Chapter 2

The moment Gavin left, I got in the car and drove to his hometown.

I stood at the entrance to the courtyard, my nerves wound tight as I peered inside. A young girl, about five or six years old, was bouncing around the yard playing by herself.

She spotted me and shouted toward the house. "Mom, someone's here!"

My heart seized.

Elise Carver slowly walked out, with one hand cradling her swollen belly. She looked even softer in person than she had in the wedding photos, wearing pajamas and slippers with an easy smile on her face.

From the size of her belly, she couldn't have been far from her due date. She had a spatula in her hand as if she'd been in the middle of cooking. Everything about her radiated the image of a devoted wife and mother.

I stared at her, my brows creasing. The ring on her finger was identical to the one on mine.

"Can I help you?" She smiled at me pleasantly, as though she had no idea who I was.

My throat felt raw. "Who are you to Gavin Prescott?"

Elise was about to answer when the girl beat her to it, bouncing with excitement. "He's my daddy!"

Elise nodded along, confirming it like it was the most natural thing in the world.

So it was true. The reality of the situation hit me like a wall.

"When did you two get married?"

Irritation flickered across Elise's face. "What does that have to do with you?"

"It has everything to do with—"

But before I could finish speaking, two older figures rushed out from inside, their expressions guarded and hostile. They were Gavin's parents. They positioned themselves in front of Elise like a shield and looked at me like I was a threat.

"You're not welcome here. Leave."

I was so furious that I almost laughed. "Why should I? You owe me an explanation."

"There's nothing to explain." Gavin's father, Paul Prescott, grabbed a broom and leveled it at me, his eyes full of warning.

"Elise is carrying our grandchild. She doesn't need this kind of stress from you. Get out. Now."

They were treating me like I was the intruder in their perfect little family, an enemy at the gates.

Elise looked genuinely confused. "What's going on here? Are you looking for my husband? He's away for work and won't be back until the weekend.

"If you're a friend of his, you're welcome to stay for dinner. It's really no trouble, just one more plate at the table."

She looked like a woman completely wrapped up in her own happiness. My heart twisted so hard that I couldn't breathe. She was nearly full-term. If I destroyed everything right now, the consequences would be more than I could bear.

I turned around and left, feeling completely numb. When I got home, Gavin was already waiting in the living room. His parents must've messaged him.

"Why did you go to my hometown? She's about to give birth. She can't handle that kind of shock. If you have a problem, you take it up with me. She's innocent in all of this."

Fighting back my tears, I sat on the couch and stared at him coldly. He dropped to his knees and started slapping himself across the face, hard, again and again.

"Sienna, I'm so sorry. This is all my fault. Please, just give me another chance."

"She's really your wife? You actually have children together?"

He clenched his jaw and nodded.

The blood drained from my face, and my voice shook. "Between the two of us, who is your wife?"

His expression turned grim, and he told me the truth piece by piece.

He and Elise had grown up together as childhood sweethearts, but he'd fallen for me at first sight in college. During our second year together, he went home for the holidays, got drunk, and ended up sleeping with her.

"You were so focused on your career back then. You hadn't made time for me in forever, and I just... I slipped.

"And you never wanted kids. My parents resented you for it. I was stuck in the middle with no idea what to do.

"Then that one night got her pregnant, and my parents were thrilled. They threatened to disown me if I didn't let her keep the baby.

"I figured that since you didn't want to get pregnant anyway, I wouldn't push you. So I just let it happen."

I was so furious that I laughed.