{"id":388,"date":"2026-08-31T18:15:05","date_gmt":"2026-08-31T18:15:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thechapterstory.online\/?p=388"},"modified":"2026-08-31T18:16:26","modified_gmt":"2026-08-31T18:16:26","slug":"part-2-my-pregnant-husband-cheated-on-me-so-i-invited-his-mistress-to-my-baby-shower-instead","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thechapterstory.online\/?p=388","title":{"rendered":"PART 2 \u2013 My pregnant husband cheated on me. So I invited his mistress to my baby shower instead."},"content":{"rendered":"
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PART 2<\/h5>\n

Adrian turned white.
\nNot pale.
\nNot nervous.
\nWhite.
\nThe kind of white people turn when they see a ghost, a police officer, or their wife warmly embracing the woman they have been secretly sleeping with for six months.
\n\u201cRachel!\u201d I called brightly. \u201cYou made it!\u201d
\nEvery head in the room turned toward her.
\nRachel\u2019s confident smile faltered for half a second. Then she recovered and walked toward me, clutching the gold-wrapped gift bag against her body.
\n\u201cOf course,\u201d she said. \u201cI wouldn\u2019t miss it.\u201d
\nAdrian nearly choked on his water.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

I opened my arms.
\nRachel had no choice but to hug me.
\nHer perfume filled my nose. It was the same sweet, expensive scent I had noticed on Adrian\u2019s jacket three weeks earlier.
\nMystery solved.
\n\u201cYou look beautiful,\u201d Rachel whispered.
\n\u201cSo do you,\u201d I replied. \u201cAdrian always did have excellent taste.\u201d
\nHer body stiffened.
\nI smiled wider.
\nThen I took her hand.
\n\u201cCome on. I saved you a special seat.\u201d
\nAdrian stepped forward immediately.
\n\u201cCamila, maybe Rachel should sit with the people from work.\u201d
\n\u201cOh, don\u2019t be silly,\u201d I said. \u201cShe\u2019s practically family.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

The room became quieter.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

Rachel glanced at Adrian.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Adrian stared at me as if he were silently begging me to stop.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately for him, I had spent the past two weeks learning how enjoyable it was to ignore his needs.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

I guided Rachel across the room and pulled out the empty chair beside my mother-in-law.<\/p>\n

\u201cRachel, this is Teresa, Adrian\u2019s mother.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

Teresa looked Rachel up and down.<\/p>\n

Rachel\u2019s face changed.<\/p>\n

It was subtle, but I saw it.<\/p>\n

Recognition.<\/p>\n

Teresa saw it too.<\/p>\n

Her hand tightened around her champagne glass.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve met,\u201d Teresa said quietly.<\/p>\n

Adrian closed his eyes.<\/p>\n

There it was.<\/p>\n

A tiny crack in the floor beneath my feet.<\/p>\n

I looked from Rachel to Teresa.<\/p>\n

\u201cReally?\u201d I asked. \u201cHow wonderful. Where?\u201d<\/p>\n

Teresa answered too quickly.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt the office Christmas party.\u201d<\/p>\n

There had been no office Christmas party.<\/p>\n

Adrian\u2019s company had canceled it because of a winter storm.<\/p>\n

I knew because Adrian had complained for three days about losing his free steak dinner.<\/p>\n

Rachel lowered herself into the chair.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d she murmured. \u201cThe Christmas party.\u201d<\/p>\n

I stared at my mother-in-law.<\/p>\n

She avoided my eyes.<\/p>\n

Interesting.<\/p>\n

Apparently, my baby shower had more surprises than I had ordered.<\/p>\n

Before I could ask anything else, my mother clapped her hands from the dessert table.<\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone! It\u2019s time for the first game!\u201d<\/p>\n

People cheered.<\/p>\n

I smiled at Teresa.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll continue this conversation later.\u201d<\/p>\n

She took a long drink.<\/p>\n

The first game was guessing the size of my stomach with a piece of ribbon.<\/p>\n

