All Chapters of Pregnant, Betrayed, and Done with Their Lies: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

After scheduling an abortion, I knocked on the door.My best friend, Esther Ford, instinctively shoved my husband, Alvin Lane, away and hurried over to let me in. "Daph, you're finally back! Being alone with your husband is so boring, I swear. Come on, look at the birthday cake I got you!"She dragged me over to the table. On top of the cake were two little girls leaning against each other. Written beneath them in frosting were the words, "Daphne & Esther, Best Friends Forever."I stared at it, saying nothing. I just raised a hand and gently wiped away the tears that hadn't quite dried at the corner of Esther's eyes.She stiffened and quickly turned her face away. "I-I was watching this really touching drama earlier…"I quietly studied the woman who'd been my best friend for 17 years. She'd always been bright and bubbly; she almost never cried.In all those years, I could remember her crying only twice. The first was when she saw the bruises my parents had left on my arms. The se

I hurled every last bite of that cake.Alvin blanched. He strode in, and his hand trembled as he patted my back. "What's wrong? Did something upset your stomach?"The perfume washed over me again. As I lifted a hand to push him away, I saw a jarring streak of red on his white dress shirt.All at once, I thought of our wedding three years ago. I remembered waving those scissors around hysterically. My lips trembled as tears slipped down my face.Alvin took me to the hospital. Just as it was almost my turn, his phone rang. I had no idea what the person on the other end said, but his expression shifted, and he shot to his feet.People around us turned to look, but he didn't seem to notice. "Daph, stay in line here. I've got something to deal with, but I'll be right back."He walked off in a rush while tossing those words over his shoulder.I watched him leave gastroenterology and head straight for OB-GYN. As I got to my feet, my phone chimed. It was my reminder for the abortion app

The hospital room was quiet when I woke up. The sharp smell of disinfectant stung my nose and made my eyes water.Alvin sat by the bed, his eyes bloodshot and his fist clenched around that crumpled abortion slip. He looked like he'd been sitting there forever—long enough that the blood on his shirt had dried, and long enough that Esther stood in the doorway, too scared to make a sound.When he saw my eyes open, he lurched forward and grabbed my hand."Daph…" His voice was so hoarse it barely sounded like him. "Why didn't you tell me?"I stared at the ceiling for a long time before I finally asked softly, "Tell you what? That I was pregnant so I could watch you hesitate between Esther and me, trying to pick one?"The color drained from his face. "No, that's not it. I didn't know… I honestly had no idea you were pregnant."It was like he'd latched onto his last lifeline as he rushed to explain. "If I'd known, I wouldn't have left you and gone to Esther. I wouldn't have—"I looked

"Yes, you're not divorced yet." Sean was calm. "That's why I'm giving you the divorce papers now."Alvin flung the papers to the floor. Sheets scattered everywhere."I'm not signing." He looked at me, his voice strained to the breaking point. "Daph, I know you hate me right now. You can take it out on me however you want—heck, I'll even get on my knees for you. I'll take it. But you can't just erase our five years because you're mad."I lifted my eyes to his. "Alvin, do you remember what you said the first time you took me home?"He froze.I answered for him. "You said I didn't have to be scared anymore. You said you'd give me a home."My chest felt like something heavy was crushing it; even breathing hurt. "I believed you. That's why I let you see me at my worst, and I left all my weakest parts in your care."But you and Esther—one of you used my insecurity as an excuse, and the other used my trust as a cover-up. You made me feel like every moment I thought I was loved all thes

One day, when I got home after work, I saw Alvin waiting for me with a thermal flask. He looked like he'd lost weight. He was unshaven, and his eyes were bloodshot.His eyes lit up when he saw me. "Daph."I stopped about ten feet away. "Alvin, I told you to stop harassing me."He acted like he didn't hear me and held out the flask. "I made you soup. The doctor said you're weak now and need all the nutrition you can get. I spent a really long time learning how to make this. It may not taste that good yet, but just try—"I didn't take it. "You never set foot in the kitchen in the past."Alvin's eyes reddened. "I promise I'll learn to cook from now on."I looked him in the eye. "It's too late for that."The words were as light as air, but they cut like a knife, draining the color from his face.His fingers tightened, and the flask started to shake. "Daph, I swear I've ended things with Esther. I told her to get rid of the baby, but she refused. I'll give her money and make it up t