Chapter 4 - THE HUSBAND WHO CHOSE THE WRONG WOMAN
Ryan stood motionless in the doorway.
"What camera?"
I almost laughed.
Even now.
Even with the truth waiting between us.
He was still lying.
"The porch camera."
He swallowed.
"Emily, you're exhausted. The doctors said—"
"Don't."
He stopped.
I looked at him.
"Did you know she pushed me?"
His eyes flickered.
"Vanessa said—"
"I didn't ask what Vanessa said."
Silence.
I forced myself to continue.
"Did you see me lying on those steps?"
"Yes."
"Did you hear me say my stomach hurt?"
His jaw tightened.
"Yes."
"Then why did you go to her first?"
He looked away.
That was the answer.
He had chosen.
Not accidentally.
Not in confusion.
He had chosen the woman standing over me instead of the woman carrying his child.
"Emily," he whispered, "I panicked."
I stared at him.
"You panicked?"
He nodded.
"I didn't know what to do."
"You knew enough to tell the paramedics I fell."
His face drained.
"I was trying to keep things from getting worse."
"For whom?"
He didn't answer.
I looked at the flowers again.
"Take those away."
"Please."
"Ryan."
My voice was quiet.
"Get out."
For the first time in our marriage, he obeyed without arguing.
After he left, Maya sat beside me.
"Are you okay?"
I stared at the door.
"No."
She squeezed my hand.
"But I will be."
That night, Dr. Ellis returned with new test results.
She explained that my condition required continued monitoring.
There were concerns about bleeding and early contractions.
I might need to remain hospitalized.
Possibly until delivery.
I placed both hands over my stomach.
"Whatever Sophie needs."
Dr. Ellis nodded.
"We'll take this one step at a time."
After she left, I stared at the ceiling.
I thought about my marriage.
Seven years.
Seven years of believing Ryan and I were building something together.
We had bought our house.
Started a small architectural consulting business.
Planned our daughter's nursery.
And somewhere along the way, he'd stopped seeing me as his partner.
I remembered the messages.
Once the baby situation settles, everything changes.
Suddenly, I wondered what else Ryan had been planning.
I reached for my phone.
Then called Natalie.
"Can you check something?"
"Of course."
"Our business accounts."
A pause.
"Why?"
"Because Ryan has been moving money lately."
Natalie's voice sharpened.
"How much?"
"I don't know."
May you like
I swallowed.
"But I think my husband was preparing to leave long before I found out about Vanessa."