One aunt guessed thirty-six inches.<\/p>\n

Another guessed forty-eight.<\/p>\n

My cousin Mariana deliberately cut enough ribbon to wrap around a small automobile.<\/p>\n

\u201cPregnancy is temporary,\u201d she announced. \u201cRevenge photos are forever.\u201d<\/p>\n

Everyone laughed except Adrian.<\/p>\n

Rachel sat beside Teresa, pretending to examine the decorations. Neither woman spoke.<\/p>\n

I watched them both.<\/p>\n

For two weeks, I had believed I knew exactly what was happening.<\/p>\n

Adrian was cheating.<\/p>\n

Rachel was his mistress.<\/p>\n

I was the pregnant fool they thought they could manipulate.<\/p>\n

But Teresa\u2019s reaction had changed everything.<\/p>\n

My mother-in-law knew Rachel.<\/p>\n

And not from a Christmas party that had never happened.<\/p>\n

The second game was called Who Knows Daddy Best?<\/p>\n

My mother had prepared harmless questions about Adrian\u2019s favorite food, favorite movie, childhood nickname, and dream vacation.<\/p>\n

I had added three questions of my own.<\/p>\n

Everyone received a small card and a pencil.<\/p>\n

\u201cQuestion one,\u201d my mother announced. \u201cWhat is Adrian\u2019s favorite meal?\u201d<\/p>\n

People wrote down their guesses.<\/p>\n

\u201cLasagna,\u201d Teresa said confidently.<\/p>\n

\u201cSteak,\u201d one of Adrian\u2019s friends called out.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnything he doesn\u2019t have to cook himself,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n

Everyone laughed.<\/p>\n

Rachel wrote something quickly and covered it with her hand.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s see the answers,\u201d my mother said.<\/p>\n

Most people had written steak or lasagna.<\/p>\n

Rachel had written Thai curry from a restaurant near Adrian\u2019s office.<\/p>\n

Adrian\u2019s favorite lunch.<\/p>\n

The restaurant where their messages said they met every Wednesday.<\/p>\n

I pretended not to notice.<\/p>\n

\u201cQuestion two,\u201d my mother continued. \u201cWhat is Adrian\u2019s dream vacation?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Maldives,\u201d Teresa said.<\/p>\n

\u201cJapan,\u201d said one of his coworkers.<\/p>\n

Rachel wrote the Hamptons.<\/p>\n

Adrian\u2019s jaw tightened.<\/p>\n

My mother looked confused.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdrian, what is the correct answer?\u201d<\/p>\n

He cleared his throat.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know. Maybe Japan.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow strange,\u201d I said. \u201cI thought it was the Hamptons. You seemed to enjoy your last trip there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rachel dropped her pencil.<\/p>\n

A few guests exchanged glances.<\/p>\n

Mariana sat in the corner drinking sparkling water and watching everything like a lawyer who had purchased front-row tickets to a trial.<\/p>\n

My mother moved to the final question.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is the biggest secret Adrian has ever kept?\u201d<\/p>\n

The laughter faded.<\/p>\n

Adrian looked at me.<\/p>\n

\u201cCamila,\u201d he said softly.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, honey?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCan I speak to you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re playing a game.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNow.\u201d<\/p>\n

His voice was sharper.<\/p>\n

My uncle lowered his cupcake.<\/p>\n

My mother frowned.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdrian, don\u2019t speak to her like that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI just need a minute with my wife.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rachel stared down at her lap.<\/p>\n

Teresa whispered something under her breath.<\/p>\n

I placed one hand beneath my stomach and stood.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur daughter has been listening to secrets for seven months,\u201d I said. \u201cI think she deserves to hear this one.\u201d<\/p>\n

