Chapter 1
I was eight months pregnant when I found out my husband had a vasectomy.
It was dated over a year ago.
1 stood frozen, one hand resting on my swollen belly, the other trembling as I clutched the medical record. My mind was spinning. Panic took over as I rushed to confront him, desperate for answers.
When I arrived at Brandon’s office, laughter erupted from behind the door–loud, crude, and unmistakably male.
“Dude, you really did it for Madison? A whole–ass vasectomy? And now Rachel’s waddling around eight months pregnant, still clueless the baby’s not even yours? You’re not worried she’ll lose her mind when she finds out?”
Brandon Whitmore sounded completely unfazed.
“She forced that marriage on me. If it weren’t for her, Madison never would’ve left the country in the first place.”
Another man chimed in with a chuckle. “Even if she figures it out, so what? With that belly, who else would take her now?”
They all burst out laughing again–drunk on liquor, arrogance,
and cruelty.
Brandon didn’t just betray me–he turned my life into a goddamn poker game. He’d even set up a bet with his so–called friends.
A million dollars on the table… all to guess who fathered the baby inside me.
What I once believed to be love had all been a carefully orchestrated lie.
Fine,
Brandon. If this is how you want to play–I’ll give you exactly what you deserve.
I pulled out my phone and called the clinic.
“Hi. I’d like to schedule a termination.”
“Man, when she finally pops and still doesn’t know who the father is? You don’t think she’ll totally lose it?” one of the guys asked, barely stifling a laugh.
Brandon leaned back on the couch, looking smug as hell.
“She’s too stupid to ever find out. And even if she does what’s she gonna do, get rid of it aceight months? Please. No one else would want her anyway.”
Another chimed in with mock sympathy, “Rachel was obsessed with you, bro. Drove Madison away just to marry you. Cold.”
The “Madison” they kept talking about was Brandon’s adopted sister–Madison Whitmore,
Though, to be clear, she was the one who begged me to send her overseas. Not the other way
around.
“But seriously,” someone said, “we’re all dying to know who the baby daddy really is.
Carter Blackwell grinned, flashing a twisted look.
Brandon’s lip curled in disgust.
“Whoever it is, it sure as hell isn’t me. Just thinking about her driving Madison away turns my
stomach. I’d rather watch porn than ever touch her again. She’s disgusting.”
That’s when Carter smirked. “Well then, let’s make it fun. Let’s bet on it. Who’s the daddy?”
Laughter broke out as everyone turned toward Brandon to see if he’d bite.
He raised his glass with an unreadable expression. Then, in one smooth motion, downed the entire
drink.
“I’m betting a million it’s Carter’s.”
The room exploded with cheers.
“Damn, Brandon, you don’t play!”
Carter looked way too proud. “What can I say? I only tried her three times.”
“Count me in. I’m putting down a million on Jack.”
“Five hundred grand says it’s Carter’s.”
“Six hundred on someone else…”
Their voices blurred together in a drunken, jeering mess.
“She’s too stupid to ever find out. And even if she does–what’s she gonna do, get rid of it at eight months? Please. No one else would want her anyway.”
Another chimed in with mock sympathy, “Rachel was obsessed with you, bro. Drove Madison away just to marry you. Cold.”
The “Madison” they kept talking about was Brandon’s adopted sister–Madison Whitmore.
Though, to be clear, she was the one who begged me to send her overseas. Not the other way
around.
”
“But seriously,” someone said, “we’re all dying to know who the baby daddy really is.”
Carter Blackwell grinned, flashing a twisted look.
Brandon’s lip curled in disgust.
“Whoever it is, it sure as hell isn’t me. Just thinking about her driving Madison away turns my stomach. I’d rather watch porn than ever touch her again. She’s disgusting.”
That’s when Carter smirked. “Well then, let’s make it fun. Let’s bet on it. Who’s the daddy?”
Laughter broke out as everyone turned toward Brandon to see if he’d bite.
He raised his glass with an unreadable expression. Then, in one smooth
drink.
“I’m betting a million it’s Carter’s.
ga
The room exploded with cheers.
“Damn, Brandon, you don’t play!”
Carter looked way too proud. “What can I say? I only tried her three times.”
“Count me in. I’m putting down a million on Jack.”
“Five hundred grand says it’s Carter’s.”
“Six hundred on someone else…”
Their voices blurred together in a drunken, jeering mess.
tion, downed the entire
I stood at the doorway, paralyzed. Every laugh, every word, was another blade slicing into me.
All this time, I thought I had love.
Chapter 1
7.50
01
kun for helping us measure
Turns out, it was just a trap–and I was the fool who fell for it.
I stumbled away before they could see me, my hands ice–cold, my back drenched in sweat.
Once I caught my breath, I made the call again.
“Hi. I’d like to schedule an abortion appointment.”
If Brandon and his little circle were so eager to bet on this child, then I’d gift them something unforgettable.
“Take the pills and return for the procedure in three days,” the nurse said.
I took the form from the clinic and headed home, exhausted.
But when I got to the front door, the code wouldn’t work.
Over and over again, the lock flashed red: incorrect passcode.
Just as I reached for my phone, the door swung open–and there stood Madison, freshly returned from abroad… wearing my silk nightgown.
“Hey, I
Rachel! I just got back and didn’t want to stay alone. Brandon thought it’d be safer if I moved in with you guys. I forgot to pack pajamas, so I borrowed yours. Hope that’s okay?”
her is
My eyes locked on the slipping strap the very visible marks on her chest–and the fact that she clearly wasn’t wearing anything underneath.
Brandon came up behind her, wrapping an arm around my shoulders.
“Rachel’s the understanding type,” he said with a grin. “She
on’t mind.”
Then he added, “Madison kept messing up the code, so I figured using her birthday would make things easier.”
I looked at him and felt the bile rise in my throat.
They weren’t even trying to hide it anymore.
Linus measure
