Book5 Chapter1
My name is Evelyn, and I used to belleve my life was a Hallmark movie. I had a handsome husband, a charming son, a successful career – the whole nine yards. But reality, as I learned the hard way, can be a much crueler director than Hollywood.
It all started with an innocent Instagram post. I was burning the midnight oil at my startup, catching up on work after a long day, when I stumbled upon a picture on our nanny’s feed. It was a close–up, a woman’s hand resting on a man’s toned torso. I wouldn’t have given it a second glance, except for the scar on his hip. An exact replica of the one my husband, David, had.
My heart hammered in my chest. I tried calling him, again and again, but it went straight to voicemail. An icy dread began to creep in, twisting around my insides.
The next morning, I tried to act normal. I even forced a chirpy tone when our son, Ethan, called during his lunch break.
“Hey sweetie,” I asked casually, “Did Emma make you something yummy for lunch yesterday?”
“Mommy,” his little voice replied, “Emma wasn’t at home yesterday. She took a day
off.”
A day off? My mind raced. This wasn’t adding up.
That afternoon, I practically sprinted out of the office, cancelling all my meetings. The city whizzed by outside the cab window, a blur of concrete and steel, but my gaze was fixed on the phone in my hand. Still no answer from David.
As we turned a corner, I saw them. David and Emma. They were walking hand–in–hand, laughing. She was no longer the mousy girl in her us al plain clothes. Today, she was a vision in a designer dress and a Chanel bag – the very
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same dress and bag I had asked my personal shopper to reserve for me.
Anger surged through me, hot and acidic. I slammed my hand on the car door, signaling the driver to stop.
“Mommy!”
Ethan’s voice startled me. I ducked down, momentarily panicked, but then I realized he couldn’t see me. He was too busy launching himself into Emma’s arms.
“I want Emma to be my mommy!” he squealed, showering her face with kisses. “My mommy is like a grumpy monster, and she always smells weird.”
Those words hit me harder than any slap. Just yesterday, when I tried to kiss him goodbye, he had squirmed away with a disgusted look.
“I’m a big boy now,” he had declared, “No more kisses! Teacher says it spreads
germs!”
At the time, I’d just thought he was being precocious. Now, I realized it was something far worse. He was repulsed by me.
“Ethan, honey, I wish I could be your mommy,” Emma cooed, shooting a pointed look at David.
David remained impassive, prying Ethan off her. “I told you before, I’m not getting a divorce,” he said, his voice flat.
Emma pouted. “I know, you’ve said it a million times.”
“Ethan, send your mom that picture for your daily check–in,” David instructed, ignoring her. “And remember to tell her you didn’t have any ice cream today.”
Maybe I was wrong. Maybe David was still the faithful husband I believed him to be. Maybe this was all Emma’s doing.
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A moment later, my phone buzzed. It was Ethan’s message. My fingers hovered over the screen, unsure how to respond.
Suddenly, Emma was back, her hips swaying as she approached. “Did you send it, Ethan?” she chirped. “Guess who brought your favorite ice cream!”
My blood ran cold.
David pulled her close and kissed her, this time with genuine affection. “Don’t be mad,” he murmured. “She called me yesterday, and I didn’t answer. I have to be careful, you know. I’m in no position to get a divorce right now.”
He chuckled humorlessly. “Besides, if I divorced her, who would buy you all these fancy clothes and handbags?”
Emma scoffed. “Like you don’t earn enough yourself? It’s all marital property. What gives her the right to be so bossy and controlling?”
David’s face hardened.
He earns enough? Where was he getting his money? David hadn’t held a steady job since his startup went under, and he refused to work for anyone else. He claimed he was working on a new business venture, but I was the one paying all the bills, funding his “genius” ideas that never seemed to materialize.
