Chapter 3

Morning sunlight filtered through the kitchen blinds. After a sleepless night, my hands trembled slightly around the coffee mug.

Andrew sat across from me, reviewing documents on his iPad, his brown hair perfectly styled. That face I once loved so deeply now seemed like a stranger's.

"I have my prenatal appointment at 3 PM today." I tried to keep my voice steady. "Can you come with me?"

His fingers paused on the screen for a second.

"Prenatal?" Andrew looked up, brows furrowing. "Let me check my schedule, babe—"

His phone rang right on cue.

"Sorry." He glanced at the caller ID. "It's the firm."

I stared at his profile as he answered. Those lips had just told me "I love you" last night.

"What? The client wants to revise the entire proposal?" Andrew's voice rose. "Due today? That's impossible—Fine, fine, I'll be right there."

He hung up and turned to me, something flickering in his eyes.

Guilt? Or relief?

"Babe, I'm so sorry." He came over, cupping my face in his hands. "The Back Bay project—the client suddenly wants major changes. I have to go."

"It's okay, I'll go alone." I forced a smile. "Work comes first."

Andrew visibly relaxed. "You're the best. I'll bring you Legal Sea Foods tonight."

"Sure."

He rushed out. I stared at the closed door, wondering: Are you really going to work?

I spent the entire morning distracted, mechanically working through blueprints.

At 2:30 PM, as I was getting ready to leave for the hospital, my phone buzzed with a notification—from that damned streaming site.

[Daytime Special! Live Now]

Daytime? Are they insane?

My finger hovered over the screen. Logic told me not to click, but...

I clicked.

The moment the video loaded, I nearly dropped my phone.

It was our future home.

The Back Bay penthouse, decorated with my own designs. The cream Italian leather sofa, crystal chandelier, and the city skyline through floor-to-ceiling windows.

The two had already removed their masks.

Andrew was on top of Tessa, on our bed.

"She really went to her appointment?" Tessa asked breathlessly, her voice coming through my earbuds.

"Of course." Andrew nibbled her earlobe. "I said I had an emergency, so she went alone."

"You just ditched your pregnant fiancée?" Tessa feigned surprise. "Won't she be jealous?"

Andrew laughed. "Jealous of what? She's four months pregnant. The doctor said no sex for the first trimester, and now we still need to be careful."

"So you come to me?"

"You know how frustrating it is?" His hands roamed over her body. "Lying next to her every night, but can't do anything..."

So that's it.

My stomach churned.

"Poor Andrew." Tessa smiled seductively. "Let me make it up to you today."

She knelt on the bed, gripping him with both hands, slowly lowering her head, her tongue teasing the tip like savoring a delicacy.

Andrew groaned, head thrown back, gripping her hair to guide her deeper.

Her mouth enveloped him, bobbing up and down, wet sucking sounds coming through the speaker, mixed with his panting and her soft moans.

So practiced and hungry, each deep throat making his body shudder slightly, sweat rolling down his abs.

This was... disgusting. Instead of heat, waves of nausea washed over me.

But what came next completely broke me.

On the nightstand, our engagement photo faced the camera.

And on the bed, they continued their frenzied coupling—Tessa riding him wildly, her moans echoing through the familiar room.

The final image froze on Tessa's triumphant smile.

I collapsed to the floor, my stomach roiling. Bile rose in my throat as I covered my mouth and staggered to my feet.

I rushed to my office's private bathroom and vomited violently into the toilet.

The appointment. I almost forgot the appointment.

Wiping the acid from my lips, I checked my watch—3:15 PM.

Already late.

Whatever, I'll just say something came up. He won't care anyway.

11 PM, the sound of keys in the door.

"Babe, I'm home!" Andrew walked in, indeed carrying a Legal Sea Foods bag.

I sat on the couch, staring at the black TV screen.

"How was the appointment?" He came over, sitting beside me.

"Had to revise some blueprints last minute. Didn't make it." I lied flatly.

"Oh." He was clearly relieved. "When did you reschedule?"

"Next week."

"Good." He opened the bag. "I got your favorite lobster roll! And clam chowder, eat it while it's hot."

Seeing my face, he paused.

"God, are you okay?" Concern filled his features. "You look terrible."

What an actor.

"Where were you this afternoon?" My voice shook.

"The office." Andrew said while removing his suit jacket. "Those merger documents, the client was breathing down our necks."

"Alone?"

"Of course." He sat down beside me. "Friday night and I'm the only sucker there. The whole floor was dark."

He kissed my forehead. "Do you have a fever? You're burning up."

"I thought..." I stared into his eyes. "You'd be seeing someone else."

Andrew frowned. "Seeing who? Babe, what are you talking about?"

Those brown eyes were full of confusion and worry. If I didn't know the truth, I'd definitely be fooled.

"Nothing." I lowered my eyes. "Morning sickness, I'm a bit confused."

"Here, eat something." He opened the bag, the aroma wafting out. "Oh, Tessa just texted. She wants to have afternoon tea with you on Sunday."

Tessa. Who was fucking him wildly just this afternoon. Now she wants to have tea?

"She said it's been too long since you two really talked." Andrew arranged the plates. "Have you been distant lately?"

Distant? She's fucking my fiancé!

"I'm tired." I pushed the food away. The smell of lobster made me nauseous.

"Okay, let me help you upstairs." Andrew helped me stand, his arm around my waist. Those hands that were touching someone else just hours ago.

The stairs seemed endless, each step like walking on knives.

In the bedroom, he helped me out of my shoes and pulled up the covers.

"Sleep." He lay down, his arm wrapping around me from behind. "I'm here."

His breath on my neck, warm and steady.

"Andrew?" I suddenly spoke in the darkness.

"Mm?"

"Do you love me?"

"Of course." His arm tightened. "Forever."

I closed my eyes, tears soaking silently into my pillow.

So this is how people lie. So naturally. So flawlessly.

3 AM, Andrew's breathing was even.

I opened my eyes, staring at the ceiling.

My phone vibrated softly on the nightstand.

A message from Tessa: [Hey love, that new café on Newbury Street Sunday? 2 PM? Miss you so much ❤️]

Miss me? Or miss my fiancé?

I stared at the chat window, fingers typing:

[I know what you did this afternoon.]

Then deleted it.

[Sounds good.] I replied.

And added a smiley face.