3: 3

Who would have guessed what these two people in front of me really were.

One was the husband I'd been married to for ten years.

The other was the best friend I'd known since we were kids.

I laughed at myself, and all at once none of it seemed worth anything.

I didn't say another word to them. I turned and went back to the bedroom.

If Jayden wouldn't divorce me, then I'd just find a lawyer myself.

Right before we fell asleep, Jayden sighed and wrapped his arms around me from behind.

"All right, honey, don't be angry anymore."

"I'll take out the trash from now on, okay? Just don't say that word 'divorce' again."

Was he really going to change?

Just as I was about to speak, he added, "Oh, right, honey."

"I'm thinking of being Spencer's godfather. A five-year-old with no dad, it's really too pitiful."

"Don't read into it! The thing is, you have no idea how happy he gets every time he sees me..."

Spencer was Kay's kid.

I broke free of his arms all at once, unable to believe it. "What did you say?"

"You're going to be his godfather? Then what about our baby?"

What about this baby of ours, not even born yet?

Jayden had never once laid a gentle hand on my belly.

Never once spoken a single word to the child inside me.

I'd told myself he just wasn't ready to be a father yet.

Only now did I understand. It turned out there was room in his eyes and his heart for no one but Kay.

Even Kay's son mattered more to him than our own child.

Watching him sit there in silence, I felt my heart drop into a pit of ice.

Ten years of marriage, and it was all a joke.

That night we slept on our own sides, not a word between us.

Around noon the next day, Alison came to my place.

She had a cake in her hands, and she smiled at me. "Come on, don't be upset. I just got a little worked up yesterday."

"It's your birthday today. Let's all have lunch together and celebrate!"

She dragged me off to a restaurant.

Jayden had already ordered a whole table of the dishes I loved.

They sat on either side of me and wished me a happy birthday.

Until Kay showed up.

And I knew right then that my birthday, for this year, was over.

She'd barely sat down before she announced, "I've got some good news for you all."

"I'm pregnant."

Her eyes were red with excitement as she pulled out the prenatal test report.

The words were barely out before Alison and Jayden had moved over to sit beside her.

"Congratulations!"

"We have to celebrate for you."

"Oh, and we've even got a cake right here."

Alison set my birthday cake down in front of her sister.

Once the candles were lit, Jayden said, "Hurry, make a wish! Here's to a healthy baby!"

Kay closed her eyes and pressed her palms together.

The candles went out, and they all clapped together.

And me, I sat in the corner and watched the warm little scene of them.

I'd gotten used to it long ago.

Because in ten years of birthdays, I had never once eaten a birthday cake, never once blown out a candle.

Every year on my birthday, Kay would show up with her good news to share.

The flowers she'd planted had finally bloomed.

The shop she liked had opened.

She'd managed to snag the outfit she wanted.

No matter how small the good news, they'd celebrate it for her.

And my birthday cake, without a single exception, would become the cake for her celebration.

I just hadn't expected that this year Kay's good news wouldn't be some trivial little thing.

"Who's the father?"

4: 4

When I asked it, every pair of eyes at the table turned to me.

It was as if they'd only just remembered there was one more person sitting there.

Kay made a face. "That's a secret!"

I didn't press. I got up and went to the restroom.

When I came back, the seats were empty.

All that waited for me were the picked-over dishes and the bill.

A bitter smile came to my lips.

So this was my birthday this year. The same as always.

I paid, and I went out to look for them.

Then, at a turn in the hallway, I heard Jayden's voice.

"Kay, why didn't you tell me sooner that you were pregnant?"

Kay answered, "I only found out today myself."

"What do we do, Jayden? What about Harper?"

My mind went blank.

What did she mean, what about me.

This baby had nothing to do with us.

A moment later, Jayden spoke.

"Kay, don't be scared. I'll explain everything to Harper."

"I'll tell her this baby is mine, and that I'll take responsibility."

The world caved in on itself with a roar.

So all of Jayden's concern and care for Kay.

It wasn't out of sympathy for her.

It was because things between them had gone this far.

But what I hadn't expected was that Alison spoke up too.

"It's fine, sis. Don't back down now."

"I've watched you and Jayden all these years. If you ask me, the one who isn't loved is the real mistress."

The words went off next to my ear.

Every drop of blood in me ran backward.

The same Alison who once warned Jayden he'd be dead if he ever cheated.

Now she was saying the one who isn't loved is the mistress.

No wonder. Back at the table, no one had asked who the baby's father was.

They all knew.

Only me. Kept in the dark like a fool.

Made to be lied to by all of them, for all these years.

A husband of ten years and a best friend of over twenty.

They'd betrayed me together.

It was a summer night, and yet I was shivering with cold.

I don't even remember how I stumbled home.

When I got back, Jayden was bustling around the kitchen.

"Kay's pregnant. We're going to have to look after her more from now on."

Ten minutes later he'd cut up a plate of fruit and was carrying it over to Kay's place.

I grabbed his arm and choked out, "I'm pregnant too."

Why had I never once gotten treatment like this?

Why had none of you ever looked after me this way?

But Jayden shook my arm off. "Don't be like this, honey."

"It's just a plate of fruit. Are you really going to fight Kay over that?"

And then he turned and walked out.

Yet before we ever became Kay's neighbors.

Jayden had catered to my every wish, attentive to every little thing.

And now, all that care and concern he'd once given me, he gave to Kay.

A marriage like this, what did I still want it for?

I took the divorce papers and went to Kay's place.

Her son opened the door.

But Kay and Jayden were nowhere in the living room.

Only one bedroom door was shut tight.

My stomach heaved.

And in that moment, Spencer Martinez gave me a hard shove.

"You're a bad guy, who told you to come to my house and steal my daddy!"

That shove sent me stepping onto a rubber ball.

My whole body pitched toward the floor.

A sharp pain tore through my belly, and still that bedroom door didn't open.

When I opened my eyes again, I was in the hospital, and the baby was gone.

An hour later, the three of them appeared at my bedside.

Before they could say a word, I handed the divorce papers to Jayden.

"Sign them."

"I'm giving the two of you my blessing."

Just now, I'd gotten a job offer from a multinational firm.

The plane ticket was already booked.