Chapter 1I've kicked my husband out 99 times.
Time #1? His mom on her knees. "He'll change!"
Time #10? His crew at my door. "Come on, give him another shot!"
Time #99? My bestie blocking me. "You're dramatic."
Valentine's Day. He ditched me. Again. I kicked him out—again.
But midnight guilt hits. I'm hunting the streets.
Hotels? Empty. Company? Nothing.
Then I see it.
Through a mansion window. Balloons. Cake. A first birthday party.
His mom's there. My bestie's there. His boys—all laughing, clinking glasses.
And him? Holding some kid I've never seen.
Turns out I'm the one who got kicked out.
---
Through the window, Reid's holding some kid, cutting birthday cake.
He wipes frosting off the baby's nose. That look? I've never seen it. Soft. Like he's someone else.
His mom's beaming. His buddy Evan's filming. And Cecilia—my best friend—bouncing around like, "Annie! Baby girl, look at Daddy!"
I'm shaking so bad I almost drop my phone.
I call him.
"Where are you?"
He freezes. Then walks to the balcony, smooth as hell.
"Babe, I'm working. Told you this morning, didn't I?"
I watch him lie through the glass. My nails dig into my palm.
I don't blow it. Not yet.
"Reid. It's Valentine's Day. Are you coming home?"
He sighs. "Baby, I'm swamped. Can't leave. Just—"
Click.
His mom texts immediately.
"Clara, honey, he's working so hard for you. Stop with the drama, sweetie. Marriage isn't a war zone."
Then Evan video-calls. "Sis! We're on a work trip—want proof? I'll show you the hotel!"
I text back: "Nah. I trust him."
Home. Cecilia's at my door, eyes red.
"Clara... he dumped me. I just... I need you."
I stare at her.
College—some guy scammed her. I emptied my account.
Job hunting? I begged my uncle.
Fever spiking at 104°? I carried her three blocks to the ER.
Years. I treated her like blood.
But now? Gold confetti's stuck to her shirt—and she's still lying.
"Don't worry. I'm done kicking Reid out."
She relaxes instantly. Actually smiles.
"Finally! God, Clara, he loves you so much. You really push him, you know?"
"Yeah." I unlock my door. "Go home."
She's gone in seconds.
My daughter's room. I pull up my fake account.
Cecilia just posted.
Nine photos. Reid and Hazel—his ex—holding the kid together.
His mom sliding a gold bracelet on the baby. Caption:
"Happy 1st birthday, princess! Always be loved."
Hazel. His first love.
She left with some acceptance letter, swearing she'd "never marry anyone."
Reid chased me four years after that. "That high school thing? Wasn't real."
I zoom in.
The bracelet. Engraved inside.
"From Dad. Stay Safe."
I stare at his smile in that photo.
Four years. I never got that smile.
I lock my phone. Look at my daughter sleeping.
And bite down hard before I lose it.
Chapter 2
11 p.m. Reid's home.
He checks my face first. No tears, no screaming.
Good sign.
He kicks off his shoes, pulls out a red velvet box, slides it over like it's something special.
"Still mad? I rushed back, didn't I? Got something for Annie."
A silver bracelet. Thin, scratched at the clasp.
I saw it hours ago in Cecilia's post—the freebie you get buying real jewelry.
"C'mon, let's put it on her—"
I slap his hand away hard.
"She's allergic. To silver. You seriously forgot?"
He blinks like I just spoke a foreign language.
When Annie was one month old, her wrist swelled for three days from a silver charm. He was the one pacing the ER at 3 a.m., eyes red, swearing no one would ever touch her with that crap again.
Six months later? Gone. Every promise, every memory—wiped clean.
He snaps the box shut, forces a smile. "My bad. I'll get her gold ones later, okay?"
He loosens his tie and heads for the shower like this conversation's over.
"Reid."
He stops.
"The prenup. You remember what you signed?"
I've been terrified of marriage my whole life.
Dad was a gambler, a drunk who beat Mom bloody every time he lost. Then came the affairs. She couldn't take it anymore—jumped from the sixth floor.
I was twenty, sitting in that ICU waiting room, promising myself I'd never marry, never have kids.
