Chapter 1 Chapter 1 Four months into my pregnancy , my husband's mistress moved into the apartment below us . The new neighbor downstairs often found items from our home - socks , shirts , even shorts and T - shirts . At first , I thought it was a coincidence and didn't pay much attention . Until one day , she knocked on my door in a thin nightgown , holding a pair of gray boxers in her hand . In that moment , my heart stopped . Because those boxers were new . I had bought them for my husband , and he had worn them out this morning . The sight of those gray boxers made my mind go blank , as if a bomb had just gone off in my head . Then , the memories of this morning came rushing back . Gavin had been teasing me in bed early that morning . He didn't get up until eight , grabbing clothes to wear in a rush . I distinctly remembered him picking up the brand - new gray boxers . But why were they now in the hands of our new neighbor , Nicole Gracelynn ?! " Hannah , sorry to bother you so early . " " You see , I found something of yours again ! " Nicole's smile was radiant , her fingers - painted in bright red nail polish - dangling the corner of the boxers in the air . My throat went dry , and I clenched my fists so tightly my nails dug into my palms , grounding myself . " Gavin doesn't own gray boxers , " I said . Nicole laughed , covering her mouth as her eyes scanned me up and down . " Hannah , I'll leave this at your door ! " With that , she swayed her hips and walked away , one step at a time . I stared at the gray boxers hanging from the door handle , frozen . This wasn't the first time she had found something from our home . Since she moved in a week ago , she'd been finding things of ours repeatedly . Socks , shirts , shorts , T - shirts . I had thought nothing of it at first , but now it felt like someone had hit me over the head with a club , and my mind became crystal clear .. I sank weakly onto the couch , suddenly remembering the day Nicole moved in . She had joined the community group chat right away , flamboyantly announcing that she had come here to pursue true love . But I never expected that her so - called " true love " would turn out to be my husband . And worse , they might already have been involved . The thought made my chest ache , a pain that spread to my stomach . I didn't want to believe Gavin would cheat on me . Clinging to a shred of hope , I shakily dialed his number . Before I could hit call , my phone buzzed with several messages from Nicole . Chapter 1 " We're in love . Just letting you know . " " Be smart and leave early ! " And then , one after another , came a series of photos . In the photos , Nicole was wearing Gavin's white doctor's coat , sitting on his lap . The poses were suggestive , the actions explicit . There were even pictures of them role - playing in a couple's hotel . The countless intimate photos were too much for me to process . I couldn't stop myself from enlarging the images , examining every detail . Then I noticed the small nick on Gavin's index finger and the date on the photos . It was like a bomb went off in my mind , leaving only a blank void and a deafening buzz . The date on the photos - just shortly after we got married . That was Gavin's first long business trip . He had followed online advice and reported his daily itinerary to me during that trip . But had they already been involved back then ? My phone slipped from my trembling hands , hitting the floor with a loud thud . I stood up , my legs unsteady . The TV in the living room reflected my image . My long hair , now cut short to my ears because of the pregnancy . Four months pregnant , my belly heavy and cumbersome . I stood there in the living room for half an hour , unmoving , until a reminder for my prenatal check - up appeared on my phone . I snapped out of it , calmly dressed , and headed downstairs to hail a cab to the hospital . But this time , I wasn't going for a prenatal check - up . I was going to schedule an abortion . " Are you sure you want to terminate the pregnancy ? " At the hospital , the doctor tried to persuade me multiple times , but I shook my head firmly each time . " Alright then . Please leave your husband's contact information . " I gave Gavin's name and number , then added , " Could you call him only after the procedure is done ? " " He's very busy , I don't want to disturb him . " The doctor's gaze suddenly filled with sympathy before nodding in agreement . After completing all the arrangements , I returned home as if nothing had happened , even stopping to buy groceries on the way .