Jacquelyn Spencer POV:
"Look, my love."
Harrison's voice was soft, laced with an excitement I hadn't heard in weeks. He sat beside me on the sofa, a tablet clutched in his hand, his eyes shining with a vision of a future that no longer included me. He turned the screen towards me, displaying aerial photos of a pristine, green island, surrounded by turquoise water.
"I bought it," he announced, his chest swelling with pride. "Our island. For our baby."
My blood ran cold. Our island. Our baby. The words were a cruel mockery, echoing the lies I'd been living.
"I'm going to build the most incredible amusement park there," he continued, oblivious to the silent storm raging inside me. "Roller coasters, water slides, a petting zoo… everything a child could ever dream of." He gestured wildly at the screen, sketching invisible structures in the air. "And every single ride will be named after them. Our legacy. Our child's legacy."
He leaned in, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "And when they turn one, we'll throw the biggest, most extravagant party the world has ever seen. Everyone will be there. The Ellis heir's first birthday." He grinned, a genuine, joyful smile that twisted my gut. He was so proud, so utterly consumed by this fantasy, by the child he believed was ours, untainted by his other life.
He talked for what felt like an eternity, detailing every aspect of his grandiose plans, his enthusiasm infectious, almost convincing. He didn't notice my silence. He didn't notice the way my hands were clenched so tight my nails dug into my palms. He didn't notice the single tear that escaped and traced a silent path down my cheek.
Then, a soft hiccup escaped my throat. He stopped, mid-sentence, the smile slowly falling from his face. His eyes, fixed on the tablet screen, unglazed, finally focusing on me. He turned, his gaze sweeping over my face, and saw the tracks on my cheeks.
His composure shattered. "Jacquelyn? What's wrong? Are you in pain?" His voice was thick with immediate panic, a stark contrast to the calm authority he usually exuded. Harrison Ellis could face down a room full of hostile investors without blinking, but the sight of my tears always rendered him helpless, fragile.
A bitter laugh bubbled up inside me. He truly would suffer a hundred times over if he knew the truth.
I quickly wiped my eyes, forcing a wobbly smile. "It's… it's the movie," I lied, nodding vaguely towards the television screen, which was playing a sappy romantic comedy I hadn't been watching. "So sentimental. Made me cry."
A wave of relief washed over his face. He pulled me into his arms, holding me tight. "Oh, my sweet girl. You're so tender-hearted." He kissed the top of my head. "Never doubt, Jacquelyn, you are my everything. I would never, ever betray you. Never."
The words, meant to soothe, felt like a fresh stab. He stroked my face, his thumb tracing the line of my jaw, his touch sending shivers down my spine, not of pleasure, but of disgust.
"I'm staying home today," he declared, pulling back slightly. "No work. I'm going to cook for you. Anything you want. We'll spend the day just us."
"No," I said, perhaps a little too quickly. "I… I actually made plans. With Fay and the girls. Lunch." It was a lie. Fay had canceled, as had everyone else, sensing my withdrawal. But I needed an escape. I needed to solidify my plan.
"But I wanted to spend time with you," he pouted, a surprisingly boyish expression on his usually stern face.
"Don't be silly," I forced a laugh. "You have work. Important work. Go. I'll be fine."
He hesitated, his gaze searching mine, as if trying to decipher the unsaid. He hated to argue with me, hated to see me unhappy. It was one of his few weaknesses, one I'd exploited countless times in the past.
"Alright," he finally relented, a sigh escaping his lips. "But I'm coming with you. I'll just drop by the office for a quick check-in, then meet you girls for lunch." He smiled, a possessive glint in his eyes. "Can't have my beautiful wife out alone, can I?"
