第4章

"Claire, honey. Sorry to bother you."

Vivian was wearing a loose, flowing dress. Not her usual style at all.

"I can't reach Derek. Is he here?"

I nodded and turned to Derek.

"Your true love is here."

Derek scrambled to his feet, but he wasn't fast enough.

Patricia charged to the door and dragged Vivian inside.

"So you're the tramp who's been seducing my son!

"Shameless little homewrecker!"

Vivian stumbled and nearly fell.

Derek rushed forward, pulling Vivian into his arms.

"Mom! If you want to punish someone, punish me!

"Leave Vivian out of this!"

What a devoted pair of star-crossed lovers.

I stood to the side, quietly adjusting the angle of the security camera.

But Vivian wasn't done with me.

She gently pushed Derek aside and walked toward me.

"Claire, honey, I know it's hard to accept that Derek doesn't love you anymore.

"But you can't force someone's heart. Even if you pressure him through his parents to save the marriage, what's the point?

"You need to learn to let go."

Confident. Self-assured.

Just like Derek, once upon a time.

A flicker of recognition crossed Derek's eyes.

As if he'd forgotten that his parents had come because they'd seen the divorce papers, not because I'd asked them to.

Idiot.

I rubbed my temples.

"I'm not holding on.

"Look, I've got all the paperwork right here. I was on my way to finalize it."

Vivian glanced at the folder in my hand.

A spark of triumph in her eyes.

I was curious.

If she knew what else was in that folder, I wondered what her face would look like.

Richard stood firm, his voice cold.

"As long as I'm alive, Claire is the only daughter-in-law this family will ever have!

"A cheap woman like you can forget about it!"

Patricia moved closer to me, standing behind me like a shield.

Derek pulled Vivian behind him, his tone icy.

"Claire, let's end this with some dignity. Stop making a scene."

Looking at their clasped hands, I felt a moment of disbelief.

They looked like a pair of noble lovers, standing tall against the world, guarding their true love to the bitter end.

Almost moving enough to make you want to applaud.

If I weren't the wife they were so heroically casting aside.

"Yeah, Claire, honey," Vivian said.

She placed her hand on her belly and smiled.

"I'm carrying Derek's baby. Five months along.

"Would you really force Derek's baby to be born out of wedlock?"

The words died in Richard's throat.

He stood there, stunned.

Patricia spoke, her voice barely there.

"You're saying... you're pregnant with my grandchild?"

Vivian looked the picture of innocence.

"Yes. Five months.

"I was going to get an abortion quietly. I didn't want to be the woman who broke up a family.

"But Derek told me to keep it.

"He said that poor Claire's health wasn't really suited for..."

Her voice trailed off to almost nothing.

I knew exactly what she meant.

Six months ago, I'd had a miscarriage from overwork.

The doctor had gently explained that my health was poor and that, without serious rest and recovery, getting pregnant again would be difficult.

I remembered lying weak and exhausted in that hospital bed.

I remembered Richard and Patricia scolding me for being so thoughtless, worried the family name would die out with him.

Derek had looked exhausted, dark circles carved under his eyes, but he'd still stepped in.

"Claire didn't mean for it to happen. Could you two please step out and let her rest?"

For the next month, Derek devoted himself to taking care of me.

I was so grateful, so guilty. I broke down crying in his arms.

He held me gently, whispering comfort.

And then, the moment he left the hospital, he'd gone straight to the apartment he was renting for Vivian and taken her to bed.

I thought about the photos in the file, and I couldn't help but laugh at myself.

Patricia walked over and placed her hand on Vivian's belly.

As if she were cradling something precious.

Every eye in the room turned to me.

Triumphant. Expectant. Furious.

None of them sorry.

"It's getting late. Let's go take care of the paperwork.

"Derek's up for his promotion to associate professor next month, isn't he?

"It wouldn't be good for his career if personal drama got in the way."

Everyone quietly exhaled.

When the divorce was finalized, Derek actually looked a little sad.

"Claire, we can still be friends.

"If you ever need anything, just say the word. I'll be there."

When I was in his way, I was the villain.

The second I stepped aside, I was a friend.

I smiled.

"Vivian wouldn't like us keeping in touch. I'd rather not set myself up for that."

Derek pressed his lips together. "You don't know her. She's not the jealous type."

I let it go.

"By the way, can I come watch your promotion review next month?

"It's your dream, after all. I don't want to miss something that important."

Something stirred in Derek's eyes.

"Sure."

I smiled, nodded, and walked away.

One month. Plenty of time to put together a proper gift.