Chapter 3 - The Uninvited Guest
Sunlight cut blindingly through the hospital room blinds the following afternoon. I was sitting up in bed, cradling Maya against my shoulder, when the door swung open without a knock.
Grant strode in, looking like he owned the building. He wore a sharp, tailored charcoal suit that cost more than my first car, his hair freshly styled, a smug, triumphant smirk plastered across his face. In his right hand, he carried a bouquet of expensive red roses. In his left, a manila envelope.
He didn't look at Maya. He didn't ask how I was feeling.
"Well, Tessa," Grant drawled, stopping at the foot of my bed and tossing the roses onto the blanket. "I hear it's a girl. Too bad you couldn't time it better, but honestly, your timing has always been a bit pathetic."
I didn't flinch. I stroked Maya’s back softly, letting him dig his own grave.
"You look ridiculous standing there, Grant," I said evenly.
His smile faltered for a fraction of a second before hardening into pure venom. "You think you're clever, don't you? Disappearing into the night like some dramatic martyr. But while you were busy having contractions in a charity ward, I was busy securing my future."
He stepped aside, gesturing toward the doorway.
A woman stepped into the room. She was wearing a tight designer dress, a heavy cloud of expensive perfume preceding her, and a blinding diamond band resting heavily on her left ring finger.
It was Jessica Vance, a junior partner at the defense contracting firm where Grant worked—and the woman he had claimed was "just a colleague" for the past six months.
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"Surprise, Tessa," Jessica said, her voice dripping with syrupy fake sweetness as she flashed her ring. "Grant and I are getting married. Well, as soon as he wraps up the messy little details of his current divorce, of course."
Grant puffed out his chest, stepping close to Jessica and wrapping an arm around her waist. He looked at me with a gaze full of absolute, untouchable supremacy, certain that he had won the game of life.
