I’ve never been unfaithful. And yet, those words crushed me. Because nine months ago…
The harsh glow of hospital lights blurred into a pale wash as Claire Johansson was rolled out of recovery, the faint, rhythmic cries of her newborn trailing behind. Her entire body throbbed—every muscle sore, her chest heavy not just from the physical strain, but from the ache of having gone through it all alone.
Samuel had been hundreds of miles away, stuck in a business meeting that had run far longer than planned. During early contractions, Claire had clung to her phone, praying he’d arrive just in time. But when the moment came, it was only her, a doctor whose name she hadn’t caught, and a team of kind but unfamiliar nurses.
Back in her hospital room, as she tried to gather herself, her phone vibrated. A bank notification lit up the screen. Claire blinked hard, trying to focus. A $5,000 transfer had hit her account, along with a message from Samuel that made her blood run cold.
