Chapter 1The Unwelcome Surprise

I drove five hours with our daughter to surprise him.

But the moment he saw us, there was no joy in his eyes. Only shock.

He was cheating on me.

I asked him later: “In that moment, were you worried about me after that long drive, or were you terrified your new girlfriend would see me and our daughter?”

* * *

Ross was having an affair.

The second he saw our daughter Angela and me standing there, his expression wasn't one of happy surprise, but of pure, unadulterated shock. In that instant, I knew.

His colleagues shuffled past, their faces tight with embarrassment. They wanted to say hello but were terrified of giving something away, so they just offered strained smiles and hurried off.

Ross finally snapped out of his trance. He stepped forward, took Angela from my arms, and wrapped an arm around my shoulder, forcing a tone of delight. "Stella! What are you guys doing here?"

I didn't answer, just let him guide me numbly toward his car.

Angela was ecstatic to see her dad. She clung to his neck, pressing her cheek against his, chattering away about all the latest news from her preschool.

Watching their two faces, practically mirror images of each other, I felt a sharp, twisting pain in my chest. To keep Angela from noticing anything was wrong, I had to turn away and pretend to be absorbed in the scenery outside the window.

Father and daughter chatted happily the whole way. I remained silent.

When Ross asked where I wanted to go for dinner, I didn't reply.