Chapter 1

1 The day my husband, Jake, brought his 20-year-old self home, I, at 30, watched him burst from the bedroom and punch himself square in the jaw, tears streaming down his face.

"No wonder she wants a divorce! You're treating my future wife like crap!"

...

Jake's unexpected return meant I had to shove 20-year-old Jake into the closet.

Thirty-year-old Jake was in the entryway, setting down a plastic bag of meat and veggies, loosening his tie as he kicked off his shoes.

Spotting the pair of men's sneakers by the door, Jake's face hardened, and he tightened his tie again.

"Annie, is this why you want a divorce?"

Did he really not know why I wanted a divorce?

I couldn't be bothered to look at him, just leaned against the wall, arms crossed.

"Back to get your stuff? Grab it and go."

Jake's jaw clenched.

He was pissed.

"I feel the need to remind you, we're not divorced yet, and this is still my house! Can you try to be a little less blatant?"

House?

Was it really a home anymore?

Ever since he took on that pretty assistant, he'd been living at the office.

Our marriage had been dead for ages.

Facing my silence, he turned to leave, and I barely caught his mumbled words.

"And I was even planning to come home for your birthday."

I stared at the bag of groceries, and a watery smile stretched across my face.

For his assistant's birthday, he showered her with Chanel and Hermes.

For my birthday, I didn't even merit a single rose.

Jake and I got together right after high school, giving each other our most precious years.

Back then, we weren't rich, but we were deeply in love.

But people change, and two months ago, I asked him for a divorce.

That was the day I found out I was pregnant.

Filled with hope, I called him, but his assistant, Bethany, answered.

"Can I help you? Jake's unavailable."

I'm Jake's wife! What could possibly make him unavailable to me?

And besides, I called his cell.

Didn't Jake have some kind of cleanliness obsession?

How could he let someone else answer his phone?

"I need to talk to him. He's not in a meeting right now, so tell him to pick up."

"I already told you, he's unavailable!"

I could hear the dismissiveness and impatience dripping from her voice.

Before I could respond, a heavy, breathless "Who is it?" cut through the line.

Jake was right there with her.

I could practically hear the rustle of clothes.

Were they wrapped in each other's arms?

My brain went numb, and I hung up.