Chapter 2

I practically fled to the bedroom.

I ignored Derek when he called me to eat.

In the darkness, I felt his familiar warmth settle beside me.

His breathing slowly became even.

I opened my eyes.

The face I had loved and trusted for ten years looked terrifyingly unfamiliar.

His secure work phone sat on the nightstand beside him.

I reached for it as carefully as I could.

Our anniversary date failed.

His birthday failed.

Finally, my hands trembling, I entered Leo's birthday.

The screen unlocked.

The contacts list was empty except for one unsaved number.

The call history showed that same number on every night Derek had supposedly been sent out on an emergency.

All those years of duty, sacrifice, and honor had been a performance.

Every callout had been another lie carrying him to a woman and child.

I opened the photo gallery with shaking hands.

It was filled with family pictures.

Derek, Valerie, and Leo.

One image had clearly been taken after Derek and Valerie slept together. They were half dressed and wrapped around each other.

The room behind them was painfully familiar.

It was the bedroom where I was lying now.

My entire body turned cold, and I couldn't stop shaking.

Derek and I had been married for ten years without a child.

I had miscarried four times, each loss sudden and unexplained.

I had blamed myself, and Derek had held me while I cried.

"It isn't your fault. Maybe children just aren't in the cards for me, but I will always be here with you."

The memory pulled a soundless laugh from me.

Children had been in the cards for him all along.

Early the next morning, I met with a divorce attorney.

Afterward, I drove to Leo's school.

From across the street, I saw Derek and Valerie waiting for dismissal.

Leo ran straight into their arms.

Derek held the boy's hand, wrapped his other arm around Valerie's waist, and bent to whisper in her ear.

They looked like a real family.

The tenderness of it made me sick.

They entered a restaurant, and I took the booth directly behind theirs, separated by a high wooden divider.

Derek's quiet laugh carried clearly.

"Who upset my sweet Val?"

"Who do you think? Your wonderful wife."

My stomach clenched.

Valerie gave an irritated little huff.

"That post was shameless. Has she looked in a mirror lately? Who would even want her?"

Derek lowered his voice, sounding annoyed too.

"Forget the post. She probably did it to punish me."

"Punish you? She is bored and desperate."

Valerie laughed under her breath.

"She lives like a single woman anyway. Of course she wants attention. You're the only person who still treats her like something precious."

"You know who my precious girl is."

A moment later, I heard their muffled breathing change.

Through a gap in the divider, I watched Derek pin Valerie against the booth and kiss her hungrily.

I covered my mouth and backed away until I reached my car.

Derek came home that evening.

He had even brought me flowers.

He brushed a finger over my nose and spoke with familiar affection.

"Evie, the department is holding a support luncheon for families of fallen officers next week.

"I'll be home late, so don't wait up."

I looked into his calm, honest-looking eyes.

My own voice sounded unnaturally steady.

"I'm coming too."

Derek froze.

"Those events are boring. It's mostly speeches and formalities."

"Your mentor did a great deal for you. We should both support his family."

Panic flashed through Derek's eyes.

Then he smiled and placed food on my plate.

"All right. Everyone should get to see how beautiful my wife is."

I lowered my head and chewed food that tasted like nothing.

Yes, Derek.

Everyone was going to see.

They were going to see exactly what kind of man you were.