Chapter 3

Half an hour later, I pulled up outside a secluded house in the mountains just beyond town.

The woman who answered the door was our old nanny. She looked after the twins from the time they were born, five years ago.

The girls adored her. I paid her well and planned to keep her on until they were grown, but last year, she quit, saying her son was getting married.

Apparently, Marie had brought her here to help with the baby she was expecting with Tyler.

"Mr. Lynch..."

I set my jaw, pushed past her, and walked inside.

In the first room off the entryway, a pregnant Ragdoll stretched out lazily.

The room was twice the size of the one at the office, with cat trees, beds, and supplies everywhere. Marie apparently gave Daisy a whole room here, too.

I headed down the hall and heard Marie's soft voice through a partly open door.

"It's alright. You heard the doctor. Your heart's no worse than it was before.

"And the baby's fine. He's perfectly healthy.

"We can replace everything Gavin broke. And don't worry about those photos. I'll call the studio and have them put together another collage."

Through the gap, I saw her nestled against Tyler, her fingers brushing lightly along his throat.

Tyler sighed. "What happens when he comes after me again? He doesn't want me anywhere near you."

Marie gave a soft laugh. "Let him try. Have I ever let anyone hurt you?"

I pushed the door open and stepped inside, my hands clenched at my sides. "Marie. I want Esther and Karen's wedding gifts back."

Tyler's eyes widened. He grabbed his chest and struggled for breath, his face tightening with pain.

Marie stepped in front of him. The warmth left her face, and she snatched a bottle of scented oil off the table and threw it at me.

"What the hell are you doing here? Tyler's still recovering! Can't this wait until he's better?"

In our ten years together, Marie only lost her temper with me twice. Both times were today, both were over Tyler, and now she was throwing things at me.

The bottle hit my forehead. Pain shot through my head, and I staggered, dizzy from the blow.

"I'm only saying this once more. Give me back my daughters' wedding gifts, or I'm calling the police."

Marie frowned at the blood running down my forehead. Before she could speak, Tyler started gasping again.

He stepped toward me weakly and pulled the gold ring off his finger.

"Here. Take it. I'll return everything. You want someone to blame, blame me. Take a swing if you need to. But Marie's carrying my son. Keep the baby out of this."

Marie hurried to his side and put an arm around him.

"Stop. You don't need to take the blame for everything. Please, just calm down."

Then she turned to me, her expression hardening.

"Well, Gavin, now you know. There's no reason to keep hiding it.

"I'm having a son. My son! All you ever gave me were two useless daughters. They don't deserve expensive wedding jewelry. I sold everything in that box except the ring and used the money to buy Tyler gifts.

"Don't make this a bigger deal than it is. Tyler isn't asking me to leave you. Just leave him and my son alone, and we can stay married."

She had made it painfully clear where her priorities lay.

She no longer loved me, and apparently, she didn't care about the daughters she had carried for nine months, either.

There was nothing left worth saving.

I walked over and took the gold ring from Tyler.

"Save it. He's the father of your son. You can have each other."

I turned to Marie. "I want a divorce."

Tyler stared at me in alarm as I took out my phone and dialed 911.