He Fed Us Dog Food, I Fed Him Regret
My husband, Shawn Payne, goes bankrupt overnight. That very night, he ships me and our son, Tommy Payne, off to a deserted island, claiming it's the only way to keep us safe from his creditors.
Worried sick about leaving him to face the danger alone, I sneak back home halfway there, only to find him throwing a wild party, his arms wrapped tightly around a beautiful woman.
His best friend, Ryan Foster, needles him. "You dumped your wife and son in the middle of nowhere. How are they going to survive out there?"
Shawn shrugs like it's no big deal. "Yvonne's closing down her dog food factory anyway. I had all the surplus kibble repackaged and shipped to the island. It's more than enough to keep them fed for a few years."
The woman, Yvonne Sullivan, purrs and snuggles deeper into his chest.
"Oh, babe, you're so good to me and the baby," she coos, gently stroking her belly, which isn't even showing yet.
He taps the tip of her nose affectionately. "You're so innocent and soft-hearted. If I don't look out for you, who will?"
He pulls Yvonne closer and continues, "For your sake, I had to ship that shrew off to some godforsaken island. If she ever found out you were pregnant, she'd tear you apart. Once you have the baby and she turns two, I'll bring them back. By then, it'll be a done deal. There's nothing she can do about it."
His words hit me like a ton of bricks. A cold sweat soaks me to the skin.
Three years later, right on schedule, he calls. "Hey honey, how are you and Tommy doing? I'm ready to come pick you guys up."
I glance at the man beside me, and a rush of satisfaction washes over me.
"We're doing great," I reply. "My new husband treats both me and your son incredibly well."