Chapter 2

The next day, Shirley threw up before sunrise. 

She barely made it to the bathroom when the nausea finally eased. She remained kneeling on the cold floor with one hand pressed against her stomach.

A smile tugged at her lips despite everything.

Two pink lines.

She had checked the test three times the previous night to make sure she wasn't imagining it. 

It read ‘pregnant’ and her heart leaped for joy. 

She closed her eyes. For a moment, she allowed herself to forget Damien's words from the night before.

“A baby”, she whispered with her hand on her stomach. 

Maybe this was the fresh start they needed…perhaps this child would remind Damien of what they once had.

But the hope was foolish and she knew it.

Still, she couldn't stop herself from holding onto it.

Then a knock sounded on the bedroom door.

"Mommy!"

Shirley quickly stood.

"I'm coming my love."

She rinsed her mouth before stepping out.

Little Cindy was already waiting outside in her pajamas.

The two year old immediately lifted her arms.

Shirley laughed softly and picked her up.

"Good morning, sweetheart."

"Morning."

Cindy planted a kiss on her cheek.

Somehow, that made everything feel better…at least for a while.

                                  ***

At the dining, everyone was quiet. 

Damien sat at the head of the table, scrolling through his phone. He didn't touch the newspaper, he didn't speak and he did not bother to spare them a glance. 

His attention never left the screen.

Cindy waved her spoon.

"Daddy…daddy.”

But there was no response. 

"Daddy!"

Damien finally looked up.

"What is it, princess?"

Cindy grinned, "I drew you."

"Did you?"

She nodded and held up a crayon drawing.

"That's me?" Damien said with a soft smile. 

Cindy pointed proudly.

"Yes, that's daddy."

Then she pointed at another figure.

"That's Mommy."

Shirley beamed. For a second, she thought the moment might warm Damien's mood.

Instead, his phone buzzed and his attention shifted immediately. 

His smile disappeared and his fingers hovered across the screen. He was typing real quick and Shirley noticed something. 

Something had changed over the past few months.

Her mind cast back to the late nights, the secretive phone calls and the sudden business trips.

Every time she asked, there was always an explanation – work, clients, meetings or emergencies. 

Damien pushed back his chair.

"I have to leave", he said.

"But you barely touched your breakfast."

"I'm not hungry", he said with his eyes glued to the phone. 

Shirley hesitated before speaking…"I was thinking maybe we could have dinner together tonight."

"No", he replied rather quickly. 

"I'll be busy."

"Busy with work?"

Damien finally looked at her.

The expression on his face made her wish she hadn't spoken.

"What else would I be busy with?"

Before she could answer, he grabbed his jacket and walked away.

A moment later, the front door slammed. Silence engulfed the dining room and Cindy looked up. 

"Daddy angry?"

"No, sweetheart”, Shirley replied with a forced smile. 

But her chest felt very tight. 

***

The pregnancy test remained hidden inside her bedside drawer.

She stared at it for several seconds before arriving at a decision. 

Enough of waiting and enough of trembling. 

She was his wife.

She shouldn't need an appointment to talk to her husband.

Today she would tell him about the pregnancy.

Maybe everything would change or maybe she was just a fool for believing that. 

Either way, she needed answers so she packed up for his office. 

Schrett Holdings occupied the top fifteen floors of a glass tower facing the city.

The building always intimidated Shirley.

All the employees seemed polished and elegant. 

She tightened her grip on the insulated lunch bag.

The receptionist smiled politely upon sighting her. 

"Mrs. Schrett."

"Hi."

"What can I do for you?"

"I brought lunch for Damien."

The woman's smile faltered slightly and Shirley noticed. 

"Is he in a meeting?"

"Mr. Schrett is...occupied."

"Oh", Shirley adjusted the lunch bag.

"I can wait."

The receptionist looked uncomfortable.

"That may take some time."

"That's okay”, she replied and took her seat on the side. 

Ten minutes passed, then twenty, then thirty and through it all, the receptionist kept glancing toward the elevators.

Shirley was beginning to feel ridiculous and she wanted to leave. 

But the elevator doors opened and a woman stepped out.

Every head in the lobby turned, including Shirley's.

The woman was stunning – long dark hair and perfect makeup with a tailored blue suit that seemed to cost more than Shirley's monthly allowance. 

The lady walked toward the executive elevator and Shirley frowned.

"Who is she?"

The receptionist looked startled.

"What?"

"That woman."

"Oh”, the receptionist quickly looked away.

"Miss Violetta."

The name seemed familiar.

"Does she work here?"

"No”, the receptionist replied quickly. 

Then she immediately returned to her computer.

Shirley's stomach tightened. She wondered how the lady got by without an appointment. 

No security check whatsoever, yet she had access to Damien's private floor.

Why?

The question lingered in her mind and before she realized what she was doing, she stood.

"Mrs. Schrett?"

Shirley ignored the receptionist and walked toward the executive elevator.

The same elevator Violetta had used. It also happened to be the same elevator reserved for senior executives. 

The receptionist rose from her chair and called out, "Mrs. Schrett, wait."

But Shirley was already inside.

The executive floor was almost empty.

Most employees worked elsewhere.

The silence of that floor was suffocating and Shirley’s heartbeat quickened. 

Perhaps she was overreacting. Violetta was probably just a client or maybe she was a family friend.

But a woman's laugh drifted through the hallway and interrupted Shirley's thought.

The sound came from Damien's office but the door wasn't completely closed.

A narrow gap remained and it was just enough to see through.

The closer she got, the louder her heartbeat became.

She reached the door, peeped inside, and saw Violetta beside Damien's desk.

She was too close for comfort. Closer than a client and closer than any business partner. 

Damien was smiling sheepishly and it dawned on Shirley that she hadn't seen him smile this wide in years. 

Her throat tightened and she tried to look away. 

But Violetta said something and Damien laughed out loud.

Then she touched his arm casually and they locked eyes. 

Shirley couldn't breathe.

“No…no”, she whispered, “there had to be an explanation.”

Then Damien reached out. His hand settled against Violetta's waist.

Violetta lifted her face and he kissed her passionately.

The insulated lunch bag slipped from Shirley's fingers and hit the floor with a loud crash.

The sound echoed through the hallway.

Inside the office, Damien jerked away and Violetta turned.

Damien turned too and he turned pale.

"Shirley", he muttered.

Shirley stared at him and back at the woman. 

She turned her gaze to the hand resting on Violetta's waist and suddenly, the pregnancy test felt heavier than a hill.

And for the first time since marrying Damien Schrett...

She wished she had never loved him at all.