Chapter 4
572words
Memories of my time with Marcus flooded back, fresh tears spilling down my face.
If everything he ever felt for me was a lie…
Then he'd won completely. I'd loved him so deeply, so blindly, that doubt never crossed my mind.
Every moment we'd shared over these years remained seared into my memory.
He'd been right about one thing—aside from keeping our marriage secret, he'd given me everything I asked for.
What I'd mistaken for love and respect were just crumbs thrown to ease his guilty conscience.
When you've been the fool for so long, you forget you're wearing the costume.
All these years, I never realized Melanie Sinclair had never left his heart.
Why did it have to be her?
Of all the women in the world, why her?
I walked through River City's biting wind and freezing rain, barely feeling either.
Finally, I reached the apartment I'd lovingly maintained for three years.
When Marcus finally came home, dinner had gone cold and the birthday candles had burned to stubs.
He reeked of alcohol, his face flushed from drinking.
Only then did I remember—today was supposed to be my celebration.
He fumbled for his phone.
"Shit, I'm sorry. Got caught up with work."
A payment notification flashed across his screen.
"Buy yourself something nice."
I gave him a hollow smile.
"The promotion dinner looked impressive. Melanie seemed right at home."
He froze, phone suspended in mid-air.
"You two make quite the team now, don't you?"
He frowned, yanking at his tie with a heavy sigh.
"Look, I know you're worried, but it's strictly professional."
"You need to get over this thing with her. I can't let your personal issues impact the company."
I stared at this stranger wearing my husband's face.
"So that's what I am to you—a liability. No wonder you've kept me hidden all these years."
The color drained from his face.
Something in my tone must have alarmed him.
After all this time, I'd never once complained about our secret marriage.
"We're fine as we are! Our relationship works perfectly well without outside interference."
"Did someone say something to you today?"
"Don't listen to office gossip. There's nothing between me and Mel—Melanie Sinclair. Not what you're thinking."
His slip didn't escape me.
Fresh tears welled up as pain radiated through my chest.
I took a steadying breath and pulled the test results from my bag.
"Will our child have to live in the shadows too?"
He stared at the paper, confusion flickering across his face before his mask slipped back into place.
"I thought we agreed to wait on kids. This is…"
My heart plummeted as I fought the knot in my throat.
"I'm already pregnant. Are you suggesting I get rid of it?"
His frown deepened.
"That's not—I just meant I'm not ready for a kid right now, after all…"
"After all what? You have better plans? Or maybe you don't want my child complicating your perfect setup?"
His hesitation told me everything. He wanted no part of this child.
Something inside me died in that moment.
Through my tears, the man before me was a complete stranger.
I forced my lips into a smile, my voice barely above a whisper.
"Marcus Morgan, I want a divorce."
He stood there stunned, the test results slipping from his fingers as I rose to my feet.
