Secrets and Second Chances

IA'

step. Three years, three long years of cold, empty

s pre

he as I imagined the

, this baby would

ake him see me an

ever since we got to the third year of our

door, my cheeks flu

stepped inside I h

pau

ips. I shook my head, p

was a ha

e door to our bedroom

the couch with a woman sitting casually

his, their bodies entwin

pulled back, startled, his eyes meeting

flat, almost bored. "You are

e. "Who is she?" I managed to choke out, pointing

guilty, at least that could be better b

ege sweetheart and we ar

hit me li

trembling. "But we are married,

tly, a smile spreading across her perfect face

you knew this was a business arrangement from the start. Your father practically fo

, and I felt a tear

said we had to give it a

bitter sound that ec

at me, and your father made sure I had no choice. Bu

and felt my world

he baby, but the words were stuck in my

Ethan's cheeks. "Why are you doing this?". I cried, my voi

snorted. "Maria, you are delusional. This w

n as I stepped closer,

ion sounding so small and pathetic in the fa

even know what that means. You think you can trap me with your desperate

nives each one cutting

hter was soft

n her," she cooed, her voice

just... c

hoping and praying that it would change something. That he would soften, that he could remember the man he used to b

ink a baby will fix this? Fix us? You t

ried, feeling the tear

is yours, Eth

an, don't fall for it. She is just trying to hold on to

rned to Susan, who handed him an env

and pulled out a

e. The divorce papers landed at my f

e commanded. "I

apers, my vision b

wning in the air, thic

" I whispered. "How can yo

is you forcing yourself into my life for

Susan, her smile so vi

ening. The life I had tried so hard to build, the love I

d a pen from the table, my hear

hispered, my voice hoarse with em

e as I turned to leave, my wo

room each step feeling

t as I reached the door, I

r?" I whispered to myse