My husband, Spencer Porter, had a "soulmate"—his childhood sweetheart, Kendall Shaw. When I was seven months pregnant, she invited us to spend a weekend at a luxury ski resort in Aspen.

In the resort's public lounge, a fire blazed in the hearth. Outside, snow drifted over the dark silhouette of the Rocky Mountains.

I was tucked away in a corner, busying myself with my phone.

Suddenly, Kendall sauntered over to the fireplace, draped in a cashmere blanket, and purred at Spencer, "Come on, warm them up for me."

For a moment, I was sure I had misheard.

But my husband—the newly-minted CEO of a tech company who prided himself on his gentlemanly conduct—just smiled indulgently and slipped his hands under the blanket without hesitation. "You just love being spoiled," he teased. "It's boiling in here and you're still cold?"

Kendall giggled, her toes brushing against his leg. "It's your fault for ditching me on the slopes. If I freeze to death, it's on you."

Our other friends started whistling and catcalling.

Just as Spencer's hand began sliding up the inside of Kendall's thigh, he finally remembered I was there and shot an instinctive glance my way. But Kendall grabbed his hand, guiding it higher.

"Don't worry, Annelise," she said, her voice dripping with condescension. "Spencer and I have always been like this. No secrets between us. It's just feet. Come on, Annelise. You're a woman of class. I'm sure you're above getting jealous over something so trivial, right?"

I scoffed, turning my back to them as I texted my lawyer: "Prepare the divorce papers. I'm taking him for everything he's worth."

I wouldn't make a scene. But they would both pay for this. Oh, they would pay.

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1

Seeing my lack of reaction, Kendall grew even more audacious, draping one leg over Spencer's lap and giggling.

"Honestly, pregnant women are so dramatic. You say it's fine, but you're shooting daggers with your eyes." She feigned magnanimity, pulling her leg back slightly. "Fine, forget it. You better not warm them for me. I wouldn't want your wife to make you sleep on the couch tonight."

But Spencer didn't let go. He shot a brief glance at me, then leaned closer to Kendall. "Annelise is about to give birth," he said, his voice low. "She's not a child, Kendall."

Just then, Spencer's hand stilled. Kendall's cheeks flushed. She swatted at him playfully. "You bastard! I said warm my feet, not grope me!"

The entire lounge erupted in laughter.

"Kendall, weren't you the one complaining during Truth or Dare that Spencer's abs were nothing special? He's obviously getting his revenge!"

"Hilarious! I remember you said his fingers couldn't even compete with your vibrator! I think he's trying to prove you wrong!"

A hot flush crept up my neck, my heart pounding with rage. I had always known Spencer had a "soulmate," but I never imagined their relationship was this sordid.

I stood up abruptly, one hand supporting my heavy belly, and fought to keep my composure. Their crass jokes hammered in my ears.

When he saw me stand, Spencer's hand moved more insistently, causing Kendall to gasp. Her body began to tremble, her eyes glazing over.

Spencer lifted her chin, a malicious smile tugging at his lips. "This is your punishment for being rude to Annelise," he murmured.

He only retracted his hand when Kendall kicked him hard in protest. Then, he patted her ass through the blanket and nudged her toward me. "Now, apologize to Annelise. Or else I'll have to punish you again."

Kendall pouted, her voice thick with grievance. "See? This is why I said bringing partners along was a bad idea. Look how awkward this is now."

She strolled over, placing a hand on my shoulder with theatrical insincerity. "Annelise, Spencer and I have known each other since we were kids. We know each other's bodies like the back of our own hands."

"If there was really something between us, do you think you'd ever have had a chance with him? Don't worry, even if every other man on earth dropped dead, I wouldn't be interested."

Kendall grinned, her tone laced with irritation. "Satisfied now?"

Suddenly, there was a crisp metallic click. Spencer unpinned a brooch from her sweater and teased, "Do I look that petty to you?"

Kendall gasped, then shot me a triumphant smirk. She wrapped her arms around Spencer's neck and cooed, "How many of my clothes have you ruined? Remember when you gave me this at my place? You said my taste was so much better than hers. You said this was important to her, but it just looks like a piece of junk to me!"

The moment I saw the brooch, my blood ran cold. My emerald brooch. The one I'd designed for our anniversary. He'd given it to her.

That was the last straw. I grabbed the glass of red wine from the table and hurled it at them. "Are you two finished with your disgusting little performance?"

Kendall shrieked. The expensive red wine soaked her white cashmere sweater, staining the fabric a murky red as it trickled down her collarbone and into her cleavage.

My accusation was drowned out by a chorus of whistles and jeers.

"Whoa! Kendall's all wet!"

"I thought this was a group hang! Why should Spencer have all the fun?"

"Yeah, don't be selfish! Take off the blanket and let us get an eyeful!"

Spencer's face darkened. He quickly shrugged off his jacket and wrapped it around Kendall. Pointing at the others, he sneered, "You think you're worthy of touching Kendall?"

