A phone buzzed on the coffee table. I grabbed it, assuming it was mine\u2014same model, same case.<\/p>\n
My body went cold.<\/p>\n
A message from \u201c\u2764\ufe0f\u201d read: \u201cCan\u2019t wait to see you again. Same time tomorrow, darling \ud83d\ude18.\u201d<\/em> My mind scrambled for explanations: wrong number, spam, a prank. But I opened the chat.<\/p>\n Flirting. Plans. Photos. Blake telling her to delete messages, that I was \u201cdistracted with the pregnancy.\u201d Then a photo of a woman\u2019s neck wearing a gold crescent-moon necklace\u2014the same one I bought for my sister Harper.<\/em><\/p>\n I heard Blake approaching. I put the phone back and forced myself to look like a sleepy wife. He kissed my forehead and called me \u201clittle peanut,\u201d rubbing my belly.<\/p>\n That night I couldn\u2019t sleep. I decided not to confront him privately\u2014he\u2019d cry, I\u2019d be told I was \u201coverreacting\u201d because I\u2019m pregnant. Instead, once he left for \u201cwork,\u201d I grabbed his phone again and screenshotted everything.<\/p>\n I called Harper casually about the gender reveal box, then cried once\u2014ugly and fast. Then I planned.<\/p>\n I ordered a reveal box filled with black balloons stamped \u201cCHEATER\u201d<\/strong>, and confetti with broken hearts. I left clear evidence with the shop, then Harper helped \u201cdecorate.\u201d Blake interacted with her too familiarly. I packed a bag in case I needed to leave.<\/p>\n On the day of the party, the backyard was full of friends and family. Blake was proudly announcing he\u2019d be a dad. His mom hugged me, and Harper arrived in a pastel dress\u2014too close to Blake.<\/p>\n When we opened the box, black balloons with \u201cCHEATER\u201d<\/strong> flooded out. Silence hit before whispers started.<\/p>\n Blake asked what it meant. I said, \u201cThis is a truth reveal.\u201d<\/em> Then I told everyone he\u2019d been cheating\u2014with Harper.<\/p>\n Gasps. Blake tried to speak. I pointed to the envelope of screenshots at the bottom of the box. Harper started crying. I told Blake he never meant it, he just did. I walked inside, packed the bag, and drove to my mom\u2019s.<\/p>\n Before I left the street, my phone buzzed: Harper begging me to \u201cthink of the baby.\u201d Blocked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"