Chapter 2 - The Keycard and the Lie

The fob felt freezing against my palm.
Unit 14B. The Sterling High-Rise. Rent: $4,200 a month. Signed eight months ago.
Eight months ago, Marcus told me he had to cut our honeymoon budget in half because his firm was cutting bonuses. I had compromised on a small cabin in Maine while he was putting my estranged sister in floor-to-ceiling glass overlooking the city skyline.
My hands shook so violently I dropped the keycard on the hardwood floor. It made a sharp plastic clack that snapped me out of the trance.
Crying wasn't going to fix this. Screaming at him in our foyer would only give him time to lawyer up and hide the paper trail. We had joint assets, a mortgage pre-approval, and my entire life savings tied up in his private investment portfolio.
My phone buzzed. It was Marcus.
“Left my gym duffel by the shoe rack. Bring it to the office when you come for lunch? Love you.”
I walked slowly down the hallway to the entryway. The black leather duffel bag sat slumped by the bench. I unzipped the front pocket, digging past the protein shaker and wrist wraps.
In the inner zippered compartment, wrapped inside an old pair of wool socks, was a velvet box and a folded slip of glossy photo paper.
I pulled it out.
It was an 8-week ultrasound scan. Dated three weeks ago.
Penciled in tight, familiar handwriting on the margin: “Baby Hayes – Due November.”
The room spun. November was three months after our scheduled wedding.
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The next chapters are on the left side of your screen.
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