Chapter 3

3

Macy answered the call and immediately put it on speakerphone.

She looked nervous, but I saw the flash of triumph in her eyes.

"Caleb, please come to the lobby," she sobbed into the phone.

"There's a woman here claiming to be your wife. She's saying I stole her life and her suite."

Macy's voice broke perfectly.

Caleb's furious roar echoed through the speaker.

"Is she having another episode? How dare she show up there to harass you!"

"Stay put, Macy. I'm coming down right now!"

An episode. With one sentence, he had branded me as mentally unstable.

The crowd's whispers turned into open mockery.

They looked at me like I was a circus freak.

Some women even went over to comfort Macy, telling her not to let a crazy woman ruin her recovery.

Macy lowered her head, biting her lip.

"My husband will be here soon. He spoils me so much... he wouldn't have spent a hundred thousand dollars if he didn't care."

"You should leave now. It's going to get ugly, and I don't want you to be embarrassed."

It sounded like a warning, but it was a taunt.

I felt like my blood was boiling. These two disgusting snakes!

Caleb arrived faster than I expected.

He burst through the front doors, charging toward us.

Without even looking at me, he shoved me aside to wrap Macy in his arms.

"Don't be scared, honey. I'm here. I won't let anyone hurt you."

I was eight months pregnant, and the force of his shove nearly sent me to the floor.

I managed to catch myself against the marble desk at the last second.

Fury and physical pain flared in my chest.

Macy wrapped her arms around Caleb's waist and gave him a deep, lingering kiss.

"You're the best, Caleb. Please, just talk to her. She won't listen to me."

Caleb finally turned his gaze toward me.

There wasn't a hint of guilt on his face.

Instead, he stepped forward and slapped me across the face.

"Macy Reed, have you no shame? I only helped you out at work because I felt sorry for you being pregnant!"

"Now you're following my wife to her retreat to bully her? Get a life!"

I held my burning cheek, staring at the man I thought I knew.

He called me Macy. He was giving his mistress my name and calling me the intern.

Before I came here today, he at least pretended to be a patient husband.

Now, he was laying hands on me while I carried his child.

I realized then that his frequent late nights and his constant talk about the "hardworking intern Macy" weren't what they seemed.

Everything had been a lie.

I forced myself to stay calm.

"Caleb Thorne. Say that again."

"Who am I? And who is she?"

A flicker of panic crossed Caleb's eyes, but he doubled down.

"Are you deaf? This is my wife, Clara Vance. You're just a pathetic colleague, Macy Reed."

"Just because you couldn't land a rich husband doesn't mean you can stalk mine."

The onlookers began to gossip.

"So she really is a stalker. That's tragic."

"But poor Mr. Thorne... having to deal with this while his wife is trying to recover."

He thought he could win just by being the loudest liar in the room.

I reached into my bag and pulled out my wallet.

"I say I'm Clara Vance. I have the ID to prove it. Does she?"