Chapter 1

My husband said he'd give me a surprise the day I went into labor.

I thought it would be a bouquet stuffed with cash, or a heavy gold bracelet.

What I never imagined was that the very night I gave birth, he'd walk in holding my best friend's hand and announce their relationship right in front of me.

"These past ten months, thank God I had Flo. Otherwise I'd have gone out of my mind."

"Honestly, I've wanted to tell you for a long time, but I figured I'd hold off while you were pregnant."

My best friend chimed in with a smile too.

"Cece, don't be upset. If it weren't for me, your husband definitely would've cheated on you."

"We grew up practically joined at the hip anyway. We've shared so many things over the years."

"One more thing, your husband, it's really nothing. And I can even take care of you during your recovery."

I couldn't accept it. I broke down and demanded a divorce.

But the two of them ganged up and scolded me for being unreasonable.

I sobbed, "Aren't you afraid this is more than I can take, that I'll do something to myself?"

They didn't care in the slightest.

"Back when Luke Henson's rival kidnapped you and violated you for three days and nights, you didn't do anything to yourself."

"Something this small, of course you can handle it."

Too bad they forgot that after childbirth, the hormones make you the most prone to depression.

Betrayed twice over, this time I really couldn't hold up.

1.

Seeing me still in tears, Florence Lyons let go of Luke's hand, sat down beside me, and murmured soothingly.

"There, don't cry. You can't be crying right after giving birth."

"There's really no need to be so upset. Think about it, because you were pregnant, Luke couldn't even sleep with you."

"What man can hold out that long?"

"If I hadn't helped, he'd have gone looking for some other woman, and those women would never be as considerate of you as I am."

"They'd only find ways to steal his affection and push you out."

"I'm different. You and I go back years, so of course I'm on your side."

I stared at Florence in disbelief, unable to imagine those words coming out of her mouth.

No, I should have seen it coming, given who she is.

She'd been like this since we were kids. Whatever I had, she wanted it too.

She thought best friends had to have everything the same, the same clothes, the same jewelry.

When we grew up we had to live together, and work in the same place too.

She used to say, "A best friend is really just the twin sister you choose for yourself, born to different parents."

"So we have to stay together, always."

Because of those words, when we were little I'd give her a matching version of whatever I had.

When I grew up and met Luke, I stood by him and built everything with him.

The first thing I did once we got the company off the ground was invite her to come work there.

Back then she clung to my arm, thrilled beyond words.

"I'm so lucky, having a rich best friend, kept by her and her boyfriend both."

At the time I didn't think anything of it.

She was my best friend, after all, and Luke, as my partner, was supposed to look after her.

I just never imagined the two of them would look after each other all the way into bed.

I swallowed the metallic taste rising in my throat and forced the words out.

"When did it start?"

Luke answered as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "The night your pregnancy was confirmed, Flo and I slept together."

"There was nothing I could do. The first three months are unstable, and I couldn't sleep with you either."

Looking at the face he was wearing now, I remembered the day the pregnancy was confirmed, when Luke pulled me into his arms.

He was shaking all over, so happy he cried.

"Cece, I'm so happy. I'm going to be a father!"

I laughed and teased him back then. "Are you really that happy? While I'm pregnant, you'll have to live like a monk for a few months."

"It's fine. For you and the baby, I can hold out."

Ha. No wonder he could hold out. With Florence there to relieve him, why would it be hard?

Just then Florence stood up, wanting to hold my baby.

"There now, let Auntie see our little girl."

I saw it and scrambled up despite my wound, shoving her away. "Don't touch her!"

Seeing Florence knocked to the floor, Luke lost it too and shoved me hard to the side.

"Cecilia Summers, have you lost your mind?"

"Flo just wanted to see the baby. Why did you push her?"

That shove from Luke drained the color from my face in an instant.

I bit back the pain in my belly and forced myself to shield my daughter.

"You two disgusting pieces of garbage, don't either of you touch my daughter!"