Reid spent four years breaking me down.
Therapy sessions, doctor visits for Mom, four years of him melting every wall I'd built.
Before the wedding, he drafted the prenup himself. Cheating? He'd lose everything, cover all childcare costs, walk away with nothing.
He won't look at me. Tries pulling me close instead.
"Why're you—? Babe, I'd never cheat on you."
His chin lands on my head, voice dropping to that soft tone he used to use. "You've been stuck at home too long. Overthinking everything. Once work calms down, we'll take a trip, just us. Leave Annie with the nanny—"
His phone buzzes.
He kills it fast and walks straight to the balcony.
Two minutes later he's back with his keys.
"Emergency at the office. Gotta go."
The door slams.
I stand there in the empty living room, something sharp twisting in my chest.
No energy left to even ask where he's really going.
I pull up the company portal and submit my transfer to Riverside. Start date: three days from now.
Find an apartment. New nanny. Everything lined up.
He won't come home?
Fine.
I'm done waiting.
Chapter 3
Next day. Divorce papers spread across the table.
My phone buzzes. Unknown number. Two photos.
Household registration: Reid, Hazel, their son. Official family unit.
Family photo: all three of them grinning.
I text back:
"Reid cheats, he loses everything. Prenup. Ring a bell?"
She replies instantly: "What?"
I don't answer.
Twenty minutes. Doorbell.
Hazel storms in with the baby, face all twisted.
"What the hell was that text about?"
I flip to the signature page. "Figure it out."
"You can't just take everything he worked for!"
"Watch me. I'm his wife. He signed this."
She laughs. Mean. "Clara. You really think living here makes you somebody?"
Footsteps pound up the hallway.
Reid bursts through with his mom, Evan, and Cecilia behind.
Hazel's eyes flood instantly. Stumbles toward Reid with the baby.
"Reid! I just wanted to see where you lived. That's it. But she... the second I walked in, she started waving divorce papers at me!"
Reid's jaw locks. "You got a problem? Take it up with me."
I laugh. Sharp. "Months of lies. You gonna explain?"
His mom steps between us. "Hazel's not after anything, sweetie. She just needs the paperwork done. Once it's done, she's gone. You're already Mrs. Reid. What else do you need?"
Hazel grabs my wrist. Tears everywhere.
"Clara, please. I don't believe in marriage, you know that. Once he's in school, Reid's yours again. I promise. I just want what's best for my son."
"Yours again?" I yank free. "What, I'm leasing him?"
Evan's face goes dark. "Jesus, Clara."
"What? I'm the problem?"
Hazel stumbles back. Total performance. Drops to the floor clutching the baby.
Kid screams.
Reid dives for them.
His mom shoves me hard. "You pushed her! With a baby!"
My back slams the cabinet edge. Pain shoots up my spine.
Evan blocks Hazel. "Even if you hate her! You don't touch a kid!"
"I didn't! She literally threw herself!"
"Stop."
Reid's voice cuts through. Ice cold.
He picks up the baby. Looks at me with pure disgust.
Hazel buries her face in his chest. Voice breaking. "Reid, don't be mad at her. She just loves you so much she can't help it. I get it. Really."
His mom shoves me again. "Hospital. Now."
My head cracks the cabinet corner. Blood runs down my face.
They swarm Hazel. Panicked. Protective. Rush her out.
Reid passes me.
Stops.
I think he sees the blood.
But he just says: "Anything happens to that kid, we're done."
Nobody asks if I'm okay.
Cecilia's last out. Won't even look at my bleeding face.
"You shouldn't have done that. She just wanted to see the place."
"Wanna know something? Reid designed this whole house for Hazel. Every detail. You've been living in her space."
Door slams.
I lean against the wall and look around the space I've called home for four years.
Kitchen counter's insanely high. Four years chopping on my tiptoes.
Study's got a gaming wall I've never touched.
Bedroom curtains. Ugly mustard yellow. Begged him to change them a hundred times.
Turns out he couldn't.
Because everything here was always hers.
I laugh.
Then I'm crying.
I've been guarding someone else's life this whole time.
