Chapter 4

The little breakfast nook Dominic and I had furnished together had been transformed into a sleek bar area.

On the counter sat two champagne flutes and an open bottle of Dom Pérignon. Beside them was a plate of strawberries dipped in chocolate.

I hated strawberries.

Dominic knew that. He’d never bought them for me in ten years.

Laughter drifted from the kitchen.

“Dom, you promised to make me your famous truffle pasta. You’re not going to burn it again, are you?”

“Relax, Elena. You know I can never say no to you.”

I followed the voices and stopped at the kitchen entrance.

Dominic stood behind Elena, his arms loosely wrapped around her waist as he helped her stir a pot on the stove. She leaned back against his chest, laughing.

I looked at them and let out a faint laugh.

“Dominic, is this what you meant when you kept insisting there was nothing going on between you two?”

They sprang apart immediately and he reached for me.

“Scarlett, please don’t misunderstand. There was a plumbing problem at Elena’s apartment yesterday, so I brought her here temporarily. I just haven’t had a chance to tell you.”

I glanced around the kitchen.

Two wine glasses sat beside the sink. A handbag I’d never seen before rested on one of the dining chairs. On the counter lay a pharmacy receipt with Elena’s name on it, dated two weeks earlier.

I looked toward the hallway. Her coat hung beside Dominic’s. A pair of expensive heels stood beneath the console table, and a framed photograph of them at a charity gala had been placed on the mantel.

They weren’t things someone had brought over yesterday.

“Two weeks?” I asked quietly.

Dominic followed my gaze. His jaw tightened.

“She’s been staying here occasionally. I didn’t tell you because I knew you’d react like this.”

I let out a humorless laugh.

“Your lies are embarrassing, Dominic.”

“Scarlett, please. Don’t start.”

He rubbed his forehead, already sounding exhausted by me.

“Once Elena gets back on her feet, things will return to normal. Can’t you give me a little time?”

I looked at the kitchen island.

It was where Dominic and I had once sat on the floor eating takeout because we couldn’t afford a dining table. Back then, he’d promised that when his business succeeded, we’d buy a house with a kitchen big enough for us to cook together every night.

We’d finally gotten that kitchen. He’d just found someone else to share it with.

“Do you remember our first Thanksgiving here?” I asked.

He frowned. “What does that have to do with anything?”

“We couldn’t afford a proper dinner, so we bought a cheap frozen turkey and spent the whole evening arguing over the oven temperature. You said we’d laugh about it when we were rich.”

His expression hardened. “Are we really doing this now? You’re upset because I’m helping a friend?”

“No.” I met his eyes. “I’m finally understanding that you can remember every promise you make to Elena, but you forget every promise you make to me.”

I turned toward the living room.

A sharp ache spread through my abdomen, but I forced myself to keep walking.

“Scarlett, wait.”

Elena hurried after me and caught my arm.

“Please don’t leave because of me. I’ll go if that’s what you want.”

As she spoke, she toyed with the necklace around her neck.

A small gold locket hung from the chain.

I recognized it instantly. I’d bought it as a blessing for my unborn child, hoping it would bring the baby good health and protection.

My fingers went cold.

Elena’s nails dug into my wrist as she leaned closer.

“You didn’t know?” she whispered. “Dominic gave it to me to protect our baby.”

“Your baby?”

Elena’s hand moved to her stomach, and a small smile touched her lips.

“I’m pregnant, Scarlett.”