"Mildred, let's have a baby. A little girl who looks just like you. I'll give her everything beautiful this world has to offer."
But when that tiny life actually arrived, the timing couldn't have been worse.
I refused to be a burden to him. I wanted to pour every ounce of energy into paying off his debt. So I scheduled the procedure behind his back and let them take our child.
Turns out I was nothing but a fool dancing on his strings.
Tears splashed onto the rice. I chewed the meat I hadn't tasted in months, laughing at my own stupidity. My own blind devotion.
I sat there until the sky turned black, until Dominic's call finally came.
His voice through the speaker was bright with excitement.
"Honey, I got paid today! Hurry home—I bought you that little cake you love."
I wiped my face dry and rose on unsteady legs.
When we married, I had made one thing absolutely clear to Dominic.
I would never forgive betrayal. I would never forgive deception.
He had committed both. Which meant we were about to reach the only possible destination.
Divorce.
When I walked through the door, the floor was strewn with crushed red roses, petals torn and scattered.
Dominic grabbed my hand, practically bouncing with pride.
"I didn't waste any money, I promise! I found these in a dumpster. Tomorrow's Valentine's Day, so consider them my gift to my beautiful wife."
I met his eyes. My lips curved into something that might have been a smile.
Earlier today, I had followed him in secret. I watched him escort Clementine Short to the most exclusive district downtown, casually pointing at two villas and buying them for her on the spot. Nine hundred and ninety-nine red roses accompanied the gesture.
These few mangled stems he'd brought home? They were the ones Clementine had accidentally dropped and damaged.
In his heart, I only deserved another woman's garbage.
Dominic noticed my mood. His arms slid around my waist, gentle and warm.
A slip of paper fell from my pocket and landed at his feet.
He picked it up before I could react.
My heart slammed against my ribs. I lunged to snatch it back.
But his eyes were already glistening. He pulled me into his arms so tightly it felt like he wanted to absorb me into his very bones.
"Mildred, you're carrying our baby—is this your Valentine's gift to me? I love it so much."
I froze, my gaze dropping to that worn, dog-eared test result.