Addison Ball POV:
Life felt complete. I was pregnant. With twins.
The doctor' s words had echoed in the quiet room. "A rare and beautiful surprise, Addison." My heart swelled with a joy I hadn't known was possible.
I couldn' t wait to tell Addison. My husband.
He was on a business trip, as usual. Always busy, always flying.
I decided to surprise him. A spontaneous flight across the country.
I pictured his face. The wide smile, the way his eyes crinkled at the corners.
I snuck into his hotel suite, my suitcase rolling softly behind me. The door was ajar.
His voice reached me from the living room. Low and casual. A man' s voice.
I froze. My hand still on the doorknob.
"She's too sweet," Addison said. His words were like a casual flick, but they struck me hard. "Like chewing gum that's lost its flavor."
My breath hitched. The air suddenly felt thin.
"She's missing... that fire." He chuckled, a sound that twisted something inside me.
Brayden, his best friend, laughed back. "Yeah, your ex-wife has plenty of fire."
My stomach lurched. The joy of moments ago turned sour.
Brayden's voice was teasing. "Worn you out these last few days, has she?"
Addison Parker smirked. I could hear it in his tone, hear the arrogance.
"Her?" he scoffed. "She just uses me like a free vibrator."
A wave of nausea hit me. Harder than any morning sickness.
My body rebelled. My head spun.
The hotel room, once a symbol of surprise and love, became a cage. The words echoed, trapping me.
My love. My beautiful, fragile love. It was a lie.
A carefully constructed performance. He was an actor, and I was his unwitting audience.
He didn't deserve my love. He didn't deserve us.
The twins fluttered inside me, a gentle reminder of a future now tainted.
The betrayal was a physical blow. It crushed me.
My perfect world shattered. Dust motes danced in the sliver of light from the opened door.
This wasn't just a bump in the road. This was the end. The absolute end.
I pressed a hand to my mouth, fighting the bitter taste rising in my throat. I couldn't breathe.
