Chapter 1

It was our restaurant's 5th anniversary of its first Michelin star, a night Andrew and I always celebrated. But he wasn't here. He was in San Francisco for an "emergency board meeting."

I stared at his text, a familiar disappointment settling in my stomach. It wasn't the baby kicking. It was just emptiness.

"I understand," I typed back, lying. "Work is important."

But I couldn't just sit at home. I was a traditionalist, and anniversaries mattered. I was also pregnant with our first child, a dream we had talked about since we were just kids in college.

So, I decided to surprise him. I packed a box of his favorite cronuts, the ones I only make for him, and grabbed the leash for Buddy, our Golden Retriever. Andrew gave him to me on our first anniversary. The dog was a living, breathing symbol of our good years.

The drive to his downtown office was quiet. Buddy rested his head on my swollen belly, a warm, comforting weight. When I got to Andrew's floor, the lights were dim. Strange for an emergency meeting. The door to his office was slightly ajar.

I pushed it open quietly, a smile ready on my face.

The smile died.

Andrew was there, but he wasn't alone. He was with Molly Johns, his junior partner. They were on his expensive mahogany desk, their bodies tangled together. My cronuts felt heavy in my hands.

Then I heard her voice, breathless and smug.

"So, who's better? Me or her?"

Andrew laughed, a sound that made my blood run cold.

"Are you kidding? Since Gabby got pregnant, she's always tired. All this 'nesting' bullshit. It's a complete turn-off."

The box of cronuts slipped from my numb fingers and hit the floor with a dull thud.

The sound startled them. Their heads snapped in my direction. Andrew' s face went pale, a mask of pure panic. Molly just looked annoyed, like I had interrupted something important.

"Gabby," Andrew gasped, scrambling off the desk and pulling up his pants.

He rushed towards me, his hands out. But I couldn't stand the thought of his touch. I backed away, grabbing Buddy's leash tighter. I turned and ran for the fire escape, the only way out that didn't involve going past them again.

Buddy barked, sensing my panic, and ran with me.

"Gabby, wait! It's not what it looks like!" Andrew shouted, chasing after me.

I fumbled with the heavy metal door and burst out onto the cold, wet stairs. The city air was damp and smelled of rain. Behind me, I heard Molly' s voice, sickly sweet.

"Let me talk to her, Andrew. I can explain."

I felt a hand grab my arm. It was Molly. She was wearing a unique, custom-made smartwatch. I froze. It was the exact watch I had seen Andrew designing on his computer for weeks. He told me it was my anniversary gift.

The shock hit me like a physical blow. I tried to pull my arm away.

"Get off me!" I screamed.

"You're overreacting," she said, her grip tightening. Then she gave me a sudden, hard shove.

I lost my balance on the slick metal. Time seemed to slow down. I saw Andrew reach out, his hand hovering between me and Molly, who had also stumbled. He chose to steady her.

Then I was falling.

I tumbled down the stairs, a mess of limbs and terror. I landed hard at the bottom, a sharp, searing pain shooting through my abdomen. It was a pain so intense it stole my breath.

I looked down. There was blood. So much blood.

The last thing I saw before I blacked out was Andrew holding Molly, his face a mess of confusion, while Buddy howled beside me.