Chapter 1We were playing Truth or Dare at my birthday party. The loser had to call a friend and say, "I'm pregnant."
My husband's childhood friend, Lila lost.
Right in front of my face, she dialed a number labeled [Hubby].
Then the very next second, MY HUSBAND'S phone rang.
He instantly jumped.
"What the FUCK? We used protection EVERY time!"
Then he caught himself. Laughed it off real fast.
"Jesus, stop kidding around! My wife's gonna freak out!"
He turned to me, "babe, you're not actually mad over a game, right?"
I glanced at him. Then down at Lila's stomach.
My voice came out cold.
"Yeah. I AM."
He went completely still.
"We're just KIDDING!"
I grabbed an empty bottle off the table. Smashed it. Gripped the jagged neck.
And smiled.
"I'm NOT."
...
The crash of glass froze everyone at the table.
Jace Callahan didn't even catch what I'd just said.
But he was already on his feet. Blocking my view of Lila.
"Babe. We finally got everyone together for your birthday. What's going on?"
I stared at him. "You've got one shot. Explain."
His patience just snapped.
He swept his arm across the table. My entire birthday cake went flying.
"Explain WHAT? It's a GAME. What the hell do you want me to explain?"
"You seriously wanna ruin this? Does that make you happy?"
Jace was the type who stayed ice cold even when his world was burning.
But one little test and he was already this defensive?
Yeah. Guilty.
Sure, smashing cake on the birthday person was tradition. Whatever.
But the sticky frosting all over my feet right now made me want to throw up.
Lila was watching me—covered in cake, hair dripping—barely hiding her smirk.
She clapped her hands. "Okay everyone! Come help me frost Wren!"
Like this whole thing was just part of the fun.
She grabbed a handful of cream off the floor. Smeared it across my face.
"Girl. It's just a contact name. I've been calling him hubby since we were like twelve. You're not THAT insecure, are you?"
She looped her arm around his neck. All cozy.
"Babe. Tell her."
He smiled at her. Booped frosting on her nose.
"Alright, alright. I'll change mine. You change yours too before my wife loses it."
Said it like I was some psycho.
But Lila pouted. "Why though? It's convenient! Keeps all the creeps away when they see 'hubby' on my phone."
"Wren gets it, right? You don't want guys harassing me, do you?"
My husband glanced at me.
Answered for me.
"Fine. I'll change mine. Keep yours. Whatever. You've had it forever anyway."
They both conveniently forgot about the pregnancy thing.
Made it all about the stupid contact name.
I actually laughed.
Riley—the one who'd suggested this game—was sobering up real fast. Face red.
"Wren, oh my god. I'm so sorry. I was wasted. That game was so dumb. If you're still mad just... hit me or something."
I shook my head. Smiled.
"Why would I be mad at you?"
Honestly? I should thank her.
That game just exposed everything.
Hearing that, everyone relaxed.
Lila was practically glowing. Launched into some story.
"Honestly Wren, that contact's from forever ago. He used to BEG me to call him hubby back in the day. He's the one who changed it in my phone."
Next second, I raised my hand.
"AH—!"
I dragged the jagged bottle across Lila's arm.
Clean slice.
Blood welled up immediately.
Everyone froze.
Except my husband.
He was already at her side—stopping the bleeding, blowing on it gently, murmuring comfort.
Not the guy I married. The one who passed out at the sight of blood.
After he finished playing doctor, he turned to me. Voice like ice.
"Wren. Are you out of your goddamn MIND? You just ATTACKED her over a GAME?"
"Apologize. Now."
I shook my head.
Lila winced. Clutched his arm.
"No, stop. It's Wren's birthday. If she needs to take it out on me, fine. I can handle it."
"I'm tough. I'll be okay."
That made him glare at me even harder.
"Apologize. Before I do something we'll both regret."
Then my phone buzzed.
I ignored him completely and answered.
"Room 308. Bring it up."
Chapter 2
Jace completely lost it.
He grabbed my arm. Dragged me right in front of Lila.
"Apologize and get the fuck out. Stop acting insane."
Someone knocked on the door. "Delivery for Ms. Castellano!"
I yanked my arm free. Took the bag. Tossed it straight at Lila.
"Got you the expensive ones. All ten come back negative? We're done here."
Jace knew instantly what was in that bag.
His face twisted.
He grabbed the whole thing and hurled it at me.
"Have you actually lost your MIND? What is WRONG with you?"
"Are you TARGETING Lila?"
"Why are you taking a stupid game this seriously? Do you seriously not trust me AT ALL?"
Trust?
His childhood friend saved him as hubby. And he let her call him that to my face.
And NOW he wanted to talk about trust?
Nobody said a word.
He wanted me to apologize.
I wanted her to pee on those sticks.
Riley slapped herself across the face. "Wren, this is my fault. I'm so sorry. Please don't make this harder on them."
I didn't move.
