Chapter 3

3 The next morning, Jake wakes up, saying he doesn't know how he fell asleep so quickly, and nuzzles my neck. "Sorry, Chloe, I've been so tired lately. Didn't mean to fall asleep."

"I'm going to work. We can go out to dinner with your mom and then I'll give you all the attention you want, I promise."

His words used to make me smile, but now, all I felt was disgust. After seeing what he said to Sarah, his sweet talk just makes my stomach churn.

"Your knee's bleeding, I'll get a bandage and milk"

"Okay, Chloe, You're the best, only seeing you smile makes my life worth living."

On my way to the courthouse, I think, "love can be an act," and I can't believe I was so blind to it.

When I get the divorce papers, I hear my friend saying, "Getting your kid back is going to be a nightmare. The kid is on Mark's family's health plan, so Mark and Sarah are her legal guardians."

"You'd need a DNA test. Either you or Jake would need to do it, but even then, it's up to the kid if she wants to go with you."

I never saw my baby after the accident. I have nothing to use for a DNA test. That means I need to confront Jake.

I go to the hospital and a nurse tells me, "Dr. Miller isn't here. He's downstairs with his wife and daughter."

"His wife?" I ask.

"Yeah, they're cute together. She's gorgeous, and has an amazing body. They're perfect." The nurses start gossiping. "She's got high-end style. He spoils her. I saw him give her some huge diamond. It's so romantic."

"His wife is beautiful. The daughter too, she's like a doll. They're so perfect, it's sickening!"

"Hey, who are you anyway?" one of them asks me, rolling her eyes. "Don't tell me you're some patient trying to get his attention. I've seen that a million times. You better take a look in the mirror, and back off. They are in love." They give me a mean look.

I fiddle with my clothes, feeling bitter. Jake rarely lets me come to his work, and when I did, I was never allowed to tell people who I was. He always said the nurses gossiped too much. He never bought me expensive things, saying it didn't fit my style. But he bought it all for her. All the excuses were lies.

I find Jake downstairs. Sarah is holding his arm and they're looking at kids playing in the park by the hospital.

"Did Mark notice anything?" Sarah asks.

"No. Since I gave him the baby, he's obsessed. He buys me whatever I want. He calls me his 'baby girl,' kissing me all the time. Totally different from his usual stuffy self…thanks for helping me out, Jake."

Jake is silent for a moment, then says, "As long as you're happy, it doesn't matter."

A girl in a princess dress runs to Jake, "Daddy! I'm hungry!"

"Oh, and who's this?" she asks, curious.

Jake notices me. "Chloe? What are you doing here?"

"Don't worry. That's Sarah's daughter, I adopted her."

Sarah smiles, hiding the smug look in her eyes. "Yep, I let her call him dad, she's still little. Don't worry, Chloe, she doesn't really understand the meaning."

She used the exact same words years ago. "Chloe, Mark loves me too much, don't worry." That's when Jake asked me to marry him.

Jake pulls me away and asks me, "What's wrong?

I tear my eyes away from the little girl. "Nothing… I was just wondering about a gift for your mom's birthday."

"Oh, you know her best. Whatever you pick is great." He then notices my divorce agreement, "What's this?"

I hesitate. "Jake, I need to ask you..."

"Honey, my stomach hurts. Could you hold our daughter for me?" Sarah cuts me off.

Jake runs to her. "Don't drink the cold water! You're on your period. You never listen." Then he turns to me, "Chloe, you can go home. I need to help Sarah, it's not easy with a child. We'll meet at the hotel tonight."

He remembers every little thing about Sarah.