THE WIFE WHO BECAME HIS RIVAL

a marathon. Dr. Martinez had let me leave my appointment early-said everything looked great, smiling in that way that always made me fee

ing about how Mikel would react when I gave him the news. Three years int

Usually, I could hear Mrs. Chen humming in the kitchen or Mikel

ng my keys into the crystal

udy with his headphones on, working like always. I smiled, even though I was ti

omised to get from our bakery. I'd forgotten all about them, too exci

ing where her foot was pushing against my rib

ough the windows on the second floor, making shapes on the wooden floor. Our bedro

oom. Mumbled voices. A woman giggling

that couldn't be right. My best friend from

op something off for the baby shower she was planning. Or maybe

at I knew after three years of marriage. Followed by my name, but

o, no

save myself, to keep whatever innocence I had left. But my heart

pened with

ended rig

e we talked about our baby, where I'd spent mornings tracin

with sweat as she moved above Mikel like she knew exactly what she

d put together our daughter's crib so carefully-were holding Sophia's hips t

ve missed this.

g? How many times had I kissed him after he h

et mine. For a second, everything stopped. Her eyes went wide, bu

my name like i

nderstand what was happening. He looked shocked, then guilty, and then-the wor

make excuses. He just stared at

asked, my

been pretty-tall and thin while I was softer, and confident. Now, I

ikel started, but

ased. Long enough for us to know we

ng? Maybe during our engagement. How many memories we

said, holdin

unding calm. We'll make sure

ey were already a family.

Both of you. How could you d

s perfect life would last? Mikel was with me first. I introduced you t

arriage was something she had

n my back and wrapping around my bell

ouldn't look at him. I couldn't stand see

hat was happening. No

s real was a lie-it made my body do something without me thinking. I needed to protect h

Three weeks early, in the doorway of my ruined marriage, w

g down the doorframe. She's

of bed, naked and scared, reaching for me like he could undo wha

trayals can

ters leave not