan's car was gone; he must have gone to the office.

Emery opened the door. Her eyes were red and swollen; she'd clearly been crying last night.

"Mrs. Sterling, welcome home," Emery said.

"Emery, thank you for this," I replied with a smile

"Mrs. Sterling, let me help you pack."

I shook my head. "No, thanks. I got this. You go ahead."

Walking into what was once my warm home, I had mixed feelings.

Three years ago, I'd arrived here full of hope for my marriage.

I thought I'd spend my whole life here.

It turned out that I was here to pack my things and leave.

The place was the same, but everything else had changed.

I went to the master bedroom first to pack my clothes and cosmetics.

Opening the wardrobe, I saw all the designer clothes Declan had bought for me.

Each piece, he'd said, was carefully chosen because the color or cut suited me perfectly.

Now, it all seemed fake.

While he was buying clothes for me, he was also buying for Shelly.

Probably even more expensive ones for Shelly.

I took only a few essentials, leaving the rest behind.

I wouldn't wear them again anyway.

While packing my cosmetics, I found a box of birth control pills in the drawer.

They weren't mine.

I never took the pills because Declan said he wanted a child.

We'd been trying for a baby for three years without success.

It turned out someone was secretly taking the pills.

It was Shelly.

She didn't want to get pregnant, so she took the pills secretly and hid them in my drawer.

If Declan ever found them, he'd think it was me preventing pregnancy.