Alone in the vast, cold living room, I sank onto the sofa.
Julian and I had met at Columbia. I came from an illustrious family, but I'd never looked down on him, the working-class kid on a full scholarship. I supported him, championed him, and even gave him his first round of startup capital.
Julian was smart. He was brilliant at playing on my emotions, and after our marriage, he wrapped me in a world of meticulous care, ensuring I never felt even the slightest bit neglected.
But even the most flawless mask slips when things get messy.
I opened my phone. While Julian claimed he was meeting an investor, his credit card statement showed a coffee purchase made half an hour ago, just a block from Sabrina's gallery.
Without telling a soul, I changed into a nondescript outfit and drove straight to Sabrina's gallery in SoHo.
Dressed as I was, I slipped in unnoticed.
Claiming to be a friend of the owner, I made my way unopposed to "The Vault," the private VIP lounge on the second floor.
Before my hand even touched the door, I heard Julian's voice, whining from within.
"You guys can laugh? I'm being tormented by that ice queen and you think it's funny? Where's the sympathy?"
The room was full of people. Our friends. The same friends from the gala.
They were lounging, relaxed, not one of them defending me.
As their laughter echoed around the room, a chill snaked down my spine.
In the center of it all, on a plush sofa, sat Sabrina. She toyed with a champagne flute, tilting her head as she smiled up at Julian.
"And whose fault is that? You're the one who got careless. One wrong move and she noticed."
"I just reacted. Instinct. I saw your tie was crooked and I fixed it."
"I didn't think she was that sharp. I guess I was wrong."
She set down her glass and picked up a fresh one, raising it to her lips.
Just as it reached her mouth, Julian instinctively snatched the glass away.
"You're going to be a mother. You can't be so reckless. I told you, not a single drop, for the baby's sake!"
Sabrina had been the spoiled queen of our circle forever, a girl who bowed to no one. When her father forbade her from dating a rock star, she ran away from home without a backward glance.
But now, looking at Julian, her face softened into a docile, unfamiliar smile.
"Alright, alright. You're right. No more drinking."
"You're the father, after all. You call the shots."
She rested a hand on her still-flat stomach and leaned her head on Julian's shoulder.
In that instant, my blood ran cold.
An affair... and a baby? My God, they were having a baby.
