The Polar Expedition Affair

Four years ago, I was seven months pregnant when I fell down the stairs with my husband's childhood sweetheart.She survived.My unborn twins—a boy and a girl—did not.My husband, Reece Malcolm, was furious. That same night, he sent her away. Out of the country. Out of sight. Out of our lives.Or so I thought.But now, four years later, Reece appeared at the airport with her in his arms. Her belly was round with new life."Let's get a divorce," I said."Lucy, don't be like this," he replied. "You still don't understand how much we've sacrificed. I know you hate Erica, but the child is innocent!"As if that justified everything.As if that erased the fact that while I was kept in the dark, Erica was being delivered straight into my husband's bed.Even Reece's own brother and sister joined in—pressuring me to accept it all."Your health isn't what it used to be," his sister said. "Erica just wanted to give Reece a child. Try to be understanding, won't you? It doesn't have to g

Erica's voice was soft, but every word drove into me like a knife.My mind went blank. Tears streamed down my cheeks, blurring everything. I didn't think—I just tore myself from Reece's grip and stumbled down the stairs, barely able to keep upright.Outside, the rain was coming down hard, but I didn't care. I ran through the courtyard to the neighborhood garbage depot and began rummaging, bag by bag, looking for anything that had once belonged to my children."Lucy, wake up. They're gone. The kids are gone. Doing this isn't going to change anything," Reece said as he held an umbrella over me, trying to pull me into his arms. "Come home with me.""My children are still alive in my heart," I said, my voice breaking. "You already have a new child. Maybe you've moved on—but I haven't!""I haven't forgotten either. But what do you want from me? To live the rest of my life drowned in grief and depression?" His grip on the umbrella tightened until his knuckles whitened.He continued, "Y

"She's clearly fine, isn't she? Why make such a fuss and ruin everyone's vacation mood? I bet she had the housekeeper call you on purpose. Just didn't want us enjoying ourselves," Erica said, her face contorted with irritation."Alright, alright," Reece sighed. "Lucy's sick after all. I was just worried she might be left alone and something bad could happen."He wrapped his arm around Erica and gently patted her back. "I'll make it up to you with another beautiful trip next time, I promise. Didn't you say the snowy mountains looked stunning? Once the baby's born, I'll take you skiing. Don't be upset, okay?"It was their voices—this couple's bickering wrapped in affection—that woke me."Lucy, are you alright?" Reece came over and touched my forehead softly, a flicker of concern in his voice. "It's my fault. I thought it was just a mild cold. Here, have some warm broth. Let me feed you."It was the first time Reece had shown me this kind of attentiveness since his return.Then came

Outside City Hall, Reece stood frozen, watching my back as I stepped into the car.My car grew smaller and smaller in his line of sight, swallowed gradually by the street's horizon. Then, without warning, he took off after it—running madly, desperately, as if sheer force of will could stop the inevitable. But the car did not stop. It carried me away, leaving him behind like a ghost in the rearview.Eventually, his legs gave out. Breathless, aching, utterly depleted, he collapsed in the middle of the street and broke down in sobs—raw, hoarse, gut-wrenching sobs that tore through the cold air and drew stares from passersby. He didn't care."Why?" he cried. "How? How could Lucy leave me?"His fingers twisted into his own hair as he murmured to himself like a madman. Somewhere deep inside, he had always known how much I loved him—too much. And he'd counted on that love, leaned on it like a crutch, using it as license to make mistake after mistake.Only now, when I was truly gone, di

"Morning, my beautiful wife-to-be," James murmured as he brushed a gentle kiss against my cheek.Two years had passed. I was still working at the same company, the same office, the same desk. On my finger, a diamond ring gleamed quietly—an almost comical size, like something out of a dream. We were getting married. Ever since that day, it seemed I'd become bolder than I'd ever intended to be.The man I had once labeled a reckless playboy, one of Reece's notorious friends, had somehow become my fiancé.But James was nothing like Reece. He always asked for my opinion before making decisions, no matter how small. He orchestrated quiet little surprises and took me to see the most beautiful places—mountains that folded like origami under the sky, coastlines that shimmered in the dusk. We worked hard together, built a life that felt real and great. He could sense my mood from the smallest detail and responded with a kindness that wrapped around me like the hush of late afternoon lig