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.
I followed them as they moved through the corridors, Derrick guiding Samantha toward the exit. The fluorescent lights reflected off the glass doors as he draped his jacket over her shoulders, shielding her from the autumn rain that had begun to fall outside. I watched from a distance as Samantha leaned up, pulling Derrick close by his tie and planting a kiss on his lips. Then, her eyes drifted toward me, catching sight of me with a look of smug satisfaction.
“Looks like you’ve lost,” she mouthed, her expression as cold as the rain falling outside.
A faint, calm smile formed on my lips. “He’s just a man, nothing more,” I whispered under my breath, feeling a strange freedom wash over me.
I was done with tears and done with pleading for his love. I didn’t need Derrick anymore—I needed only to secure a future free from his betrayal.
As they drove off, I stayed behind, letting the rain soak through the thin fabric of my dress. Calmly, I opened my phone and selected the folder of evidence I had compiled: messages, photos, receipts of Derrick’s gifts to Samantha. With a few taps, I sent the files to my mentor within the pack—a powerful elder known for her ruthless loyalty and fierce protection of those she cared about.
By the time I slipped my phone back into my pocket, the cold rain had seeped through my clothes, chilling me to the bone. I shivered, but the chill only strengthened my resolve. I had done everything I could, and now I would chart my own path.
Suddenly, my phone rang, the familiar tone of my mother’s call cutting through the silence. I took a steadying breath before answering. “Hello, Mom.”