Emily cried. When she calmed down, she called the caregiver and asked her to pick up Noah from daycare and take him to her house, explaining what had happened.
She spent 3 days in the hospital. Entering her house, she decided she had to move on. She had Noah, who needed a happy, healthy, and loving mother.
An hour later, the caregiver brought her son. She hugged him and decided not to tell him for now that his little brother was no longer in mommy’s belly.
In the evening, Detective Castle called.
“Emily, I have news about your husband’s financial dealings.”
“I am listening.”
“We have found three more accounts in tax havens. The total sum of stolen money exceeds $45 million. Ethan prepared his escape thoroughly.”
“Can that money be recovered?”
“We are in contact with international agencies. The process is complex, but there is a chance.”
The next day, Emily received an unexpected call. It was Pamela Serrano from the detention center.
“Emily, it is Pamela. They gave me one call.”
“I am listening.”
“I want to tell everything. Testify against Ethan. But I have one condition.”
“What is it?”
“Meet with me. There are things you need to know.”
“About what?”
“About what Ethan planned to do to you and your son? It is much worse than you think.”
Emily agreed to meet. Curiosity overcame her aversion.
The detention center was a grim building in an industrial park. The visiting room: bare walls, a table, two chairs, bars on the window. Pamela looked terrible. Her hair was messy. Her clothes wrinkled. Her eyes red from crying. There was no trace of the self-assured young woman.
“Thank you for coming,” she said in a weak voice.
“I am listening, Pamela.”
“I want you to know I never wanted to hurt you. Ethan told me you had not loved each other for a long time and that the divorce was inevitable and you believed him. I was in love, blind and stupid.”
“He promised he would marry me, that we would buy a house in Italy. Children, children, I am pregnant, Emily, with Ethan’s child. I found out last week.”
Emily felt a pang in her heart. He was going to have a child with his mistress while her own baby had not survived.
“Why do you think it is Ethan’s?”
“My husband and I were careful because I was going to leave him for yours. And what else did you want to tell me about Ethan’s plans?”