Chapter 1

I was running my fingers over a set of organic cotton baby blankets when I felt the first kick of the afternoon. My hand automatically went to my seven-month bump.

"Easy there, little one," I whispered, smiling despite the $150 price tag that made my wallet cry.

Cherished Beginnings wasn't exactly in our budget, but Bennett had insisted we splurge today. "Our first baby deserves something special," he'd said this morning over pancakes, kissing my forehead before heading to the hospital for his Saturday shift.

Ten years ago, if someone told me I'd be shopping for organic baby clothes in Lincoln Park, I would've laughed in their face. Back then, I thought Walmart's baby section was as fancy as I'd ever get.

"Can I help you find anything?" A young sales associate approached, all smiles and genuine warmth.

"Just browsing, thanks. My husband told me to pick whatever catches my eye." I patted my belly. "First baby."

"How exciting! When are you due?"

"February. A little Valentine's baby."

The girl's face lit up. "That's so sweet!"

Bennett calls this baby our miracle. The doctors said my chances were slim, but here we are. Sometimes I wake up and can't believe this is real - that someone actually loves me, wants to build a family with me, treats me like an equal partner instead of...

I picked up a soft green bunny, then nearly choked when I saw the price. Eighty-nine dollars. For a stuffed animal.

"That's from our luxury Vermont collection," the associate explained. "Hand-crafted with—"

"I think we should get the crib that converts to a toddler bed. More practical in the long run."

The blood in my veins turned to ice.

I turned slowly, praying I was hearing things. But no. There he was.

Donovan Ashworth stood by the crib display in his expensive cashmere coat, looking exactly like he had two years ago. Tall, handsome, completely out of my league. The kind of man who belonged in places like this.

Why here? Why now? I look like a whale in Bennett's old Northwestern sweatshirt, hair in a messy bun, no makeup. And he looks like he stepped out of a magazine.

"Don?" My voice came out smaller than I intended.

He turned. Those gray-blue eyes found mine, confusion flickering across his face before landing on my bump. His expression went blank.

"Red?" He stared at my belly. "Jesus Christ."

"Donny, do you think this mobile is too babyish? I want something more sophisticated."

A blonde woman emerged from behind the display, designer everything from head to toe. Chanel coat, Hermès bag, the works. She was beautiful in that polished, untouchable way.

Charlotte Fairfax. I recognized her from the society pages - Don's childhood sweetheart who'd just returned to Chicago after years abroad.

So this is my replacement. She definitely looks like she belongs in his world.

"Lottie, this is... Red," Don's voice was stiff. "Red, my fiancée, Charlotte."

Fiancée. The word hit like a slap.

"Nice to meet you." Lottie extended a perfectly manicured hand. The diamond on her finger could probably pay off my student loans. "Don's never mentioned you."

Of course not. I'm the part of his past he wants to forget.

"We worked together," Don said quickly. "A long time ago."

Worked together? Ten years reduced to a professional relationship?

"Oh!" Lottie's gaze dropped to my belly. "And you're...?"

"Seven months."

"How wonderful! Your first?"

"Yes."

Lottie suddenly placed her hand on her flat stomach, a mysterious smile spreading across her face. "Actually, Don and I have some news too." She looked at Don expectantly. "Should we tell her?"

Don shifted uncomfortably. "Lottie—"

"We're expecting too!" Her smile was brilliant. "Just found out last week. Very early, of course. Maybe four weeks?"

The timing... if she's four weeks along, that means conception around Thanksgiving. And Don looks about as thrilled as someone getting a root canal.

"Congratulations," I managed.

"Thank you! It's so exciting, isn't it, Donny? Our little family."

Don finally spoke. "Red, where's your... husband?"

The fact that he didn't even know I was married said everything about how completely I'd disappeared from his life.

"Bennett's at the hospital. He's a doctor."

"A doctor," Lottie repeated, surprise creeping into her voice. "How nice. What kind?"

"Cardiac surgeon."

I caught Don's jaw tighten. He always got touchy about other people's success, especially professional achievements. Funny how he's engaged to literal aristocracy now.

"Well," Don cleared his throat, "we should keep shopping."

But Lottie wasn't done. "Red, you said you worked together? Where was that?"

She knows. Somehow, she knows there's more to my history with Don than a work relationship.

"The Ashworth Group held events at the Platinum Club," Don said quickly. "Red worked there."

Technically true, but completely misleading. Yes, I worked at the club. No, my job description never officially included being his personal companion for ten years.

"Oh, a club!" Lottie's smile brightened. "How fun! Like waitressing?"

She knows exactly what she's doing with that condescending tone.

"Something like that."

"Well, I'm sure you were very good at... serving people."

The way she said "serving" made my skin crawl.

"We really should go," Don said, looking genuinely uncomfortable now. "Red, it was... good seeing you."

"Yeah. You too."

Lottie linked her arm through Don's. "Maybe we'll run into each other again! Chicago's such a small world, especially when you're shopping for baby things." She rubbed her stomach. "Though I suppose we'll be shopping at different stores. I hear Lincoln Park has some lovely boutiques."

Message received loud and clear.

"Take care of yourself, Red," Don said, his voice softer. For a moment, something flickered in his eyes that looked almost like regret.

But then Lottie pulled him toward the checkout, chattering about nursery themes, and whatever I thought I saw was gone.

I watched them at the register. Lottie picked up expensive items like they were pocket change. Don paid without even glancing at the total.

This is exactly why I left. Not because I didn't love him - God knows I did for ten years. But because I could never be Lottie. I could never casually drop thousands on baby gear or fit into his world without feeling like a fraud.

"Ma'am? You okay?" The sales associate had returned.

I realized I'd been standing there, still clutching the eighty-nine-dollar bunny.

"Fine. Do you have anything similar but... less expensive?"

Her smile was kind. "Let me show you our other options."

As she led me away, I couldn't help but glance back at Don and Lottie one last time. They looked perfect together - matching coats, matching tax brackets, matching perfectly planned lives.

But something about Lottie's pregnancy announcement bugged me. Don's reaction, the timing... something felt off. Maybe I'm just being bitter, but after ten years with someone, you know the difference between genuine happiness and going through the motions.

I rubbed my belly, thinking about Bennett. When I told him about the baby, his face had lit up like Christmas morning. He'd actually cried from joy.

That's what real excitement looks like.