Then the lights dimmed.<\/p>\n

Adrian turned toward the wall.<\/p>\n

A projector screen lowered behind the gift table.<\/p>\n

The room fell silent.<\/p>\n

The first photograph appeared.<\/p>\n

It was an ultrasound image of Lucy.<\/p>\n

People sighed and smiled.<\/p>\n

The second photograph showed Adrian and me on our wedding day.<\/p>\n

The third showed us painting the nursery.<\/p>\n

The fourth was a screenshot.<\/p>\n

I can\u2019t stand seeing you with her anymore.<\/p>\n

Someone gasped.<\/p>\n

The next screenshot appeared.<\/p>\n

You\u2019re the love of my life, Adrian.<\/p>\n

Then another.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m going to fix everything soon, my queen.<\/p>\n

Then another.<\/p>\n

What about the baby?<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t worry. I\u2019m going to be with you. I just need time.<\/p>\n

Nobody moved.<\/p>\n

Nobody breathed.<\/p>\n

The only sound in the room was the soft instrumental music still playing through the speakers.<\/p>\n

Adrian stared at the screen.<\/p>\n

Rachel covered her mouth.<\/p>\n

Teresa whispered, \u201cOh, God.\u201d<\/p>\n

I stepped into the middle of the room.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor anyone wondering,\u201d I said, \u201cCharles Mechanic is not a mechanic.\u201d<\/p>\n

My cousin Mariana pressed the button on the remote.<\/p>\n

A photograph of Rachel\u2019s company profile appeared beside the messages.<\/p>\n

\u201cCharles Mechanic is Rachel Salcedo,\u201d I continued. \u201cAdrian\u2019s coworker and our honored guest.\u201d<\/p>\n

Every face turned toward her.<\/p>\n

Rachel stood so quickly that her chair scraped across the floor.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can explain.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope so,\u201d I said. \u201cBecause I paid a deposit for this room, and I intend to get my money\u2019s worth.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adrian rushed toward me.<\/p>\n

\u201cTurn this off.\u201d<\/p>\n

He grabbed for the remote.<\/p>\n

Mariana stepped between us.<\/p>\n

\u201cTouch my cousin while she\u2019s pregnant,\u201d she said calmly, \u201cand I\u2019ll introduce you to several legal procedures you won\u2019t enjoy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adrian stopped.<\/p>\n

His face was red now.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is insane,\u201d he said. \u201cYou went through my phone?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s your defense?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou invaded my privacy!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou invaded our marriage.\u201d<\/p>\n

A few people murmured in agreement.<\/p>\n

Adrian looked around the room, desperate for support.<\/p>\n

He found his mother.<\/p>\n

\u201cMom, say something.\u201d<\/p>\n

Teresa stood.<\/p>\n

For one foolish second, I thought she was going to defend me.<\/p>\n

Instead, she looked at Rachel and snapped, \u201cYou promised you would stay away until after the baby was born.\u201d<\/p>\n

The entire room froze.<\/p>\n

I felt the words hit me harder than any of Adrian\u2019s messages.<\/p>\n

Rachel\u2019s face drained of color.<\/p>\n

Adrian stared at his mother.<\/p>\n

\u201cMom\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

Teresa realized what she had said.<\/p>\n

Too late.<\/p>\n

I turned toward her slowly.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou knew?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCamila, please.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou knew.\u201d<\/p>\n

She placed her glass on the table with a trembling hand.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t approve.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat wasn\u2019t my question.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI told him he was making a mistake.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut you knew.\u201d<\/p>\n

Teresa looked around the room as if one of the balloon arches might rescue her.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was trying to protect the family.\u201d<\/p>\n

I laughed.<\/p>\n

The sound came out sharper than I expected.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhich family?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPlease don\u2019t do this here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy not? You were comfortable discussing my marriage with my husband\u2019s mistress. You can discuss it with me.\u201d<\/p>\n

My mother walked toward Teresa.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou knew my pregnant daughter was being betrayed?\u201d<\/p>\n

Teresa lifted her chin.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdrian told me the marriage had been unhappy for years.\u201d<\/p>\n

I looked at him.<\/p>\n

\u201cWas it?\u201d<\/p>\n

He didn\u2019t answer.<\/p>\n

\u201cI cooked for you. I worked beside you. I helped pay our bills. I held your hand when your father died. I spent three years going through fertility treatments because you said you wanted a family more than anything.\u201d<\/p>\n

