Chapter 09

Three weeks had passed, and for the first time in their marriage, Camille felt something dangerously close to hope.

Roderick had been trying — really trying to keep their marriage. He came home early most nights, canceled late meetings so she wouldn't fall asleep before he got home, took her to dinners, and touched her like she was something precious instead of convenient.

He listened when she spoke and always asked about her day. She had quietly dismissed the lawyer she’d hired for the divorce because, for once, she didn’t want to leave. She hadn’t even heard him mention Taylor’s name in all that time.

Part of her wondered if he had finally ended things with her. She kept telling herself she would ask him later, when the fragile peace between them felt a little more solid.

Right now though, she stood in the downstairs guest bathroom, heart hammering so hard she could feel it in her throat. Her period was two weeks late. She had bought the test in secret yesterday and hidden it here, too afraid to do this in their shared bathroom where he might walk in on her.

She stared at the little plastic stick on the counter.

Two red lines.

Positive.

Camille’s hands flew to her mouth as a wild, breathless laugh escaped her. She was pregnant. Tears sprang to her eyes, happy tears, shocked tears. She pressed a palm to her still-flat stomach, imagining a tiny life growing inside her.

Our baby, she thought. Roderick was going to be a father. After everything, after the way he had been these past three weeks, he would be excited, wouldn’t he? He would pull her into his arms and kiss her and tell her this was the start of something real.

She couldn’t wait another second.

Camille ran out of the bathroom, barefoot, still in her silk robe, and hurried up the stairs. The master bedroom door was slightly ajar. She pushed it open with a bright smile already forming on her lips.

And stopped dead on her track.

Roderick stood at the desk in nothing but his suit trousers, video-calling on his laptop. Taylor’s face filled the screen, one hand resting on her belly. Was he telling her to end things between them? No.

“I’m pregnant, baby.” Taylor was saying, her voice bubbly with excitement. “The doctor confirmed it this morning. We’re really having a child.”

Roderick’s face softened in a way Camille had never seen directed at her.

“That’s great news.” He said warmly. “I’m happy for you.”

Camille’s body went limp. The test still clutched in her hand suddenly felt invisible. Sweat broke out across her forehead. Her heart slammed against her ribs so violently she thought it might crack them.

Taylor’s pregnant? The words echoed in her head like a gunshot. He’s happy?

“I’ll come meet you right away.” Roderick continued, already reaching for his shirt. “You’re not in any sort of pain, are you? Don’t move around too much.”

“I’m perfectly fine.” Taylor purred, leaning closer to the camera. “Just get here already. I miss you.”

“Sure. See you in a bit.” He ended the call.

He turned around and froze when he saw Camille standing in the doorway, her face pale and her eyes wide with horror.

“Hey there.” He said, smiling like nothing was wrong. He stepped forward to hug her.

Camille jerked back, stepping fully into the room. “Taylor’s pregnant?”

Roderick’s smile faltered.

“You heard all that?” He sighed. “I guess you did.”

“Is that all you’re going to say?” Her voice cracked in a whisper. “You really got another woman pregnant after you spent your time and energy pressuring me into coming back? After you kissed me and told me you needed me? You said you wanted to make it up to me, Roderick. Was it all a lie?”

“Camille, can this not be an argument this morning?” He sounded irritated already, rubbing the bridge of his nose.

“It’s exhausting. I’ve been giving you my entire attention these past weeks. I’ve done everything you wanted. Your point of argument right now is just… exhausting.”

“I’m exhausting?” She repeated with disbelief. Tears burned her eyes, but she blinked them back fiercely.

“So you didn’t do all that because you wanted to? It was just an act to brainwash me into staying? So what now? You’re going to run off and meet her?”

Roderick’s jaw tightened. His eyes flashed with the old coldness she knew too well. “Look, I’m trying here. Taylor is carrying my child and I have responsibilities.”

“In case you don’t know, your wife is pregnant too!! ” She yelled at him as she wiped at her eyes angrily, refusing to let the tears fall.

Roderick blinked. Shock crossed his face, but it wasn’t the joy she had imagined. It was closer to stunned disbelief.

“What did you say, Camille?”

“I said I’m pregnant with our child, Roderick!” Her voice rose, cracking. “Aren’t you happy?”

“I… I am.” He said, but the words sounded flat. His eyes didn’t light up the way they had on the call with Taylor. There was no smile, no rush to pull her close either.

“Liar!” Camille shouted, the word ripping out of her.

“I don’t see the same excitement in your eyes that you had when you were talking to her a few minutes ago. Let me guess, you hate the idea of me being pregnant because you’re obsessed with my body staying perfect for you, is that it?”

“You’re being dramatic. Of course I’m happy about our child.” Roderick’s expression hardened.

“So what’s going to happen now?” Her voice shook with rage and pain. “I can’t be sharing your attention with another woman while I’m pregnant! Oh God, I can’t believe this. I can’t believe I fell for your lies again.”

Roderick exhaled sharply, clearly losing his patience. “I’ll give you my attention, Camille. Taylor will move into the villa with us. That way I don’t have to be away all the time. It’s practical.”

Camille stared at him, feeling something inside her shatter. Is this guy seriously thinking of bringing his mistress into their matrimonial home.

“And yet again, you’re prioritizing another woman over me! Again and again and again!”

“You see why we fight all the time?” His voice rose now, irritation turning to open anger. “Taylor doesn’t give me this much headache. She doesn’t nag, she doesn’t question every single thing I do. She just… understands.”

Camille’s face crumpled hearing him comparing her with his mistress. Tears spilled down her cheeks freely now. She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to hold her breaking pieces together.

“I’m going to leave you, Roderick.” She yelled at him.

“If this is how you choose to treat me and our baby, I will leave. I can’t let my child grow up watching his father love another woman more than his own mother. I can’t let him grow up knowing his father prioritizes another woman’s child over him. I’ll really leave you, Roderick. I’ll leave if you choose her over me.”

She waited, heart in her throat, praying he would soften. Praying he would choose her.

Roderick rolled his eyes, the gesture so casual and cruel it stole what little breath she had left. He walked closer, lowering his face to her level.

“Then leave.” He said coldly.

He turned and walked out of the room without another word, the door clicking shut behind him.

Camille stood frozen in the middle of the bedroom. The test stick slipped from her fingers and clattered to the floor. Her knees buckled as she grabbed the edge of the dresser to keep from falling, but the heartbreak was too heavy. A raw, broken sob tore out of her as she slid down to the ground.

“I’m such a fool.” She screamed to the empty room. “Such a stupid, pathetic fool.”

Tears poured down her face as she curled into herself, clutching her stomach where their baby was growing.

She had believed him, she had held in to the remaining love she had for him and yet, he had destroyed her all over again.