Chapter two

I stood there waiting for him to take it back, waiting for him to realize what he’d just said.

Abort it. Our child. Our baby.

“Darius—” My voice broke.

But he wasn’t even looking at me anymore. He was already moving toward the door, his jaw set, his eyes distant.

“Darius, please!” I grabbed his arm. “Just listen to me. Please, we can—”

He shook me off like I was nothing.

“I don’t have time for this.” His voice was cold, empty. “Cassia’s out there alone, upset. Because of you.”

“Because of me?” The words came out as a sob. “I didn’t do anything! I just came home—”

“You exist.” He turned to face me, and the hatred in his eyes made me want to die. “That’s enough. Your very existence ruins everything good in my life.”

Each word was a blade twisting deeper into my chest.

“How can you say that?” Tears streamed down my face. “I’m your wife, I’m carrying your child—”

“A child I never wanted.” He stepped closer, looming over me. “With a woman I never loved. Did you really think a baby would change that? Did you really think I’d suddenly want you?”

I couldn’t breathe past the pain crushing my chest.

“Get rid of it,” he said again, his voice flat, final. “Or I will.”

Then he was gone, running out the door, chasing after her.

Leaving me alone.

I sank to the floor, my knees giving out. The torn pieces of my pregnancy test surrounded me like the ashes of every dream I’d ever had.

I didn’t know how long I sat there. Minutes, hours, time didn’t mean anything anymore.

Eventually, I forced myself to stand. My legs shook, but I made them hold me.

I had to do something, had to think, had to—

Music. Loud music coming from downstairs, laughter, voices. A party? My heart stuttered. A party here, at our house. My birthday.

I’d forgotten. Today was my birthday.

Hope fluttered in my chest. Maybe Darius had planned this, maybe this was a surprise party for me, maybe—

I reached the top of the stairs and looked down.

The house was transformed with balloons and decorations. A banner stretched across the living room.

But the words on it made my blood run cold.

“Welcome Back, Cassia.”

No.

My legs moved on their own, carrying me down the stairs into the crowd of people I didn’t recognize.

The living room had been cleared, turned into a makeshift dance floor. And there, in the center of it all—

Darius and Cassia.

She wore a stunning red dress, her hair flowing like silk down her back. He held her close, and they moved together perfectly, like they were made for each other.

The crowd cheered and clapped And I stood there, invisible.

On my birthday, In my house, Watching my husband dance with another woman.

“Oh, Brynn!” Cassia’s voice cut through the music. She’d spotted me.

The music stopped and everyone turned to stare.

Cassia smiled, gliding toward me. “You’re here! I’m so glad. We were just celebrating.”

“Celebrating?” The word came out flat.

“My return, of course.” Her smile widened. “Darius threw this wonderful party for me. Isn’t he sweet?”

My eyes found his across the room. He wasn’t even looking at me, just stood there with his hands in his pockets, expression bored.

Like I was nothing, like I didn’t matter.

“Actually,” Cassia continued, her voice carrying through the silent room, “since you’re here, maybe you could help?”

“Help?”

“Yes.” She gestured toward the tables laden with food and drinks. “The caterers are overwhelmed, and you know this house so well. It would mean so much if you could serve the guests.”

The room went quiet. ‘Serve the guests.’ At a party thrown in my house.

I looked at Darius, waited for him to say something.

“Well?” His voice was sharp, impatient. “You heard her. What are you waiting for?”

The world tilted.

“Darius—” My voice cracked. “You can’t be serious.”

“Do I look like I’m joking?” He moved toward Cassia, placing a possessive hand on her shoulder. “Cassia asked you to do something, so do it.”

“But—”

“Now, Brynn.” His eyes went dark, dangerous. “Do everything she says, and do it with a smile. Or I’ll make sure you regret it.”

Something inside me shattered.

“Of course,” I heard myself say. “I’d be happy to help.”

Cassia’s smile turned victorious. “Wonderful! Start with the champagne, everyone needs refills.”

I moved like a puppet, picked up a tray, filled glasses, walked through the crowd of strangers. They didn’t thank me, didn’t even acknowledge me. Why would they? I was just the help.

I served for hours. My feet ached, my back screamed, my heart had gone numb.

Through it all, I watched them—Darius and Cassia, dancing, laughing, touching. He never once looked at me. Not even when I dropped a glass and it shattered at my feet.

Not even when Cassia made some joke and everyone laughed while staring at me.

Not even when I finally couldn’t take anymore and fled to the kitchen, tears streaming down my face.

I needed to get out, needed air, needed—

My phone buzzed.

A message from the private investigator.

“Evidence ready. Meet me at the café. Same place as planned.”

The café. I’d forgotten about that too.

I’d been trying to prove my innocence, trying to show the world that I hadn’t pushed Cassia off that cliff, that I hadn’t tried to kill her.

And now there was proof.

I could clear my name, could make Darius see the truth, could—

“There you are.” Cassia’s voice made me jump. She stood in the doorway with her arms crossed. “You disappeared. Darius was looking for you.”

Darius was looking for me? Hope sparked in my chest,

“He wanted to make sure you cleaned up all the broken glass,” she continued. “We wouldn’t want anyone to get hurt.”

The hope died.

“Of course,” I whispered.

“Oh, and Brynn?” She tilted her head, studying me like I was an insect. “Happy birthday.”

She knew. Of course she knew, she did all this to punish me.

I cleaned up the glass, finished serving, smiled when Cassia told me to smile.

And when the party finally ended, when the last guest had left and the house fell silent, I grabbed my purse and ran.

I had to get to the café, had to get that evidence. It was the only thing I had left, the only way to save myself.

The café was quiet when I arrived. I ordered tea I didn’t want and waited.

The investigator was late, very late. The phone buzzed with a message from him.

“Sorry. Emergency came up. Sent the evidence to your house instead. Check your mail.”

My house where Darius was, where Cassia probably still was.

I closed my eyes, trying to think, trying to plan.

The television in the corner of the café suddenly got louder. I looked up, annoyed—

And froze as I saw Darius’s face filled the TV screen.