Chapter 1
The new female neighbor next door keeps texting my husband in the middle of the night:
“Your wife is so damn loud! Are you really that good?“]
My husband Declan Hayes, always cold and aloof, would respond with disgust every time: “Desperate much? If you’re that horny, go find a male escort. Stop being such a thirsty bitch!”
Until my second month of pregnancy.
I accidentally saw his reply in their chat thread had changed:
“Don’t believe me? Wanna find out.”
I couldn’t believe it.]]
I kept reopening Declan’s profile, checking over and over.
It was definitely sent by him.
“Don’t believe me? Wanna find out.”
Those words blazed in my mind, bold and magnified like some kind of curse.[]
Cold sweat broke out all over my body.[]
Beside me, Declan was still chatting away casually.]
Every gesture refined and elegant.]]
Swirling his wine glass with his left hand while holding mine with his right.
Screech
I yanked my hand away from Declan’s and shot up. My chair scraped harshly across the floor.
The sound was grating.
I was drenched in cold sweat, my whole body trembling.
With a bitter twist of my lips, I fled awkwardly:]
“I need to use the restroom.”
Looking at my reflection in the mirror–still beautiful and polished thanks to good skincare–I couldn’t help but think of jenna Walsh.
She’d moved in two months ago.]
When we first met, her wine–red hair paired with that black lace bodycon dress made her impossible to ignore.]
During polite small talk. I’d barely managed a smile when Jenna gasped, covering her mouth:
“Your husband is so hot!“]
She shamelessly looked Declan up and down:
“Damn, not only does he look like a movie star, but that body too.“[]
“Look at that his shirt can barely contain those abs underneath, right?“||
At the time. I didn’t take her seriously at all.
Declan and I were childhood sweethearts.
I’d been head cheerleader since middle school.
Meanwhile, Jenna was thirty–five with fine lines creeping across her face.
The excess around her waist was squeezed into rolls by that tight dress.
So for the past two months, I’d ignored Jenna’s blatant attempts at seduction.
I just didn’t take her seriously
In those brief few minutes, I imagined the worst case scenario: miscarriage, then divorce]
But when I stumbled back to our private dining room, I found Jenna standing right next to Declan.[]
She’d clearly dressed up for the occasion.
Thick false lashes, dramatic eyeliner, and bold crimson lips.
Standing next to the young, handsome Declan, they had this weirdly harmonious look]
My expression turned ice–cold, my voice hoarse
“Declan.“]
I shattered the cheerful atmosphere.[]
Everyone’s smiles froze as all eyes turned to me.]]
For a moment, you could hear a pin drop.
Jenna was the first to speak, coquettishly tucking her hair behind her ear.]
She smiled sweetly:
“Oh! I thought maybe you weren’t coming out much since you’re pregnant“]
She playfully tapped Declan’s shoulder:
“Pregnancy is so hard on women. You better treat Sophia right.“]
“I’ve seen so many women turn into complete hags after having kids–faces covered in spots and acne, boobs and belly sagging like deflated balloons… Some moms even get mistaken for their kid’s grandma when they’re out!
With that. Jenna gave an exaggerated shudder.
The men at the table, watching her chest bounce with the movement, shared knowing smiles.
Seeing that Declan had no intention of defending me, I lost it completely.[]
I strode forward, grabbed a wine bottle, and held it over Jenna’s head-
Then poured the entire thing on her.[]
As she shrieked, I snarled through gritted teeth:[]
“Bitch!”
Just as I was about to slap her, Declan’s face darkened. He grabbed my wrist and pulled Jenna behind him, roaring:
“Sophia!”
“Have you lost your mind?!“]
