---- Chapter 2 The television was still on, and Clara' s face filled the screen. She continued to talk, her words sweet and her smile radiant, painting a picture of a fairytale romance. "He's very traditional," she said, "He wants to do things the right way, for our family." Liam finally noticed | wasn't listening to him. He glanced at the TV, a flicker of something-annoyance? panic?-crossing his face before it was gone. "Trashy gossip," he muttered, reaching for the remote to turn it off. "Don't," | said, my voice flat. He stopped, looking at me with a confused expression. "Why do you want to watch this garbage, Ava?" | watched him as he stood there, and | saw it. He tugged at his left cufflink, a nervous habit he'd had since we were kids. He only ever did it when he was lying or trying to hide something. It was a small, almost invisible gesture, but to me, it was a confession. My mind drifted back. | remembered the night he proposed, on the balcony of the first building we ever designed together. The city lights twinkled below us, and he got down on one knee. ---- "Ava," he'd said, his voice thick with emotion, "we've built buildings together, but | want to build a life with you. From the day we met in that sandbox, it's always been you. Marry me." | had cried, tears of pure joy, and said yes without a second of hesitation. We were Ava and Liam, Liam and Ava. Inseparable. A team. The perfect couple everyone looked up to. For twenty years, he had been the center of my world. Now, that world was collapsing into dust. Liam seemed to get uncomfortable under my stare. "I'm going to step out and take a call from the site manager," he said, forcing another smile. "I'll be right back, honey." The moment the door clicked shut behind him, | moved. The pain in my abdomen was a dull throb, but my mind was sharp. | grabbed my laptop from my bag. There was no time to waste. | logged into our joint business account, the one we built from the ground up. With a few clicks, | initiated a transfer, moving my half of the liquid assets into a private account | had opened a week ago, just in case. Then, | opened my email and sent a message to my lawyer. "Proceed as discussed," it read. It was time to dissolve our professional partnership, severing the last major tie that bound us. Just as | closed my laptop, my phone buzzed. It was a message from my best friend, Sarah. It wasn't a message with words. It was a screenshot. ---- It was from Clara's Instagram page, posted just minutes ago. The photo was a close-up. It showed a woman' s hand, perfectly manicured, resting on a small, pregnant belly. Next to it was a man's hand, larger and stronger, covering hers. My breath caught in my throat. | would recognize that hand anywhere. | would recognize the custom signet ring on his pinky finger. It was a family heirloom, passed down from his grandfather. It was Liam' s hand. The caption underneath the photo was simple, just a single white heart emoji. But it was enough. It was more than enough. It was a public declaration, a stake driven through the heart of my life with him. The phone slipped from my hand, clattering onto the thin hospital blanket. The screen stayed lit, a glowing testament to his betrayal. He hadn't just cheated on me. He had built a whole other life, a whole other family, right under my nose. And the woman he built it with was our biggest professional rival. The pain in my stomach was nothing compared to the agony that ripped through my chest.