The soft glow of dawn lit our nursery as I held my six-week-old daughter, Ava, feeling both love and anxiety. My husband, Chris, was packing for a business trip, his first since Ava’s birth. His travels were once just part of life, but now, as a new mom, I feared the solitude. “Got what you need?” I asked, keeping my voice even. Chris nodded. “Just a week, Rachel. I’ll be back soon.” He looked at Ava, sleeping in my arms. “You’re a pro at this.” But a week alone with a newborn felt daunting.
Chris sat beside me, taking my hand. “You’re an incredible mom, Rachel. I’m only a call away.” I tried to smile. “We said we’d do this as a team, and now I’m flying solo.” He pulled us into a hug. “We’re always a team.” His words helped, but when he left, the quiet house pressed in. The day was a whirlwind of feedings and comforting Ava’s cries. By evening, exhausted, I poured tea and sat on the deck, needing a break from motherhood’s demands.
I opened Instagram, craving a glimpse of the world beyond diapers. A local influencer, Megan Hart, posted from a chic restaurant, her caption glowing about a fun night. In the background, I saw Chris—sitting with a woman, their faces bright with conversation. My heart sank. It was Natalie, his old friend who’d always been cold to me. He’d sworn she was no issue, yet here he was, not at a meeting but with her. I saved the photo, my mind reeling with hurt.
I needed proof. I called my friend Jenna, who didn’t know Chris, and asked her to visit the hotel Megan tagged, taking covert photos. Her images broke me: Chris and Natalie, holding hands, kissing. I stayed calm, planning my response. I opened a hidden account, consulted a divorce lawyer, and waited for Chris’s next trip. I sent flowers to his hotel with a note in Natalie’s handwriting: “Loved our time together. More soon.” I wanted them to doubt each other.
When Chris returned, I hid my pain, acting as if all was well. I suggested a late baby shower for Ava, insisting we invite Natalie to “get to know” his friends. Chris agreed, puzzled. At the shower, our home buzzed with guests. I started a slideshow of Ava’s sweet moments, then shifted to Megan’s Instagram post, Chris and Natalie in the background, followed by Jenna’s photos of their closeness. The room went silent. Chris paled; Natalie rushed out, her chair scraping loudly.
Murmurs spread. Chris pleaded, “Rachel, it’s not what it seems!” I stood firm. “It’s exactly what it seems, Chris.” I turned to the guests. “Thank you for coming, but the party’s over.” As they left, I called my lawyer. “File for divorce,” I said, evidence clear. Days later, Chris’s parents, shocked, confronted him. “You’ve betrayed your family,” his mother said, cutting him from their will. Chris called, broken. “I’ve lost everything, Rachel.” I replied, “You made your choice.” With Ava, I faced the future, my heart steady.
