Chapter 2 - THE SECRET BENEATH HER HEART
Eliza woke before sunrise.
For one terrible moment, she forgot where she was.
Then she saw Paige's guest room.
The pale curtains.
The bookshelf.
The folded blanket at the foot of the bed.
And remembered.
Dominic.
Celeste.
The ballroom.
The divorce papers.
She pressed a hand against her abdomen.
“Good morning, little one.”
Her voice cracked.
She sat up slowly.
The doctor had told her to avoid unnecessary stress because of complications earlier in the pregnancy.
Eliza had spent the previous night crying until her throat hurt.
Now she needed to think clearly.
She opened her phone.
Thirty-seven missed calls.
Twenty-one messages.
Most from Dominic.
The latest read:
Eliza, come home. We need to talk.
She stared.
Then typed:
All communication about the divorce will go through my attorney.
She sent it.
Then blocked his number.
For the first time in seven years, silence felt like freedom.
---
At ten that morning, Eliza met with attorney Margaret Ellis.
Margaret was sixty-two, sharp-eyed, and known for representing women whose wealthy husbands believed money made them untouchable.
She listened without interrupting.
Then asked, “Are you safe?”
Eliza nodded.
“For now.”
“Does your husband know you're pregnant?”
“No.”
Margaret studied her.
“Do you intend to tell him?”
Eliza looked down.
“Eventually.”
Margaret nodded.
“We'll need to address parental rights and responsibilities. But we can do that through appropriate legal channels.”
Eliza swallowed.
“I don't want him using the baby to force me back.”
“Then we'll establish clear boundaries.”
Eliza looked up.
“And the divorce?”
May you like
Margaret opened a folder.
“We begin immediately.”
