Choosing the One Who Was Always There

I turned my phone screen toward David. "Look at this. She's implying I'm old. A woman in her 30s, still dressing like a teenage girl in bubblegum-pink dresses? It's pathetic."Just then, Emma updated her Instagram story. "My personal driver!"In the photo, she was pouting into the camera from the passenger seat. At the edge of the frame, I could clearly see Matthew's arm on the steering wheel.And it was my Tesla Model S.That was the last straw.I called Matthew immediately."Done escorting Emma? Meet me at the Moonbucks downstairs in 20 minutes," I said.He showed up 40 minutes later, walking in like nothing had happened."Was this really something we had to do in person? Couldn't we have handled it over the phone?""How long do you plan to be Emma's chauffeur?""The doctor said it's a ligament issue. They're estimating a 12-week recovery.""Perfect." I held out my hand. "Give me the keys."The Tesla he had been driving was the one I bought with last year's bonus. He had

I snapped, "Did your mother ever teach you what respect means? You trashed someone else's home and acted like you owned it!"I pulled out my phone and called Matthew. "Get to the Bellemont apartment. Right now. I mean it, Matthew—now."He picked up, and from the hesitance in his voice, I knew he had already figured out what had happened."Sophie, calm down. It's just temporary. I offered Emma a place to stay while she recovers. Do you really have to overreact like this?"You're the one being unreasonable. I'm just trying to help a friend who's injured. She can barely get around—it's not safe for her to be living alone."And honestly, the apartment's usually empty anyway. At least now someone's here to look after the place."Emma smirked from the bed. "Even if you drag him here, so what? He's the one who told me I could stay. And honestly, it's not even certain who the future lady of this apartment is going to be."I ended the call and turned to her. "If you're so confident, then

I let out a cold laugh. "He's not just clueless. I'm pretty sure he fell down the stupid tree and hit every branch on the way down."We ignored Matthew's protests and slipped into David's Bentley, pulling away without a second glance."Darling, how about we go on a honeymoon?" David said."Sounds good," I said."Anywhere in mind?""You pick."Truth be told, my emotions were all over the place. I knew Matthew was a complete failure of a man, but walking away after three years wasn't something I could do without a second thought.David must have sensed the shift in my mood because he spent the drive trying to cheer me up, telling ridiculous stories from his Haward days, half of which I suspected were exaggerated just to make me laugh.Meanwhile, my phone wouldn't stop buzzing. Message after message from Matthew flooded in."Sophie, how long are you planning to keep this up? This is getting ridiculous. If you don't stop, I swear I'll lose it."I didn't reply."Okay, fine. I adm

Matthew asked, "How could you marry someone else so quickly, Sophie?""Why not? You handed over our future apartment to another woman. You stood me up on the day we were supposed to get married. Why would I keep waiting for you after that?"I linked my arm tightly around David's. "My husband outshines you in every possible way. He's more successful, more attractive, and more refined. And most importantly—he's leagues ahead of you in bed."Matthew's expression darkened instantly. He opened his mouth to respond, but before he could speak, Emma came running down the hallway, breathless."Matthew! I called you like 20 times! Why didn't you answer? I was freaking out!"Matthew looked at her like she was a nuisance. The softness he used to have when speaking to her was gone. "Why the hell do you keep calling me nonstop? Is it actually an emergency, or are you just bored?"Emma blinked, caught off guard by his sudden coldness. "I thought you said you liked hearing my voice…""I said yo

Matthew's face twisted in shock. "Did I really make you sick to your stomach?"I waved a hand dismissively. "Don't flatter yourself. My stomach's just upset.""You don't look well. Let me take you to the ER," he said, reaching for me.But before he could touch me, he was shoved aside."Don't lay a finger on my wife. Darling, what's wrong?" David appeared out of nowhere, his eyes dark with fury."My stomach... feels awful," I muttered.Without hesitation, David swept me into his arms. "We're going straight to Grace Medical Center.""I'm fine. You don't have to carry me like this," I protested weakly, resting my head against his chest."Letting me take care of you is a privilege I won't give up."David drove his Aston Martin straight to the hospital. At the hospital, after a full exam and bloodwork, the doctor returned with a beaming smile. "Congratulations, Mrs. Rockefeller. You're six weeks pregnant."I stared at the sonogram, stunned and overjoyed. "Well, looks like your a