"I love you, Sebastian! This is the best night ever," Vicky’s voice purred from the video. My stomach twisted as I watched Sebastian, my husband, lean in to kiss her under the glow of fireworks. Their laughter mixed with the soft music in the background, and I felt my blood run cold.

I paused the video, swallowing down the nausea creeping up my throat. Vicky, my husband’s so-called childhood best friend, had sent it directly to me, taunting me. She wanted me to know that she had him, that she’d always had him. For two years, I’d known about their affair, staying silent to keep the peace between our families. Our marriage was, after all, a business arrangement. But unlike Sebastian, I’d gone and done the unthinkable: I’d fallen in love with my husband.

Yet, seeing this? It shook me. My mother’s voice rang in my head, her warnings about trusting a man like him echoing with painful clarity.

Then, as if to twist the knife further, my screen lit up with a message from Vicky. I opened it to find an ultrasound image staring back at me, mocking me. The caption read: Sebastian’s already been driving two miles at midnight just to satisfy my cravings. He’s so excited to be a father.

Fury replaced the ache in my chest. I blocked her on the spot and dialed Sebastian, my fingers trembling. He picked up after a few rings.

“Katerina, I’m busy. What do you need?” His voice was clipped, impatient.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. “I have a craving. Would you bring me something? Please? Sebastian? When will you be coming home?”

There was a beat of silence before he scoffed. “Katerina, cravings? You’re already nine months pregnant. I’m pretty sure you’re just hungry so go grab yourself something in the fridge. Don’t be picky! Besides, it’s late.”

My grip tightened on the phone, my voice softening as I forced a steady tone. “Sebastian, please… I’d really like you to come home, even if it’s just for a little while. I miss you.” My voice trembled, betraying more than I intended.

He sighed, long and heavy. “Katerina, I already told you. It’s late, and I’m in the middle of important business. Just get one of the maids to make you something if you’re so hungry.”

“Sebastian, please…” I pressed, my heart aching with each word. “It would mean a lot. I don’t ask for much, but this—this is different. I just need you here, just this once.”

There was a pause, and for a moment, I thought he might relent. But then, a light, feminine laugh echoed faintly in the background.

My blood ran cold. “Sebastian… who’s with you?” I asked, straining to keep the desperation out of my voice, even though I was sure who. Vicky. It has always been her.

The silence on the other end stretched painfully. “No one,” he replied sharply, a hint of irritation creeping into his voice. “Katerina, stop being paranoid.”

“I know I heard someone,” I whispered, clinging to the hope that he’d explain, that he’d put my fears to rest. But he only dismissed me, brushing me off as if my concerns were childish.

“It’s none of your business who I’m with,” he snapped, his voice dropping to an icy calm. “You’re just being difficult. Look, I’m handling things here. This is important. Don’t wait up for me.”

“But… Sebastian, please, I just—”

“Katerina,” he interrupted, his tone firm, final. “I’m busy. You’re being clingy and dramatic, and that’s the last thing I need right now. Go to bed.”

My heart cracked a little more with every cold word he threw my way. Each excuse, each dismissive tone, only deepened the hollow ache inside me. I was nine months pregnant, carrying his child, and yet he couldn’t even spare me a few minutes of his time. Not even for a simple craving, a small gesture of care.

“Fine,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. “I understand.” The line went dead before I could say anything more.

I was practically giddy as I tore into the first box, pulling back the tissue paper to reveal a tiny, cream-colored onesie. My heart did a little flip as I held it up, imagining our baby wearing it. Maybe Sebastian had finally come around—maybe this was his way of apologizing for the cold distance he’d kept, for dismissing me the night before. For once, I let myself believe that he was ready to be part of this with me, ready to care.

I moved to the next box, grinning like a fool as I found a pair of knitted booties, soft blankets, and tiny mittens. The packages were filled with everything I’d been too afraid to buy, afraid to hope for. My chest felt light, like maybe—just maybe—Sebastian had turned a corner. After all, a man doesn’t just buy baby clothes for no reason, right?

But then the front door opened, and Sebastian strode in. I looked up, excitement lighting my face. “Sebastian, you didn’t have to buy all this!” I said, holding up the booties. “I mean… it’s wonderful. I thought maybe…”

But my voice trailed off as his face darkened, and before I could process his expression, he was in front of me, snatching the tiny clothes from my hands and shoving them back into the box.

“What are you doing?” he snapped, glaring at the open boxes.

I felt my stomach twist. “I just thought… these were for our baby.”

“These aren’t for you,” he said coldly, his voice dripping with irritation.

The words hit me like ice water. “They’re… not?” I managed, confusion mingling with a growing sense of dread.

“No, Katerina,” he snapped, glaring at me. “They’re for someone else. One of my men’s wives is pregnant. I told him I’d help out.”

And just like that, reality came crashing down. I’d been so foolish to think he’d done this for me. But as he glanced away, my mind raced back to that taunting ultrasound picture Vicky had sent. A dark realization washed over me—these weren’t for anyone else. They were for her. Vicky, who was pregnant with his child. The same woman who’d gleefully shared that Sebastian was taking care of her cravings.

I bit down on my lip, the sting of betrayal tightening in my throat. Still, I forced myself to speak, even though my voice wavered. “Sebastian, would you come with me to my OBGYN appointment today? I thought it might be good… to go together.”

He sighed, his patience clearly wearing thin. “Today? I can’t, Katerina. I have business to handle.”

