A Second Chance At True Love

ersary, I planned to tell

et down on one knee and

e to step back suddenly, and I lost my footing

sing our baby. The doctor cal

heard my husband's voice say over the

al, comforting his mistress over a mi

es and five broken prom

d my miscarriage diagnosis, signed the divorce

pte

ra

watched my husband get down on one

Regis. It was a party Ethan had thrown, ostensibly to celebrate a new funding round for his tech company, but

d him. I

l of my belly. Three months. Our secret. Our tiny miracle. I was waiting for the

n the "dar

back. "Carlson! I dare you to prove you've still got it. Recreate the most epi

ippled through the c

ay. Her perfectly curated life was a constant, sh

ng every bit the social media angel in a blush-pink dress, he

er voice a sweet, breathy melody that I kn

s of "Do it! Do it!" fueled by expensi

le. He caught my eye for a fleeting second, a silent apology in hi

are's a dare," he said, h

en he

ring space, suddenly felt cavernous and cold. All I could hear was the franti

phone cameras created a strobe effect, capturing the grot

hand, intended for him. He always got a headache when he drank too mu

yet. I was a ghost at m

meone shouted. "Kiss

letting go," she murmured, just loud enough for those nearby to hear. Her eyes flicker

ion. "Besides," she added, her voice laced with a cloying, fal

The "condition." My secret, now

ss his lips to hers as the crowd demanded. My feet were root

The final, sh

th

ble over the din, but it cut thro

e sea of smiling faces parted, and su

od up abruptly, dropping Chane

is tone clipped. "W

venture capitalist, Mark, slurred, tryi

d. "No harm done?" I repeated, my voice flat an

crowd. People started to back away, their p

jaw tight with anger. The charm was gone, repla

e said, striding towards me. "

d for tonight. I'd imagined us leaving the party early, curled up in bed, my head on his che

, her face a mask of concern. She reached for the coffee

I said, pu

whisper. "Everyone was saying how much Ethan still loves me, h

te provocation. Malice dr

n it ha

out a piercing shriek, stumbling backward. The hot coffee fl

d, sinking to the floor, tears

I was the jealous, hysterical wife, la

s shoulder shoving me aside, and knelt besid

fury directed entirely at me. "Kiera, what t

ut my voice was drowned ou

purpose, Ethan!

a hatred that chilled me to the bone. He looked at me, at my hand s

sical blow. The worl

r head resting theatrically on his sho

blocked by the grand, sweeping sta

was a frantic bird beating against my ribs. "It wasn'

iera," he growled, tr

voice cracking. "Don't

red, his patience snapping. He had

"business trips" that coincided with her influencer events. The lies. The excuses.

, desperate attempt to reach the man I onc

his face a mask

time for your

ady unsteady, my heart pounding with grief. My heel caught on the polished edge of the top step. For a moment, I was suspended in air, a silent gasp caught in my throa