Chapter 1

In the third year of our marriage, I found a Snapchat group on my husband's phone called "The Happy Family."

There were only three people in it: him, my best friend, and his mother.

I wasn't in it.

The latest message was from my mother-in-law, Beatrice: "Just hang in there a bit longer. Once she has the baby and the house title is officially transferred to your name, we'll have Maya move in."

"We can let them live together first."

I froze in the bathroom, the toilet brush slipping from my hand and clattering onto the floor.

Before I could even process it, my three-year-old son, Leo, ran over and tugged at my jeans.

"Mommy, stop cleaning."

He pointed toward his dad's phone screen and said in his sweet, childish voice, "Daddy said this house belongs to Auntie Maya now. You and I have to move into a tiny apartment."

I knelt down, looking at his serious little face.

"Who told you that, sweetie?"

"Daddy and Grandma. They thought I was asleep."

Leo leaned closer to me, whispering like he was sharing the biggest secret in the world.

"Mommy, I also heard Daddy say that once the new baby is born, he's going to make you leave."

"But Mommy, you don't have a baby in your tummy."

The blood in my veins ran ice-cold.

No, I didn't have a baby in my tummy.

But my best friend, Maya Miller, had just announced her pregnancy last month.

That night, I bathed Leo and put him to bed just like any other day.

My husband, Ethan Carter, was working late again.

I was used to it.

Over our three years of marriage, he had climbed from a regular sales representative to a regional director.

Meanwhile, to take care of our son, I had quit my decent job and become a stay-at-home mom.

My mother-in-law, Beatrice, had moved in last month to "help" with the baby.

But ever since she arrived, the atmosphere in the house had completely shifted.

Before, Ethan would occasionally help with the dishes. Now, the moment he walked through the door, he would just crash on the couch.

"My mom said I work hard at the office. You shouldn't make me do chores."

Before, he used to give me his paycheck card. Now, he only transferred a fixed monthly allowance for groceries.

"My mom said we need to save money. It shouldn't all be in your hands."

I hadn't thought much of it at the time.

After all, he was Leo's father, and the monthly allowance was enough to cover our expenses.

And with his mother around, my workload had indeed gotten a bit lighter.

But I never expected that this peace would come with such a devastating price.

That afternoon, Beatrice took Leo downstairs to the playground and told me to change the sheets in the master bedroom.

While I was looking for fresh sheets in the closet, I accidentally knocked over a manila folder.

A piece of paper slipped out.

I picked it up and realized it was a home purchase agreement.

The buyer's name was Ethan Carter.

The purchase date was three months ago—on my birthday.

That day, he had told me his company was hosting a team-building retreat and that he would be out of town for two days.

I had believed him.

The contract was for a three-bedroom apartment in the most expensive neighborhood in the city.

The down payment was $80,000.

I had always managed our family savings.

Three months ago, a large chunk of money had indeed gone missing from our joint account.

Ethan told me he had lent it to his brother for a temporary business emergency and that it would be paid back in two months.

And I had believed him again.

My hands began to shake violently as I held the contract.

Not because of the $80,000.

But because on the very last page of the contract, there was another signature.

Co-buyer: Maya Miller.

Maya Miller.

My college classmate. My best friend.

We had known each other for ten years.

She came over to our place for dinner all the time, and my son called her Auntie Maya.

She posted photos of Leo on her Instagram with captions like "My favorite little man."

Last month, she told me she was pregnant, claiming the father was a jerk who had abandoned her.

I had comforted her and even transferred her $500 to help her out.

I slumped against the closet, my mind buzzing with a deafening ring.

No.

If she was just pregnant with some random guy's baby, why would she buy a house with Ethan?

Why was her name on the contract?

Taking a deep breath, I put the contract back into the folder and slid it exactly where it had been.

Then, I pulled out my phone and sent Maya a Snapchat message.

"Maya, how are you doing? Is the morning sickness any better?"

She replied almost instantly. "Much better, but it's a bit scary living alone."

"Why don't you come stay with me for a few days? I can keep you company," I typed, my fingers steady.

"Really? That would be amazing! I'll come over tomorrow!"

I locked my screen and stared up at the chandelier.

Ethan had replaced it last year, saying he wanted to make me happy.

Now, as I looked at it, it felt like an eye.

An eye that had seen the ugly truth long ago but had chosen to remain silent.