Chapter 2

2

I listened to the sound of the running water and picked up Nora's phone.

Her passcode was just her birthday, and her messages looked normal at first.

Then, I scrolled through her social media feed.

I saw a post from her first love, Austin Brooks.

He had posted a series of photos at a hot spring resort.

The background looked exactly like the place we were staying at right now.

A sickening thought crept into my mind. Is the baby his?

I checked the timeline on the ultrasound report again.

Austin had returned to the country about a month ago.

Back then, he had posted a photo of the same hot springs.

"Six years later, I've finally found my way back to you," the caption read.

The photo showed two hands interlocked together.

Austin was wearing a necklace that was identical to mine.

And the hand he was holding was wearing a wedding ring I knew all too well.

Nora had been at this same resort for a team-building event a month ago.

The knot in my stomach tightened into a ball of lead.

I put her phone back and hurried out of the room.

I went straight to the front desk to check the guest list.

Sure enough, Austin Brooks had been here a month ago, and he was here again today.

When I returned to the room, Nora and her bag were gone.

I followed the damp footprints on the floor to a secluded outdoor pool.

The thick leaves of the tropical plants hid me from view.

I saw two people locked in a passionate, desperate kiss.

It was Nora and Austin.

In that moment, it felt like the blood in my veins had turned to ice.

The sound of their heavy breathing shattered what was left of my heart.

I stumbled back to the room and curled up on the bed.

I couldn't erase the image of them together from my mind.

I remembered Nora telling me how excited she was to have a baby with me.

The irony was so sharp it felt like a physical wound.

I stayed there in the dark until I heard her creeping back into the room.

Nora smelled like steam and expensive perfume as she sat on the edge of the bed.

"Honey, are you asleep?" she whispered.

She noticed my body was shaking and reached out to touch my forehead.

I pretended to be having a nightmare and rolled over to avoid her hand.

Hearing my steady breathing, Nora assumed I was dead to the world.

She didn't suspect a thing. She adjusted the AC and walked out to the balcony.

I opened my eyes and listened as she called her best friend.