Chapter 2

Late that night, I finished taking care of things. I planned to tell Yvonne about the divorce the next day.

When I got home, she still wasn't back.

I took a shower. I walked out naked, ready to crawl into bed, and Yvonne threw herself at me from behind.

Her body was wrapped in cold air, snowflakes still clinging to her. The freezing chill against my skin made me shiver.

"Baby, you're such a good boy. You didn't go anywhere. Now... how should I reward you?"

Her cold little hands started roaming all over me. Through the huge floor-to-ceiling window, I saw her reflection. Her cheeks were flushed. Her breathing was getting heavier, hungry.

"Baby, what would I do without you? So... let me reward you with a baby."

My body froze. Ten years with Yvonne. Ten years of marriage. I'd tangled myself around her late at night countless times, wanting to have a child with her.

Every single time, she shut me down.

The idea of childbirth terrified her. Like having a kid would strip away the free, beautiful woman she was forever.

I understood that fear, so I never pushed, even though I really wanted a kid of my own.

And now, right when I'm ready to leave, she finally says yes.

I turned to look at Yvonne. I knew she meant it. This wasn't her just stringing me along.

My reflection stared back at me from her eyes, and her gaze sparkled like stars.

When I didn't say anything for a while, she laughed lightly.

"What? Too happy to speak?"

"I'll try really hard to be a good mom. Let's do this together, okay, baby?"

Too bad we can't go back to the way things were.

I looked away from her bright eyes and forced myself to sound gentle. "Let's wait until tomorrow. It's too late now."

Yvonne didn't seem too happy with that answer. She pouted, looking hurt.

I didn't say anything else. I tried to be the man who still loved her, just for a little longer. A warm smile pulled at my lips.

"You're no fun. Fine, tomorrow works. But right now? I want you to carry me to bed. Like a princess."

I swallowed down the discomfort and scooped her into my arms. When I set her on the bed, she hooked her arms around my neck and pulled me down with her.

Her triumphant little laugh filled my ears.

"You big block of wood. Tomorrow night, you'll be waiting for me here, all clean and ready."

"We're going to take on humanity's greatest mission together. Making a baby!"

Her red lips pressed against mine, whispering the same sweet things we used to say.

The stars faded. The moon slipped away. She fell asleep, just like always.

I took one long, hard look at her, then turned away to shower again.

There was a time I thought my eyes could see through it all. Understand it all. Every part of her. The beautiful parts. The barren parts.

I thought I could reach through to the very core of her soul and touch the surging love inside.

But now, I'm not sure I ever really saw her at all.

I cleaned myself up. When I walked out, her phone screen was lit up. I hadn't meant to look, but I saw a message from Keith.

One of those half-body shots the corporate climbers love to use. My subordinates are big fans of those profile pics.

I pressed my finger to the phone's fingerprint scanner. It unlocked instantly.

Her phone never had any locks against me. Mine was the same.

I scrolled through her chat history with Keith. Started from the very beginning.

"Boss, you're beautiful."

"Boss, you're so gentle."

"Boss, I really hate that I didn't meet you earlier."

Message after message. At first, Yvonne's responses were pretty normal.

But as the timestamps got closer and closer to the present, their conversations turned more and more suggestive.

"Boss, in private... can I call you baby?"

"Sure."

I stared at that exchange. The timestamp was exactly one week ago.

That was when Keith had hit me with his car and put me in the hospital. I'd been covered in injuries, nursing my wounds alone in the freezing night.

Yvonne sat next to my hospital bed, whispering sweet things to the guy who put me there.

Her heart had slipped away.

I was gasping for air, emotions crushing my chest so hard I couldn't breathe.

It felt like I'd been stripped naked and thrown into a snowbank. The ice and frost froze my blood solid, and even my soul was about to turn to ice.

My eyes finally locked onto the last message Keith had sent.

"Baby, divorce Ethan so I can marry you. Okay?"

My fist clenched so tight it hurt. I could barely keep the storm inside me under control.

Right then, Yvonne murmured in her sleep, frowning. "Honey... I'm so cold. Hold me."

I took a deep, deep breath. I put the phone down. I went over and held her.

I studied her face, really looked at her. My hand reached out without thinking, tracing her features.

The truth is, the very first time I met Keith, I sensed something off.

He looked too much like me.

And after he showed up, Yvonne kept saying work was busy. She came home later and later.

Sure, she'd crawl into bed with me late at night, cling to me, tell me she loved me. But looking back now? That love was just a thin cover over her betrayal.

In my warm arms, her frown smoothed out. A soft smile settled on her face.

But the words that came out of her mouth froze my heart solid.

"Keith, stop messing around. It tickles."

My thoughts went blank. I shot up. The anger in my eyes couldn't be held back anymore. It burst out like a flood breaking through a dam.

I picked her phone back up.

To Keith's message, I typed a single word.

"Okay."