Chapter 2

"Natalie, why are you still standing here?" When Blake finally came over to me, Noah was still in his arms. His championship medal hung around his neck, and the exhilaration had yet to fade from his face. "I've been looking everywhere for you." I stared at him. "Are you sure you looked?" Blake frowned. "Sweetheart, this is the most important night of my career. Don't take that tone with me." Noah tightened his arms around Blake's neck. "Daddy, when are we going to celebrate?" "Right now, champ." Blake smiled and ruffled his hair. I looked at the boy, then at my husband. "Blake, what did you just say on national television?" His smile finally dimmed. "Natalie, it was only an interview." "You said they were your family." "Noah doesn't have a father. You know how much he looks up to me." "So that gave Vivian the right to kiss you?" Blake's expression darkened. "She was overwhelmed. What was I supposed to do—push her away in front of millions of people and humiliate Noah?" I could hardly believe what I was hearing. "What about me?" He glanced at my swollen belly and sighed. "You're my wife, Natalie. Everyone knows that." Then his phone rang. A short distance away, Vivian was waving him over. "Blake, come take a few more pictures with us." He turned around immediately. "I'll be right there." I grabbed his wrist. "We're not finished." He looked down at my hand, his impatience impossible to miss. "Can you not do this tonight? We'll talk at home." He gently pulled free and walked away with Noah in his arms. I stayed where I was and watched him return to Vivian. Over the past ten years, I had handled countless media crises for him. I knew when silence was the smartest option. But this time, I didn't even have the strength to make excuses for him. Only after Blake and the others finished taking pictures and left did I head toward the players' tunnel to retrieve my coat. As I passed the locker room, I heard Blake's voice coming from inside. "What you did back there must have really hurt Natalie." It was one of his teammates speaking. I stopped. Blake gave a quiet laugh. "She's just a little jealous." "Man, you let another woman kiss you in front of the whole country." "Vivian was just excited." "But Natalie's pregnant with your child." After a brief silence, Blake spoke. "Noah grew up without a father. I couldn't disappoint him in front of all those people." "What about your wife?" "Natalie already has my last name. She already has our marriage. She doesn't need a championship trophy to prove where she stands." I pressed one hand against the cold wall. His teammate still didn't sound convinced. "You'd better give her a real apology. I saw her face out there." Blake laughed. "Don't worry. I know Natalie." What he said next stole the air from my lungs. "She's pregnant with my child. Where is she going to go?" A few awkward laughs came from inside the locker room. Blake continued, "Once she cools down, I'll buy her something and make it up to her. She never stays mad at me." I slowly lowered my hand from the wall. So he knew. He knew I would be hurt. He knew Vivian's kiss had crossed a line. He knew he had humiliated his pregnant wife on live national television. And he had still chosen them. "Natalie?" A soft female voice came from behind me. I turned around. Vivian stood there holding Noah's hand, a gentle smile on her face. "There you are." She bent down and straightened Noah's collar. "Sweetheart, say hello to Natalie." Instead, Noah looked at me in confusion. "Why are you still here?" I stared at him. The boy blinked and continued, "Daddy said he was celebrating with us tonight." Vivian gave his hand a gentle tug. "Noah, you shouldn't say that." But the smile never left her lips. Noah looked up at her and asked earnestly, "Mommy, is she coming home with us too?" Vivian didn't answer him. She simply looked at me and said softly, "You don't mind, do you, Natalie? Blake promised he would stay with Noah all night." As I looked at the mother and son standing before me, I suddenly understood. In their eyes, I was the outsider. I didn't answer Vivian. I took out my phone, opened my contacts, and found a number I hadn't called in a very long time. My divorce attorney.