Jenna Valentino thought she had found her forever after.
Life was good. A husband she loved, a daughter she adored, a dream job and a beautiful home. But nothing could prepare her for the bittersweet taste of betrayal, shattering the illusion.
Dev...
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~~ Jenna ~~
Each step became heavier as I tried to quieten down the thoughts running through my head.
Standing in front of room 209—it was closed, which was unusual. I hesitated, leaning closer to listen. I heard a woman's voice followed by giggling. Not recognizing the voice or the laughter. I tried to picture what I would find inside because I could not hear anything else over my rapidly beating heart.
I reached for the door handle.
The laughter abruptly stopped as I pushed it fully open and popped my head around.
Tony's eyes met mine. My heart stopped.
Stepping inside, no one spoke. The air became so brittle it could snap. I didn't know what to say or think. Platitudes wouldn't cut it. I knew without a word being said Sally had not been wrong in her unspoken assumptions.
Waves of nausea crashed my stomach. What had I interrupted? My mind crazily remembered waking up happy, blessed. But right here, right now, I felt lost as perched in his bed was my husband, the love of my life. The father of my child. Keeper of my heart. Looking at me like I was the one who shouldn't be there.
Unflinching, Tony waited for me to say something. Without permission, my eyes followed the path down from his face over his chest to his hand holding hers—a woman I'd never met.
One of us had to speak—break the impasse. "Tony, who's this?" My eyes never left her hand—Enveloped in my husband's hand!
I wanted him to release this stranger's hand, I wanted her to step away from my husband—neither of those things happened.
Swallowing, my eyes betrayed me, falling on her round belly. She was obviously pregnant and by the looks of it, around seven, maybe eight months. "Tony?" I asked again, unable to lift my gaze from her blossoming bump.
The silence was thick, choking. I wanted him to say that this wasn't what it looked like. Perhaps I need to ask her to leave. But I didn't. I couldn't, the words were locked tight in my throat.
"Jenna, this is Charlotte."
I did a double blink—Did he introduce this woman as if he was introducing a friend or a colleague. "Charlotte?" I mumbled.
"Yes, Charlotte," he repeated.
What the? My bag slipped to the floor; landing with a thud. "W-Why? Who? Why is she here Tony?"
Her eyes ran the length of me as I watched her protectively splay her other hand across her protruding stomach.
What? Did she think I was going to attack her?
She lifted her other hand still attached to Tony's and placed them both over her stomach.
Speak Tony—Goddamn Tony SPEAK! "Explain what's happening here, Tony?" I asked, surprised my tone was so calm and even.