“It’s not just about me. It’s about our child,” I said, feeling the words fall on deaf ears.

He glanced at his phone, already distracted. “Look, handle it yourself. Don’t wait up for me.”

---

At the hospital, I tried to focus on the check-up, but my mind kept returning to Sebastian’s indifference. How he couldn’t spare even a moment for me or the baby we were supposed to be having together. I felt more alone than ever, the emptiness gnawing at me.

As I walked toward the doctor’s office, laughter drifted from around the corner, one voice all too familiar. I froze.

There, standing with her arm linked around his, was Sebastian and her—Vicky. She held an appointment slip, her hand resting protectively over her stomach. The sight twisted the knife I’d been trying to ignore. She was glowing, laughing, basking in his attention, while I’d been left with nothing but silence and excuses.

Every ounce of hurt I’d buried erupted. I stormed over, barely able to control the anger that surged through me. Sebastian’s eyes widened as he saw me, his face falling as he realized what was about to happen. But he didn’t get a chance to explain.

The slap cracked through the hallway, my hand shaking with the force of it. “I want a divorce,” I spat, my voice steady but laced with all the pain I’d been carrying.

The cold night air stung my cheeks as I stepped out of the hospital. I barely felt the sidewalk under my feet. Sebastian didn’t even dare follow me and make it up to me… he was still with Vicky!

I was so lost in thought that I didn’t notice the bright headlights rushing toward me until it was almost too late. A loud honk snapped me back to reality, and I froze, my heart pounding as I stumbled backward.

The car screeched to a halt just inches away. I braced myself, half expecting to end up sprawled across the pavement, but instead, strong arms caught me, holding me steady.

“Katerina?” The voice was warm, familiar, and filled with a mix of shock and concern.

I looked up, blinking through my daze to find Caleb standing there, his expression somewhere between relief and disbelief. The last time I’d seen him, we were both teenagers, just on the edge of adulthood—and now he was here, looking every bit the poised, confident man I’d once thought I might marry.

“Caleb?” My voice cracked as I steadied myself, still shaken. “Is that really you?”

He nodded, his eyes softening as he looked me over. “In the flesh. What are you doing out here, almost getting yourself killed?”

A rueful laugh escaped my lips. “That… that’s a long story.”

“Then let’s get you somewhere safe first.” He opened the car door, gesturing for me to get in. “It’s late, Katerina. You shouldn’t be out here like this.”

We ended up at a cozy, late-night diner, the kind that never seemed to close. The warm smell of coffee and fresh waffles filled the air, grounding me in a way I hadn’t felt in ages. We settled into a booth, and Caleb ordered for us, remembering my favorite meal from all those years ago.

“So,” he began after our food arrived, his gaze curious yet gentle. “What’s been going on? It’s been years. How are you?”

Where to start? I hadn’t even known where I was headed tonight, and now here I was, sitting across from Caleb, the one person who might actually understand. But after so long apart, the words came slowly.

“Married life didn’t turn out quite how I expected,” I admitted, managing a half-hearted smile. “But enough about me. What about you? How’s life treating you?”

He took a sip of his coffee, nodding thoughtfully. “Well, I’ve been busy. Law school, for one thing. I finally finished and started practicing last year.”

“Law school?” I raised an eyebrow. “Wow, that’s impressive. Are you some kind of hotshot lawyer now?”

“Hardly,” he chuckled, then gave me a mischievous smile. “Divorce lawyer, actually.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. The irony wasn’t lost on either of us, and he smiled back, his familiar warmth cutting through the ache in my chest.

We ate in comfortable silence for a while, just catching up, and I let myself feel normal, even happy, for the first time in ages. But as we wrapped up our meal, my heart grew heavy again, and I realized why fate might have led me to him tonight.

“Caleb… I need your help.” I hesitated, then took a deep breath, meeting his gaze. “I want a divorce.”

His smile faded, replaced by an intensity that caught me off guard. “Katerina, are you sure?”

“More than anything,” I replied, surprised by the steadiness in my own voice. I felt the relief starting to seep in just by saying it out loud.

He nodded, his face softening. “Then you’ve come to the right guy. I’ll help you.”

As he paid for the meal and walked me to his car, I felt an unexpected calm settle over me.

But the calm vanished the moment I stepped through the front door.

Sebastian was waiting, standing in the middle of the entryway with his arms crossed, eyes narrowing the moment he saw me.

“So, you were with him.” His voice dripped with disdain. “What, were you two off celebrating? Starting your life together?”

“Celebrating?” I repeated, disbelief simmering into anger. “What exactly do you think I have to celebrate right now, Sebastian?”

“Oh, don’t play innocent with me,” he snapped, stepping closer, his face darkening. “I know what’s going on here. All this time, I thought you were the faithful one. And now I find you sneaking around with that guy.”

“Caleb is my childhood friend and he gave me a ride home,” I said, biting each word. “That’s all.”

He scoffed, his mouth twisting into a bitter smile. “And I’m supposed to believe that? How long have you been lying to me, Katerina? How do I even know the child you’re carrying is mine?”

I straightened, meeting his glare with a calm, unwavering gaze. “You don’t know, Sebastian? Well then, let’s make it easy for you,” I said, “The baby isn’t yours.”

He froze, a flicker of shock breaking through his anger.

“That’s right,” I continued, my tone cold and resolute. “For all you care, let’s just say the baby is Caleb’s. Would that be enough for you to finally let me go? Because that’s what I want, Sebastian. I want a divorce.”