Nigel set down his glass and glanced at me without a trace of emotion.

"Baby Zach was crying a minute ago. Go see if he needs to be fed."

"Honestly, you're so unreasonable. All I said was to wait a little before eating. Was that really worth making a scene in front of everyone?"

I looked at the wrecked table, the bottles tipped over on the floor, and clenched my fists at my sides.

The cake in the center had been smeared beyond recognition.

I caught the traces of frosting still on Nigel's face and could picture exactly how much fun they'd all had without me.

That cake. I'd made it from scratch with my own hands. I hadn't gotten a single bite.

They'd used it to smear on each other's faces. A toy.

"Come on, Nigel, is that any way to win your wife back?"

"Lorraine Henson, here, take my seat!"

The one speaking was Leona Matthews, Nigel's assistant.

Also the girl he'd grown up with. His childhood sweetheart.

I pressed my lips together, shook my head, and walked straight to the bedroom without a word.

Zachery Henson was wailing in his crib. I blinked back tears and changed his diaper.

But the resentment inside me churned like a riptide, wave after wave threatening to pull me under.

"Nigel called it. She actually came back."

"Yeah, and it's only been half an hour..."

"That's how it is with women after they've had a kid. Easiest people in the world to control."

"Not all of them. It's the ones like Nigel's wife, stay-at-home moms from out of town with no family around. Those are the easiest."

"Gotta hand it to Nigel, though. Isn't his wife originally from Seaview City? How'd he get her to follow him back to a nowhere town like ours?"

"Because she's in love with him, obviously! Have you seen how much charm our boy Nigel's got?"

All eyes turned to Leona. She covered her face, cheeks flushed pink.

"Why are you all looking at me?"

"Stop it!"

The teasing wouldn't let up, and Leona's laughter threaded through the catcalls and whistles.

Every word landed like a needle in my chest.

I didn't know how long the noise went on. By the time Nigel pushed open the bedroom door, I'd already cried myself to sleep.

"I'm driving Leona home. Clean up while I'm gone."

Through the open door, I could see her standing there, waiting for him.

Again.

Any one of those guests could have dropped her off on their way. But somehow, it was always Nigel.

Before I could say a word, he was already out the door with her.