Grabbed Lila's arm. Started dragging her toward the bathroom.
She struggled violently. "Why are you HUMILIATING me? Even if I WAS pregnant, it wouldn't be his! What the hell do you WANT?"
Right.
If she'd been screwing my husband, who even knew whose it would be.
But the more she fought, the more sure I was.
I picked up a knife from the fruit platter.
Kept my voice flat.
"Fine. Don't test. I'll just take care of it right then and there."
Both their faces went ghost white.
Eyes wide. Feral.
They stared at each other for what felt like forever.
Finally, Lila caved.
But before she went into the bathroom, she was sobbing. Swearing up and down.
"Wren, I'm NOT pregnant. I just picked someone random for the game. Are you gonna do this EVERY time he talks to a woman? Accuse him of cheating?"
Out of everyone at this party, she was the only one saved as wifey.
I was his actual WIFE.
And I was just saved by name.
She shot him this desperate look. Begging for backup.
When he saw the blade in my hand, he folded.
"Lila, we've got nothing to hide. Just take the test. When it's negative we'll deal with her."
His tone was so righteous. So disappointed.
Like I was the villain here.
...
By the fifth test—still negative—I started second-guessing myself.
Maybe I was wrong?
Maybe she wasn't pregnant?
Maybe she was just being a bitch trying to mess with me?
The tenth test finished.
I was too scared to look.
Chapter 3
"Babe. You're not even gonna look? Don't tell me you're backing out now."
His smug voice forced me to check.
All negative.
My mouth opened but nothing came out.
I caught my reflection in the mirror—absolute wreck.
I didn't even know if I was relieved or crushed.
Everyone was staring at me.
Before I could say anything, Jace kept going.
"Okay everyone chill. She knows she messed up. This whole thing's on her for being paranoid."
"But she still owes Lila an apology."
He waved the server over to clean up the mess.
Ordered a case of top-shelf liquor.
Pointed at me.
"Drink all of it. Punishment for hurting Lila."
Lila threw herself at my husband.
And I was supposed to PAY?
And now he was protecting her AGAIN?
I shook my head. Nope.
He suddenly grabbed a bottle.
SMASHED it into my arm.
"Fine. Don't drink. Drinking's too easy anyway. You wouldn't learn anything."
"Who knows what crazy shit you'll accuse me of next time."
"Consider this a lesson."
"Now get out. You're embarrassing yourself."
I bit my lip so hard I tasted copper.
Blood dripped from my fingers onto the floor.
Felt like it was coming straight from my heart.
I wasn't being a sore loser.
I just refused to be the idiot in this relationship anymore.
I glanced at Lila's drink—already empty.
Oh.
I suddenly understood why all the test results were negative!
Fine. FINE!
They wanted to play DIRTY?
I'd play with them!
I turned and walked out. Straight to the hospital.
...
My arm got eight stitches.
Didn't even flinch.
Compared to the gaping hole in my chest, this was nothing.
After they patched me up, I checked my phone.
Not a single call or text from Jace.
But the group chat was blowing up—photos and videos of them still partying.
In one photo, Lila was holding up her bandaged arm. Grinning like she'd just won something.
Jace was wiping frosting off her cheek with this look in his eyes—
That softness.
Now that I was gone, he wasn't even trying to hide it.
The chat kept pinging.
Someone posted a voice note.
"Yo Lila, you NEVER skip drinks. But tonight you didn't touch a single one. You sure you're not knocked up?"
Jace jumped in. "Are you serious? We literally just did ten tests. All negative. What pregnancy?"
Everyone was dying laughing.
"Dude, your wife's gone, drop the act! We all know about you and Lila…"
"For real though, this whole thing's Riley's fault. But hey, no harm done. That baby's apparently as tough as you are!"
Lila tried to deny it. "There's nothing going on, okay? Stop before Wren actually kills me."
"She wouldn't DARE."
Jace's voice boomed through the recording.
Made my ears ring.
Silence.
Then someone tried to smooth it over.
"Dude, your wife's dramatic but she's not smart. She really thought she could out-crazy you. That hit you gave her probably needed serious stitches."
I finished screen-recording right before the message got deleted.
They didn't know I was in this smaller group chat.
But the way they were scrambling?
Guilty as hell.
Next thing, Lila tagged me in the main group.
"Wren! Is your arm okay? Did you go to the hospital? I totally chewed him out for you. He feels SO bad. He's coming home with a durian to kneel on and apologize so please don't be mad anymore~?"
Attached a photo of a durian.
Then tagged him.
"Apologize to Wren RIGHT NOW or we're done being friends!"
He sent some resigned emoji.
"Well... Wren, you good? My bad. Didn't mean to hit you that hard."
I didn't respond.
Instead I texted a friend in obstetrics.
Her reply came quick.
"Girl I'm on vacation for five days. I'll help you check when I'm back."
Five days.
Alright. I could wait.