My voice cracked.<\/p>\n

I placed a hand over my stomach.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd while I was throwing up every morning carrying the daughter you begged me for, you were telling another woman that I was the problem.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adrian stepped closer.<\/p>\n

\u201cCamila, I never said you were the problem.\u201d<\/p>\n

The projector changed to the next message.<\/p>\n

Being with Camila feels like living in a hospital waiting room.<\/p>\n

A wave of disgust passed through the room.<\/p>\n

Adrian looked at the screen.<\/p>\n

Mariana raised an eyebrow.<\/p>\n

\u201cTechnology has terrible timing,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Rachel started crying.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d she whispered.<\/p>\n

I looked at her.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, you\u2019re embarrassed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe told me you were separated.\u201d<\/p>\n

The screen changed again.<\/p>\n

She still thinks we\u2019re happy. Sometimes I almost feel guilty.<\/p>\n

Rachel\u2019s excuse died in her throat.<\/p>\n

I walked toward her.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou knew I believed my marriage was real.\u201d<\/p>\n

She wiped her cheeks.<\/p>\n

\u201cI loved him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I was carrying his child.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t ask for this.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou walked into my baby shower wearing heels.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her lips parted, but nothing came out.<\/p>\n

Adrian grabbed his jacket from the back of a chair.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m leaving.\u201d<\/p>\n

A woman\u2019s voice came from the entrance.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wouldn\u2019t do that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lauren Menchaca stood beneath the lavender balloon arch.<\/p>\n

She wore a navy suit, black heels, and the expression of a woman who had never lost an argument in her life.<\/p>\n

Behind her stood a man from Adrian\u2019s company\u2019s human resources department.<\/p>\n

Adrian\u2019s shoulders dropped.<\/p>\n

Rachel whispered, \u201cLauren?\u201d<\/p>\n

Lauren entered the room and placed a folder on the nearest table.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdrian, Rachel, effective immediately, you are both suspended pending an internal investigation.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a private event,\u201d Adrian said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour use of company time, company travel, and company resources is not private.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rachel looked panicked.<\/p>\n

\u201cI never used company money.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lauren opened the folder.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe hotel room in the Hamptons was booked under a client development account.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adrian glared at Rachel.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou told her?\u201d<\/p>\n

Rachel shook her head.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI did,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n

Adrian turned toward me.<\/p>\n

For the first time that afternoon, he looked afraid.<\/p>\n

Not embarrassed.<\/p>\n

Not angry.<\/p>\n

Afraid.<\/p>\n

Lauren continued.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou will both receive formal instructions by email. Do not access your work accounts or contact any clients until the investigation is complete.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t fire me over my marriage,\u201d Adrian said.<\/p>\n

Lauren\u2019s expression didn\u2019t change.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo. But I can fire you for expense fraud.\u201d<\/p>\n

The room erupted in whispers.<\/p>\n

Adrian looked as if the walls were closing in around him.<\/p>\n

Then Mariana stepped forward with a large white envelope.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd since everyone is exchanging gifts,\u201d she said, \u201cI brought one too.\u201d<\/p>\n

She handed it to Adrian.<\/p>\n

He stared at it.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is this?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA petition for legal separation, notice regarding marital assets, and a demand that you preserve all financial records.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou prepared divorce papers without speaking to me?\u201d<\/p>\n

Mariana smiled.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe didn\u2019t need your permission.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adrian tore open the envelope.<\/p>\n

His hands shook as he scanned the first page.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re trying to take my daughter away from me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d I said. \u201cYour choices are taking your family away from you.\u201d<\/p>\n

He looked at me with hatred.<\/p>\n

For a moment, I barely recognized him.<\/p>\n

The man standing in front of me was not the man who had cried when we first heard Lucy\u2019s heartbeat.<\/p>\n

