Chapter 1

My husband had favored the other woman for years.

When it rained, his first thought was that she'd be scared of the thunder, and he'd rush over to her place.

Whenever he gave me a gift, he made sure to pick out a more expensive one for the other woman.

For our child's sake, I put up with it for years.

But now the other woman had shown up at my door.

Her belly was big, and she gave me a taunting smile. "Sis, it's time for you to step aside."

My son hid behind me. I held him close. "You're right. It is time I stepped aside."

"A cheating dog like him? Whoever wants him can have him."

"After all these years, I've had enough too."

......

Vanessa Price looked stunned, as if she never expected that after putting up with it for so long, I'd one day stand up for myself.

"You frumpy housewife. Good for you, knowing your place."

Andy started crying in my arms, and I patted his back.

"Still, I can't match you for knowing your place. You knew he was married and became the other woman anyway."

"You!"

Vanessa smiled. "Nathan Carter will be home any minute. You won't be laughing much longer."

I flicked my hair back. "Perfect. He and I can get divorced fast, and you can have my spot."

Andy buried his face in my neck, his little hands clenched tight.

Holding him with one arm, I pulled out my phone with the other and called Nathan.

"Come home. Your woman's here with me."

I hung up.

Vanessa raised an eyebrow. "What's the rush? He'll be back sooner or later."

"Sit." I pointed at the couch. "If you stand there waiting, you're an eyesore."

She huffed and refused to sit. With a hand on her lower back, she wandered around my living room, picked up Andy's teddy bear, and squeezed it.

Andy whipped his head around and glared at her.

I pulled the bear out of her hands and put it back on the couch.

The lock clicked.

Nathan came in without even taking off his shoes. When he saw Vanessa's belly, his expression shifted again and again, and finally he turned to me and said, "What did you two talk about?"

"She told me to step aside."

"Nathan!" Vanessa stamped her foot. "You said you'd tell her everything today!"

He looked at her first, then at me, and his lips moved.

I finished for him. "You want to say, wait a little longer, the kid's still young. Right?"

He shut his mouth.

That was a yes.

I nodded. "I can't wait anymore. Get me the divorce agreement tomorrow. I get our son, you two get the house, and we split the savings down the middle."

"You don't want the house?" Nathan frowned.

"No." I picked Andy up and headed for the bedroom. "It's dirty."

Vanessa laughed behind me. "Glad you finally came around, Sis."

I stopped and looked back at her. "Want to guess why he hasn't married you all these years?"

Her smile froze.

"Because he's waiting for someone better. You're just a backup option who happens to be pregnant."

Nathan shouted at me, "Olivia!"

I shut the door and locked it.

Andy looked up at me. "Mommy, are we coming back?"

"No."

Outside, things were being thrown, and Vanessa was shrieking at him.

I opened the closet and took only our documents and Andy's backpack.

Nothing else. I didn't want any of it.

Someone kicked the door, and Nathan yelled my name from the other side.

I didn't answer.

Andy pressed his face against my leg, and I stroked his hair.

"Are you scared?"

"No. Mommy's here."

I picked up the bag and opened the window.

Second floor. Not that high.

I lowered Andy down first, then jumped after him.

The landing jolted my feet numb. I took his hand and started walking.

Behind us the lights were on upstairs. The window was pushed open, and Nathan stuck his head out.

"Olivia! Have you lost your mind?"

I didn't look back.

It was still raining, and Andy's little hand was burning hot in my palm.

Two blocks later, I noticed I'd lost one of my slippers.

My bare foot was in a puddle.

"Mommy." Andy tugged at me. "Where are we going?"

"Let's get something hot to eat first."

The little diner on the corner was still open. The owner knew me and added an extra egg for Andy.

The steam hit our faces. Andy kept his head down and ate while I wiped the rain off his face with a napkin.

My phone wouldn't stop buzzing.

Nathan, Vanessa, and my mother-in-law.

I didn't answer a single one, and in the end I turned it off.

By the time we finished eating, the rain had let up.

Andy was slumped over the table yawning, so I put him on my back.

"Mommy will keep you home from school tomorrow."

"Mm." He mumbled an answer and fell asleep on my shoulder.

I carried him and walked slowly.

The soles of my feet hurt and I was soaked through, but the little body on my back was warm, and his breathing was steady.

I could have walked like that until dawn.