When I was seven months pregnant, my husband's so-called soulmate, Sloane Gallo, invited us to a villa party on Lake Washington.

The sun was setting, so I sat under an awning, quietly scrolling through my phone.

Suddenly, Sloane sauntered over and plopped herself right onto my husband Wayne Ashworth's lap. "Come on, do a body shot off me! And don't just stick to my navel this time. Go lower."

For a moment, I wondered if I had misheard.

My husband, Wayne, casually grabbed a bottle of tequila and, without hesitation, started pouring it on her stomach. "You're so tiny. Gives me more to explore. Slow and steady wins the race, right?"

Sloane playfully tapped him on the chest. "Oh, please. Weren't you the one complaining my tan line was uneven last time?"

The other men started whistling and whooping.

As Wayne buried his face below her navel, his eyes flickered toward me for a split second. But Sloane grabbed his hair and shoved his head further down.

"Don't worry, Cora. We've done this a million times. It's just a game. No reason to get jealous."

I gave a cold smile and turned away to look up the number for a divorce lawyer.

I wasn't jealous. But they were both going to pay.

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1

Seeing no reaction from me, Sloane rested her hand on Wayne's shoulder, a smug smile curling her lips.

"Women are all the same. They say they don't mind, but their eyes always betray them." She waved her hand dismissively. "Whatever. You can stop now."

But Wayne didn't stop. He glanced at me briefly before moving closer to Sloane. "Cora's about to pop. She can't keep up with your kind of fun right now."

Just then, Wayne's hand paused on Sloane's waist. A faint blush stained Sloane's cheeks. She shoved him away, trying to look annoyed. "Asshole! I asked for a body shot, not a free feel!"

Everyone burst into laughter.

"Sloane, didn't you grope Wayne's abs at the last party? He's just returning the favor!"

"This is hilarious! Didn't you say he's better with his fingers than half your toy collection? I think he's trying to prove it to you!"

A flush of heat rushed to my face, and my heart pounded in my chest. I’d always known Wayne had a “soulmate,” a close female friend. I just never imagined… this. That they’d crossed so many lines.

I shot up from my seat, trying my best to stay calm. The crude words echoed in my head, making my stomach churn.

Wayne's hand moved with purpose, drawing a soft moan from Sloane. Her body began to tremble slightly.

Wayne lifted her chin, a wicked grin spreading across his face. "That’s for giving Cora a hard time. A little lesson for you."

He only let go when Sloane pounded on his chest in protest. Then, he patted her on the hip and pushed her toward me. "Now, apologize to Cora, or the punishment continues."

Sloane pouted. "See? This is why you don't bring the wife," she complained. "Kills the whole vibe. Look how awkward it is now."

She put a hand on my shoulder and explained, "Wayne and I go way back. We know each other inside and out… every part of each other."

"If there was really something between us, do you think you would have ever married him? Don't overthink it. I wouldn't be with this jerk even if he were the last man on earth."

Sloane grinned, her tone laced with impatience. "Happy now?"

Suddenly, there was a sharp snap. Wayne had flicked Sloane's bikini strap, a teasing grin on his face. "Do I look like a petty man to you?"

Sloane gasped, then turned to me with a hint of triumph. She wrapped her arms around Wayne's neck and purred, "How many pairs of my panties have you ruined? Remember that time at your place, you made me try on a pair of hers? They were huge on me. I might as well have been naked!"

My blood ran cold. No wonder a few of my things had gone missing.

To my greater shock, Sloane suddenly grabbed Wayne's arm and rolled up his sleeve, revealing the tattoo on his wrist. It was a wave pattern—our matching couple’s tattoo.

But now, a delicate letter "S" was cleverly woven into the waves.

Sloane looked at me smugly, as if showing off her trophy. "See this, Cora? This is how much he loves me. This is what a real soulmate gets."

I’d had enough. I grabbed my whiskey and threw the drink right in their faces. "Have you two had enough?"

Sloane let out a shriek. Her white top was soaked, turning instantly transparent. My question was drowned out by a chorus of whistles and jeers.

"Whoa, Sloane’s showing everything!"

"I thought we were all buddies. How come Wayne always gets all the fun?"

"Yeah! Don't be shy. Let us get a look, too!"

Wayne's face darkened, and he quickly wrapped his arms around Sloane. Then, he pointed at the others and said coldly, "Back off! Who said you could touch her?"

Sloane trembled in his arms, but she shot me a defiant smirk. The look on her face was so nauseating it made my stomach churn.

She tried to push away from Wayne's embrace. "Your jealous wife is watching. Aren't you afraid she'll make you sleep on the couch when you get home?"

"Besides, what's wrong with letting the guys have a look? It's not fair that you get to have all the fun, right?"

Wayne held Sloane even tighter. I was so furious I could barely stand, and a sharp cramp shot through my belly.

Instead of showing any concern for me, however, he said impatiently, "Cora, I brought you out to relax with my friends. What the hell are you doing? This is not the time or place to make a scene!"

I turned to Wayne in shock. I was carrying his child, had just witnessed him engage in such shameless behavior with another woman, and all I did was throw a drink at them. And that was making a scene?

I stepped forward and slapped him hard across the face. "Wayne Ashworth, you're disgusting. Am I dead already? Are you auditioning my replacement while I'm standing right here?"

He hadn't expected me to hit him and confront him in public. His expression darkened with a mixture of anger and embarrassment. "I already made Sloane apologize to you. What more do you want, Cora? Do I have to lose all my friends before you're satisfied?"

I stared at Wayne, a tightness seizing my chest. We had been married for two years. I had pulled strings with my family to get him promoted from a junior position all the way to Vice President.

Even when doctors had warned me about my poor health, I was determined to give him a child. How could he do this to me?

I pressed a hand to my belly, my eyes locked on his. "You're coming home with me right now, or you're staying here with your soulmate. Make a choice."

He could continue to be the son-in-law of the Prescott family. How hard could that choice be?

Just as Wayne reluctantly started walking toward me, Sloane deliberately pressed her chest closer to him. Then she grabbed him by the collar and rolled her eyes. "My God. Why are wives always so controlling?"

"If I had actually wanted to marry you, do you think that baby in her belly would even exist? I'll give you five minutes to handle this. If you don't, our friendship is over."

The others looked at me with disdain, muttering, "This is why you don't bring outsiders into the group."

"Honestly, I wouldn't blame Wayne if he actually got together with Sloane."

"Yeah. If Sloane didn't hate the idea of being tied down by marriage, this woman would've never had a chance."

"So what if she's pregnant? Does she think she's some queen who can control who Wayne is friends with?"

"She has no idea how hard it's been for Wayne while she's been pregnant. Good thing Sloane's been around to help him blow off some steam."

I stared at them, feeling like a complete fool. All of them knew what was going on between Sloane and Wayne. And I, his wife, was the only one clueless enough to be kept in the dark.

Before they could continue, Wayne spoke up. "That's enough. Cora is my wife. I know what I stand to lose if I betray her."

With that, he grabbed a towel and wrapped it around Sloane. Then, he took my hand and said, "Didn't you want to go home? Let's go back now, okay?"

Sloane glared at him, annoyed. "I knew it. You're totally whipped. Fine! Don't come looking for me ever again!"

Wayne didn't spare her another glance. Instead, he walked me to the car. I thought he had finally come to his senses. After all, a soulmate was nothing compared to my fortune.

However, the moment I stepped inside the house, he slammed the door shut and locked me in from the outside.