He was not the man who used to bring me coffee on Sunday mornings.<\/p>\n

He was a stranger wearing my husband\u2019s face.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou planned all of this,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou wanted to humiliate me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI wanted you to experience honesty in a room full of witnesses.\u201d<\/p>\n

Teresa grabbed my arm.<\/p>\n

\u201cCamila, enough. Stress is bad for the baby.\u201d<\/p>\n

I pulled away from her.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo not pretend to care about my daughter now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe is my granddaughter.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe is not your excuse.\u201d<\/p>\n

Teresa\u2019s face crumpled.<\/p>\n

My mother stood beside me.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou should leave,\u201d she told Teresa.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is my son\u2019s baby shower.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d my mother replied. \u201cThis is my daughter\u2019s baby shower. Your son merely provided half the DNA and all the entertainment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Even Mariana looked impressed.<\/p>\n

Adrian shoved the papers back into the envelope.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ll regret this.\u201d<\/p>\n

My uncle stood.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo will you, if you threaten her again.\u201d<\/p>\n

Three more relatives rose from their chairs.<\/p>\n

Adrian looked around the room.<\/p>\n

Nobody was on his side.<\/p>\n

Not even Rachel.<\/p>\n

He turned and walked toward the exit.<\/p>\n

Teresa followed him.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdrian, wait!\u201d<\/p>\n

At the doorway, he looked back at me.<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope you\u2019re happy.\u201d<\/p>\n

I rested both hands on my stomach.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot yet,\u201d I said. \u201cBut I will be.\u201d<\/p>\n

He left.<\/p>\n

The doors slammed shut behind him.<\/p>\n

For several seconds, nobody spoke.<\/p>\n

Then my aunt picked up a cupcake.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre we still doing presents?\u201d<\/p>\n

The room broke into nervous laughter.<\/p>\n

I laughed too.<\/p>\n

Then I started crying.<\/p>\n

My mother wrapped her arms around me.<\/p>\n

Mariana joined us, followed by my aunts, cousins, and friends. Even Lauren rested a gentle hand on my shoulder.<\/p>\n

For the first time since I had discovered the affair, I allowed myself to feel everything.<\/p>\n

The betrayal.<\/p>\n

The humiliation.<\/p>\n

The fear.<\/p>\n

The relief.<\/p>\n

Lucy kicked hard beneath my ribs.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know, baby,\u201d I whispered. \u201cYour family is dramatic.\u201d<\/p>\n

A few guests began removing the screenshots from the projector.<\/p>\n

Others packed food into containers.<\/p>\n

The party was clearly over.<\/p>\n

Then Rachel approached me.<\/p>\n

Her mascara had streaked beneath her eyes. She was still holding the gold-wrapped gift bag.<\/p>\n

\u201cI need to speak to you alone,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Mariana immediately stepped between us.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s important.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEverything you say can be said in front of me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rachel looked toward the doors, making sure Adrian had gone.<\/p>\n

Then she held the gift bag out to me.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis isn\u2019t a baby gift.\u201d<\/p>\n

I didn\u2019t take it.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSomething Adrian gave me yesterday.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mariana took the bag first and looked inside.<\/p>\n

Her expression changed.<\/p>\n

She pulled out a set of documents.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are these?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n

Mariana unfolded the first page.<\/p>\n

It was a bank transfer authorization.<\/p>\n

The amount was written near the top.<\/p>\n

$180,000.<\/p>\n

My mouth went dry.<\/p>\n

That was almost everything Adrian and I had saved.<\/p>\n

The down payment for the larger apartment we planned to buy after Lucy was born.<\/p>\n

I grabbed the paper.<\/p>\n

The transfer was scheduled for Monday morning.<\/p>\n

The receiving account belonged to a company I had never heard of.<\/p>\n

Hudson Star Holdings LLC.<\/p>\n

At the bottom of the page were two signatures.<\/p>\n

Adrian\u2019s.<\/p>\n

And mine.<\/p>\n

Except I had never signed it.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s not my signature.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know,\u201d Rachel said.<\/p>\n

