That very necklace—I had found it in Daniel’s suit jacket three days ago.
I’d thought he had finally wised up and bought me a gift.
Touched, I had carefully put it back.
But it hadn’t been for me at all.
Hands trembling, I scrolled further.
One photo was from a delivery room: a Black hand and a White hand clasped tightly together.
On the White hand gleamed a diamond ring—the same one Daniel and I had chosen for our wedding.
The caption: “Having a baby alone is scary, but with him, it’s different. He says I’m better than a useless hen who can’t lay eggs!”
The post was dated July 15th.
The very day I had my car accident.
Trapped in the wreckage and bleeding heavily, I had thought I might die.
Struggling, I had called Daniel over and over, but he never answered.
I assumed he was in a meeting and sent him a text:
“I love you. Even without me, you must live strong.”
But in truth, that day he had been with this woman, welcoming her child.
A flood of betrayal and fury consumed me.
I immediately sent screenshots of her posts to a top private investigator:
“You have two days. I want everything on this woman and Daniel.”
The reply came quickly: “Understood.”
As every minute passed, my heart burned with anxiety.
Finally, my phone pinged with a message.
It was a full-body photo of the woman.
No way.
My eyes went wide in shock, my blood rushing in reverse.
Joanna Brown.
An international student from Africa.
My cousin’s best friend, currently interning at my company alongside her.
I had watched her belly grow and personally approved her maternity leave.
Never in my worst nightmares did I imagine the child she carried belonged to my husband.
Daniel returned home soon after.
I slipped my phone away and asked in disbelief:
“Where did you take the baby?”
Daniel, while changing his shoes, answered confidently:
“I sent him to my mom’s place in the next neighborhood. She’ll help us take care of him for a few days. Once you come around, we’ll bring him back.”
“Then we’ll throw him a grand baby shower so everyone knows you’re his mother. All our assets will go to him!”
I raised my hand to cut him off. “Stop. I’m not going to raise a lump of coal.”
Daniel’s face darkened instantly, his brows furrowing.
“Claire Miller, are you looking down on him?”
“If you could have a baby, would I need to adopt?”
“Either way, I’m throwing that baby shower!”
With that, he stormed into the bedroom and slammed the door shut.