Chapter 1 - THE WOMAN IN THE BLUE DRESS.
Emily Carter saw Ryan before he saw her.
He stood near a bright glass storefront with Natalie Brooks, the brunette in a fitted dark-blue dress. They were too close, speaking with the strained intensity of people hiding something.
Emily’s shopping bags slipped lower in her hands.
Eight months pregnant, exhausted, and already suspicious after two weeks of Ryan taking unexplained calls, she crossed the mall before she could talk herself out of it.
“What are you doing with him?!”
Natalie turned.
Emily stepped toward her, rage exploding faster than reason. The confrontation became physical for one chaotic second; Natalie recoiled with one hand against her cheek.
Ryan immediately moved between them.
“Emily, stop! Please!”
“Tell me who she is!”
Shoppers stopped around them. Emily’s turquoise-and-white bags dropped beside her feet.
Natalie’s breathing shook.
“You don’t know the truth.”
“Then tell me.”
Ryan looked at Natalie as if begging her not to continue.
That was the moment Emily understood something was truly wrong.
Natalie stepped around him.
“Ryan already knew.”
The words drained every sound from the mall.
Emily stared at her husband.
“Knew what, Ryan?”
Ryan’s face collapsed.
His eyes moved to Emily’s pregnant belly before filling with tears.
“Emily... I can explain.”
Natalie looked at him bitterly.
“No. Tell her what the courthouse sent you two weeks ago.”
Emily stopped breathing.
Ryan had told her the courthouse envelope was about an old parking dispute.
May you like
Now Natalie reached into her handbag.
And pulled out a copy of the same envelope.
