1

CHAPTER ONE

AVA

The pregnancy test showed two pink lines at 6:47 AM.

I stared at it for a full minute, maybe longer, watching those lines darken as if they might disappear if I blinked hard enough.

Four years, three rounds of fertility treatment and endless negative tests that Julian stopped checking after the first year.

I pressed my hand against my stomach feeling for life even when I couldn't feel it yet. Julian would love me even more. This baby would strengthen our love.

I tucked the test into my robe pocket and stepped out of the bathroom.

Emma's door was closed at the end of the hall. My sister, three years younger, still sleeping off whatever party she'd found last night.

Sienna was supposed to arrive today for lunch. My best friend since college days. She was the one who held my hand through every failed treatment, brought wine and cursed Julian's name when he forgot our anniversary.

I can already imagine the excitement on her face when I tell her.

I went back to my room and wore a dress Julian liked, pairing it with the pearl earrings he got me on our first anniversary. I wanted him to see me and remember why he married me.

At 2 PM, I heard his voice downstairs.

Julian was home early. Perfect.

I slipped the test into my pocket and walked toward his study, rehearsing the words in my head, a loud smile on my face. The study door was slightly ajar and I raised my hand to knock. Then I heard Sienna's laugh. A sound I could recognise anytime and anywhere.

Why was she here already? Whydidn't she tell me she was around?

"Julian, you're terrible." Her voice was warm and amused. "Absolutely terrible."

"She deserves it." Julian's voice sounded, cold in a way I'd never heard before. "She's so easy, Sienna. You have no idea."

My eyebrows dipped as I leaned forward.

"Easy how?"

"Easy to manipulate and very easy to lie to. She trusts everyone—you, Emma, me. She never questions anything." A pause. "She has no idea what's coming. I just can't wait to do away with her."

My hand dropped from the door.

"What about Emma?" Sienna asked.

"She's the most ready. That girl hates her sister more than I do."

My vision spinned for a second.

Another voice, one that sounded very much like Marcus Vale, the family lawyer. "The documents are prepared. Transfers, statements and witness signatures. Everything will be in place by Thursday."

"And she'll sign them?" Sienna again.

"She'll sign anything I put in front of her." Julian laughed. It was the ugliest sound I'd ever heard. "She still thinks I love her, that's the beautiful part. She'll walk in, see the papers, hear the charges, and she'll sign because she'll think it's all a mistake and I'm protecting her."

"And the baby?" Marcus asked. "The fertility treatments are still—"

"There is no baby." Julian cut him off. "There was never going to be a baby. I had the samples swapped months ago. She's been injecting God knows what into herself, praying for a miracle that was never coming."

The world tilted as my ringing sound filled my ears. I grabbed the wall to stay upright.

"That's cold," Sienna said, but she was laughing. "That's really cold, Julian. But I love it. Ain't no better way to deal with a desperate bitch."

Oh God.

"She's been mourning an empty womb for four years, what's a few more weeks? By the time she realizes the truth it'll be too late.”

"You should see her face when she talks about you, Sienna." Julian again. "She loves you. She actually believes you're her friend.” He laughed. “That's the part that kills me, she makes all these too easy and hands you her heart, asking you to be careful with it."

Sienna's voice dropped. "Don't."

"I'm just saying. You and Emma are very good at this. I'm so glad I picked the right women.”

"I’m not doing this for you." Sienna's voice sharpened. “I’m doing this formyself. She's had everything handed to her our whole lives, it's now my turn."

Tears pooled my eyes as I backed away from the door, taking steps as my feet moved without permission. I ran down the hall way and through the house without stopping until I reached out bedroom.

With a pounding heart and ringing head, I laid on the bed, staring at the ceiling. Everything I head began to replay in my head as my vision got blurry by the second.

I didn't move until morning and Julian didn't come to bed either. When sunlight finally touched the windows, I rose. I washed my face, put on the same dress and earrings.

I found Julian in the breakfast room, reading the newspaper, looking exactly like the man I'd married. Handsome, warm and safe.

"Ava." He smiled when he saw me, that smile that had made me say yes. "You're up early. Couldn't sleep?"

Is this really the man I heard yesterday?

I stood in the doorway, studying his face for any crack, any tell and any sign of the monster I'd heard last night. But there was nothing.

"Julian," I said carefully, "I heard your conversation with Sienna and Marcus yesterday afternoon. Is everything I heard true?1."

Something flickered in his eyes just for a second, then it was gone. His brow furrowed into concern and love. “What did you hear, my love?”

I blinked, tears gathering my eyes again. “That you had swapped the sample at the hospital and you were going to do away with me.” I raised my head to look at him with teary eyes. “You said I was too easy to manipulate.”

His eyes darkened for a few seconds, then it was gone as he approached me and took my hands in his.

"Ava, listen to me. You've been under so much pressure because of the treatments. Sienna mentioned she's worried about you. Emma too."

"No!” I screamed, shaking my head.

Why is he twisting the question?

“Ava, baby. Calm down. Your eyes are red, baby, have you been sleeping? You look exhausted.”

“No! That's not what I heard! That's not what I mean and you know it!”

My eyes were red and I was beginning to feel anger burn slowly beneath my skin. But before I could realise it, three people stormed in, all wearing white coat and scrub, syringe in hand.

“What's going on?” I asked, tears slipping down my face as I backed away from them when one tried to grab me.

Julian tried to hold me, but I jolted back from his touch as if it burned me.

"I think you need help, love. Real help. And I'm going to make sure you get it."

Realisation dawned on me and I froze.