Kendall shivered in his arms, but over Spencer's shoulder, she shot me a defiant, raised eyebrow. The expression was so nauseating it made my stomach churn.

She struggled against his hold. "Don't be like this, your jealous wife is watching. Aren't you worried she'll cut off your company's funding when you get back?"

"Besides, what's wrong with the guys seeing me? We've all been to nude beaches together. It's not like you're the only one who gets to look, right?"

At that, Spencer held her even tighter. I was so furious I could barely stand, and a sharp pain lanced through my abdomen.

Yet my own husband, instead of showing a flicker of concern, snapped at me, "Annelise, I brought you here to relax and meet my friends. What the hell is your problem? You don't embarrass me like this in public!"

I stared at Spencer, stunned. I was carrying his child, had just watched him commit a lewd act with another woman, discovered my anniversary gift was stolen, and was publicly ridiculed. And me throwing a glass of wine was what embarrassed him?

I stepped forward and slapped him hard across the face. "You make me sick, Spencer Porter. I'm not even dead yet, and you're already lining up my replacement?"

He clearly hadn't expected me, always so poised, to strike him in public. His face curdled with anger and humiliation. "I had Kendall explain! We were just playing around! What more do you want, Annelise? For me to cut off all my friends? To be chained to you at home like some prisoner? Will that make you happy?"

I stared at him, a vise tightening around my chest. We had been married for two years. He had been a broke kid with nothing but a slick PowerPoint deck, facing rejection after rejection. It was my family's network and capital that funded his failing tech company, elevating him from a nobody to a CEO.

I had insisted on having his child, even when my doctors warned me against it. And this was how he repaid me?

I pressed a hand to my aching stomach and laid down my ultimatum. "I don't feel well. You can either take me back to our suite right now, or you can stay here with your 'soulmate.' Make your choice, Spencer."

He could remain the Hawthorne family's son-in-law or face ruin. It wasn't a difficult decision.

Just as Spencer reluctantly started toward me, Kendall pressed her chest deliberately against him. She tugged his earlobe, rolling her eyes. "Jesus, Spencer, why do you always let these controlling bitches walk all over you?"

"If I had actually wanted you, do you think that baby in her belly would even exist? You're a rising star in Silicon Valley now! I'll give you five minutes. If you walk out on me today, we're done."

The others stared at me with open disdain. "This is why we hate it when people bring outsiders," one of them muttered. "They're so high and mighty just because they have money."

"Honestly, if he was cheating with Kendall, I wouldn't even blame him. Who could stand a wife like that?"

"Right? If Kendall hadn't hated the idea of marriage, this woman would never have had a shot."

"So what if she's pregnant? She thinks that makes her a queen who can dictate who Spencer hangs out with?"

"She has no idea how pent-up Spencer's been during her pregnancy. Good thing he has Kendall to take care of his needs."

I stared at them, feeling like the world's biggest fool. They all knew. Everyone knew what was going on between them. I, his wife, was the only one kept in the dark.

Before they could spew any more venom, Spencer spoke. "That's enough. All of you, shut up. Annelise is my wife. I would not betray her."

With that, he adjusted the jacket around Kendall. Then, he took my hand. "You said you wanted to go back to the room? Let's go."

Kendall glared at him. "I knew it. You always ditch your friends for a pretty face. Fine! Don't come crawling back to me!"

Spencer didn't spare her another glance. He put an arm around my shoulder and led me toward the elevator. For a moment, I thought he'd come to his senses. A "soulmate" he could bed anytime was nothing compared to my family's fortune.

But as we reached a glass-enclosed corridor connecting to the next building, he suddenly snatched my key card from my coat pocket. With the click of the lock, he shoved me into the corridor and locked the door, leaving me in the sub-zero cold.

The icy wind, carrying snowflakes, whipped against my thin maternity dress. My heart plummeted. "Spencer Porter! Are you insane? What the hell are you doing?"

Through the thick, soundproof door, Spencer took out his phone and called me. His voice was cold and ruthless over the line. "I was a fool to bring you here. You wanted to be dramatic? Fine. The view in Aspen is beautiful. Enjoy it while you cool off."

Suddenly, a vicious cramp seized my abdomen. A warm gush of fluid streamed down my legs, pooling on the floor.

Terrified, I abandoned all dignity and pounded on the door. "Spencer! Let me in! I think... I think I'm going into labor!"

He laughed. A cruel, mocking sound. "Annelise, stop using the baby as an excuse. You're only seven months along. The baby isn't coming now."

"I promised Kendall I'd stay with her for the all-night party. It's just one night. Cool off in the hallway. I'll come get you in the morning when I'm done."

With that, he hung up.

Excruciating pain made it nearly impossible to stand as I watched the pool of amniotic fluid and blood spread across the floor. Before I lost consciousness, I managed to call my mother in New York. She acted fast.