She instinctively shielded her belly, her gaze darting away. "Thank you, ma'am…"
"The baby's father treats you well?" My tone was gentle, but my eyes cut straight through her.
"…Yes." She couldn't meet my gaze. Her voice was barely a whisper.
"Good." I gave a small nod, my tone light, but every word landed with weight. "A young woman should keep her eyes open and know her own worth. Don't let a scumbag fool you into giving everything up for nothing."
I stepped out of the building and drew a long breath.
Lisa Perry, you think hiding in the shadows means I can't touch you?
Today I'll show you exactly what a wife is capable of, and that everything stolen has to be returned.
That night, Ralph came home late, just as I expected. A cloying, unfamiliar perfume clung to his clothes, Lisa's perfume, laced with the sour bite of alcohol.
"Client dinner. Had too much to drink." He waved me off, already heading for the hallway. "Babe, I'm gonna hop in the shower."
The second the bathroom door clicked shut, I picked up his phone. One press of his fingerprint and the screen unlocked.
Lisa Perry's chat was pinned at the top. The messages hit me one after another, each one sharper than the last.
Lisa: Babe, the checkup went great! The doctor said they can tell the gender now. It's a boy!
Ralph: That's amazing! My son! I'll go with you tomorrow to pick out baby stuff.
You're the best, babe. I love you!
I love you too, you and our baby. Once he's born, we'll be a real family.
My fingertips went cold. My stomach lurched.
But what froze the blood in my veins was further down the thread, where a design file jumped out at me.
It was Moonlit Stars. My jewelry design. Three months of sleepless nights poured into every line, every curve, a piece born from everything I understood about love, meant to be my entry for the Eternal Love Design Competition, and a wedding anniversary gift for Ralph. Every stroke drawn by my own hand. And the name on it was Lisa Perry's.
Lisa: Babe, I filled out the entry form for the Eternal Love competition. I put my own name down. The judges won't be a problem, right?
Ralph: Relax, I've got it handled. Your submission is yours now. Molly's got nothing to do with it. Even if she finds out, it'll be too late.
Lisa: You're so clever~ Using her design for my entry. Once we win that grand prize, we'll be set!
I gripped the phone so hard my knuckles turned white.
Good. Really good.