“Fine, blame me,” Derrick chuckled, his eyes bright with affection. “I’ll try not to spoil you so much next time.”
Their warmth and familiarity felt like a slap to my face. This was the life he had chosen, a life that didn’t include me—leaving me to bear his child alone, hidden in the shadows. My hand instinctively went to my belly, feeling the small flutter within. It was a bittersweet reminder of the bond I shared with the life growing inside me, even as Derrick drifted further away.
My heart ached, but I kept my expression composed, holding in the storm of emotions building up. I took out my phone, capturing every tender gesture, every shared look between them. This betrayal wouldn’t stay hidden, and I wouldn’t allow Derrick to erase me—or our child—from his life. The evidence I gathered was for the future, for the child I was determined to protect.