I know, baby. We’ll go home soon, Heather soothed. Why don’t you put her down in the guest room? I suggested.
She can nap until you’re ready to leave. Heather hesitated. Are you sure? I don’t want to impose.
Don’t be silly. Amanda’s always welcome here. I watched Heather carry Amanda upstairs, thinking about how much I wanted children of my own.
Samuel and I had been trying for two years with no luck. The doctor said there was nothing wrong with either of us. Sometimes these things just took time.
But watching Heather with Amanda always made my heart ache with longing. The party continued beautifully. Our friends shared funny stories about Samuel and me.
My parents embarrassed me with childhood photos, and Samuel’s mother gave a touching speech about how happy I’d made her son. Around 10 o’clock, people started to leave. I was in the kitchen wrapping leftover cake when I heard Amanda crying upstairs.
Poor thing was probably confused, waking up in a strange place. I’ll go check on her, Samuel called out, already heading for the stairs. I continued cleaning, humming softly to myself.
The party had been everything I’d dreamed of. I was already planning what we’d do for our 10th anniversary. That’s when I heard footsteps on the stairs.
Samuel’s heavy tread and lighter ones behind him. Heather must have gone up to get Amanda. I walked toward the dining room to say goodbye, still smiling, still glowing with happiness.
And then my world exploded. Amanda was crying, reaching for Samuel with desperate little arms. Daddy, can we go home now? The word hit me like a physical blow.
Daddy. Not Uncle Samuel or Mama’s friend. Daddy.
I watched in slow motion as the remaining faces in the room turned toward the sound of shattering glass. My champagne flute lay in pieces at my feet, but I couldn’t feel the cuts on my ankles. I couldn’t feel anything except the crushing weight of betrayal.
Samuel’s face went white. Heather looked like she might faint. Amanda kept crying, confused by the sudden tension in the room.
Teresa. Samuel started, his voice shaking. But I couldn’t hear him over the roaring in my ears.
Three years old. Amanda was three years old. Which meant.
I did the math with crystal clarity. Samuel and I had been trying to have a baby for two years. Amanda was three.
Which meant she was conceived four years ago. Four years ago, when Samuel had gone through what he called his quarter-life crisis. When he’d been distant and moody and claimed he needed space to figure things out.
When he’d started working late and going out with friends more often. When he’d been sleeping with my best friend. Get out.
The words came out as a whisper, but they cut through the silence like a knife. Teresa, please let me explain. Samuel stepped toward me.
Get out. I screamed my voice breaking. All of you get out of my house.
The remaining guests scattered like startled birds. My sister tried to approach me, but I held up a shaking hand to stop her. Not you, Rebecca.
Everyone else. Now. Samuel looked like he wanted to say something, but Heather grabbed his arm.
We should go, she whispered urgently. They left together. My husband and my best friend.
Carrying the child that should have been mine. The child that proved their betrayal had been going on for years. I stood alone in my beautiful dining room.
Surrounded by the remnants of what I’d thought was a perfect marriage. And felt something cold and hard settle in my chest where my heart used to be. They thought they could fool me.
They thought they could keep their secret forever. Playing happy family behind my back while I played the devoted wife and supportive friend. But they had made one crucial mistake.
They had underestimated me. As I swept up the broken glass with trembling hands. My mind was already working.
Planning. Calculating. They wanted to destroy my life.
Fine. But I would make sure they paid for every lie. Every betrayal.
Every moment of happiness they’d stolen from me. The game was just beginning. And I intended to win.
The house felt like a tomb after everyone left. I sat on my living room floor in my beautiful anniversary dress. Surrounded by empty wine glasses and crumpled napkins.
Trying to process what had just happened. Amanda called Samuel, Daddy. The words kept echoing in my head like a broken record.
I pulled out my phone with shaking fingers and opened my photo gallery. There were hundreds of pictures from the past three years. Family gatherings.
Birthday parties. Casual dinners where Heather and Amanda had joined us. I scrolled through them with new eyes looking for clues I’d missed.
There, Samuel’s hand on Heather’s shoulder at Amanda’s second birthday party. His gentle smile as he helped Amanda blow out her candles. The way he always seemed to know exactly what she needed before Heather even asked.
How had I been so blind? My phone buzzed. A text from Samuel. Please let me come home.
We need to talk. I stared at the message until the words blurred. Home.