Chapter 2

Teresa and I argued about it, but I eventually let it go.

Now, the same crib she dismissed as a waste of money sat in the home she shared with another man.

A digital photo frame on the nightstand beside it cycled through pictures. One showed the two of them at a ski resort.

Teresa wore a bright red ski suit and hugged Anthony from behind. He wore similar gear. They leaned their heads together, grinning at the camera against a backdrop of snowy mountains.

The date on the photo was just a month ago.

Teresa told me that trip was for a weeklong finance conference in Ivoryn. She claimed her schedule was so packed that she couldn't even squeeze in a video call.

And I bought it. I worried about her and texted every day, telling her to get some rest and make time to eat.

So that was her finance conference. A romantic ski trip with another man.

"Find him?"

Anthony called from the living room.

His voice snapped me out of it. My chest tightened until I could barely draw a breath.

"No."

I gripped the doorframe until I trusted myself to speak again.

"Guess I was wrong. He's probably back downstairs by now. Sorry to bother you."

I hurried out of the nursery. I couldn't stand to look at another thing in there.

"No problem. So, are you married? My wife works in finance. If yours is in the same line of work, maybe they know each other."

Anthony chatted away, completely at ease. There was something almost boyishly innocent about his expression that made the whole situation even more absurd.

"My wife works in finance, too," I said. "Small world."

She certainly knew how to make a good investment. With my money, she got herself a second home, a second husband, and a whole new family.

I practically ran out of the apartment. When I got downstairs, Teresa was stretched out on our couch, watching the financial news.

"Take the trash out?" she asked without looking up.

"Yeah." I sat beside her while the anchor talked through the latest stock market trends.

Her familiar woody perfume drifted toward me. I always associated that scent with her. Now, it made my stomach turn.

"Teresa." I kept my voice low. "Remember that crib we talked about? I saw it online again today. Looks like it's on sale. Why don't we get it? It's still the one I want."

She finally looked away from the TV and rested her hand on my arm. Her voice was gentle, but her tone left no room for argument.

"Honey, we already talked about this. There's no point spending that much on something we'll barely use. We need to be smart with our money."

I tried again. "What about that painting, Whispers of the Stars? Remember that?"