Chapter 1

My husband, Brian Cooper, went out for a run and left his phone on the nightstand.

The screen lit up.

[Honey, I'm having a rough time with morning sickness. When are you coming to keep me company?] It was from "Client Amanda Shaw" in his contacts.

I stared at the message for three seconds, then replied for him with an eight-word answer.

[Stop running. Come to my place for dinner.]

Then I sent her the address.

Right after that, I called Susan Cooper, my mother-in-law. "Susan, come quick. You're going to be a grandmother. We're having a feast tonight."

*****

Brian went out for a run and left his phone on the nightstand.

The screen lit up.

[Honey, I'm having a rough time with morning sickness. When are you coming to keep me company?]

It was from "Client Amanda Shaw" in his contacts.

I stared at the message for three seconds.

Three seconds later, I shot back an eight-word reply for him.

[Stop running. Come to my place for dinner.]

I dropped her the location.

She fired back instantly. [What are you thinking? She's home today.]

I typed back, [I've already told her everything.]

She went quiet for a few seconds, then sent a smug emoji. [About time you came through. Wait for me.]

I put the phone down and called Susan. "Susan, come quick. You're going to be a grandmother. We're having a feast tonight."

Susan paused on the other end. "Vivian, you're pregnant?"

"You'll see when you get here."

"Okay, okay. I'm on my way."

I hung up and went into the kitchen. I pulled everything out of the fridge.

Six years of marriage. I'd cooked for Brian more times than I could count.

Thirty minutes later, Susan burst through the door carrying two boxes of supplements.

She didn't even take off her shoes before grabbing my hands. "How many months? Did you see a doctor yet? Does Brian know?"

I guided her to the couch. "Susan, don't rush. The baby's mother hasn't arrived yet."

Susan's smile froze.

She stared at me like she didn't understand. "What do you mean, the baby's mother hasn't arrived?"

I put Brian's phone in front of her.

On the screen, that message from Amanda still glowed.

Susan's hand stopped mid-air.

The only sound in the living room was the ticking of the wall clock.

She read the message. Her face went dark. "How long has this been going on?"

"I just found out."

"And Brian?"

"He went for a run."

Susan stood up suddenly. "I'm calling that piece of trash."

I grabbed her hand. "Susan, I didn't ask you here to tip him off."

She turned to look at me.

I opened the two boxes of supplements and arranged them neatly on the coffee table. "If she's carrying a Cooper baby, you should at least meet her as the grandmother."

"Vivian, what are you planning?"

"To invite her to dinner."

I smiled. "And to find out exactly how Brian plans to deal with me."

Susan's lips trembled. Her eyes went red. "Don't be scared. I'll stand up for you."

"Don't stand up for me yet."

I pushed a glass of warm water toward her. "Tonight, we need to see clearly who's who."

The doorbell rang.

I got up and opened the door.

A woman in her early thirties stood outside. She wore a loose dress and flat shoes. One hand rested on her still-flat stomach. The other held a designer bag.

She looked me up and down. "So you're Brian's housekeeper?"

I didn't answer.

Susan appeared behind me.

The woman's eyes lit up when she saw her. She pushed past me and walked right in. "Susan, Brian said you already know about the baby."

Susan's face instantly changed.