Mariana examined the document.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere did you get this?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdrian gave it to me. He said the money was for our new apartment.\u201d<\/p>\n

My stomach turned.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur?\u201d<\/p>\n

Rachel nodded slowly.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe said that after the baby was born, you would be too exhausted to fight him. He said his mother had found a way to move the money before you filed for divorce.\u201d<\/p>\n

I thought of Teresa\u2019s face.<\/p>\n

You promised you would stay away until after the baby was born.<\/p>\n

This had never been only about an affair.<\/p>\n

They had been waiting.<\/p>\n

Planning.<\/p>\n

Preparing.<\/p>\n

My phone buzzed inside my purse.<\/p>\n

Then it buzzed again.<\/p>\n

And again.<\/p>\n

I pulled it out.<\/p>\n

Three notifications from the bank.<\/p>\n

TRANSFER REQUEST APPROVED.<\/p>\n

TRANSFER PROCESSING.<\/p>\n

FUNDS SENT.<\/p>\n

I stared at the screen.<\/p>\n

The transfer wasn\u2019t scheduled for Monday anymore.<\/p>\n

It had been completed four minutes earlier.<\/p>\n

While Adrian was standing in the room pretending to be shocked by the divorce papers, someone had emptied our account.<\/p>\n

Mariana took the phone from my hand.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow did he authorize this without you?\u201d<\/p>\n

I looked toward the empty doorway.<\/p>\n

Then I remembered something.<\/p>\n

That morning, Adrian had brought me breakfast in bed.<\/p>\n

He had kissed my forehead and asked to borrow my phone because his battery was dead.<\/p>\n

He had kept it for less than two minutes.<\/p>\n

Long enough to open the banking app.<\/p>\n

Long enough to approve the transfer.<\/p>\n

Long enough to steal everything.<\/p>\n

I called him.<\/p>\n

The call went directly to voicemail.<\/p>\n

I called again.<\/p>\n

Voicemail.<\/p>\n

Then Rachel\u2019s phone rang.<\/p>\n

She looked at the screen.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s Adrian.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnswer it,\u201d Mariana said.<\/p>\n

Rachel hesitated before pressing the speaker button.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdrian?\u201d<\/p>\n

His voice came through low and hurried.<\/p>\n

\u201cDid you give Camila the documents?\u201d<\/p>\n

Rachel looked at me.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n

There was a long silence.<\/p>\n

Then Adrian laughed.<\/p>\n

Not nervously.<\/p>\n

Not kindly.<\/p>\n

Coldly.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou stupid woman.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere is the money?\u201d I demanded.<\/p>\n

He went silent.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdrian, where is my money?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou wanted a public performance,\u201d he said. \u201cCongratulations. Now you have one.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat money belongs to our daughter.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d he replied. \u201cThat money belongs to whoever reaches it first.\u201d<\/p>\n

Behind him, I heard a car door close.<\/p>\n

Then another voice.<\/p>\n

Teresa\u2019s voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdrian, hurry. We\u2019re going to miss the flight.\u201d<\/p>\n

My blood turned to ice.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat flight?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n

Adrian disconnected the call.<\/p>\n

Rachel stared at the phone.<\/p>\n

Mariana was already dialing the bank.<\/p>\n

Lauren ran toward the door.<\/p>\n

I stood frozen beneath the sign that read WELCOME, LUCY, holding proof that my husband had forged my signature and emptied our account.<\/p>\n

Then another message appeared on my screen.<\/p>\n

It was a photograph from Adrian.<\/p>\n

He was sitting inside a car beside Teresa.<\/p>\n

In his hand was a passport.<\/p>\n

My passport.<\/p>\n

Underneath the photograph, he had written six words:<\/p>\n

You should have stayed quiet, Camila.<\/p>\n

And that was when my water broke\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n

TO BE CONTINUED IN PART 3\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

CLICK HERE CONTINUE TO READ PART 3 \u2013 My pregnant husband cheated on me. So I invited his mistress to my baby shower instead.<\/a><\/h5>\n<\/div>\n