Being taken for a fool wasn't enough. She wanted me to play the happy father too.
In that moment, staring at the face I'd once loved down to the marrow of my bones, the face I'd been utterly captivated by, all I felt was revulsion.
Every word out of her mouth was love—but from Daniel's promotion to the shares to manufacturing an identity for her unborn child, every single step had been calculated.
What a joke.
Bella Simmons!
Since you were so good at scheming, how could I not lend you a hand?
The next morning, Bella kissed my forehead gently before leaving.
"Honey, I left breakfast in the microwave for you. Remember to eat when you get up. I also laid out your outfit for tonight's promotion ceremony. Don't forget to change into it."
I kept my eyes closed and let out a soft "Mm."
"See you tonight, honey!"
She kissed my forehead once more.
I listened to her footsteps fade, listened to the door open and close, then opened my eyes and stared at the ceiling for a while before getting out of bed to wash up.
Inside the microwave sat a bowl of oatmeal and some stuffed pastries—my favorites. On the hanger hung a white suit, pressed to crisp perfection without a single wrinkle.