The day started with a phone call that should have been the best news of my life. Mark’s voice was bright and official as he told me the $10 billion contract with the Acme Group was moving forward, and we’d be meeting with Jeremy in a few days to finalize everything. I thanked him quietly, my hand resting on my belly without eventhinking about it. Three years ago, a fire destroyed Jeremy’s company and left him shattered„ Three years ago, a fire destroyed Jeremy’s company and left him shattered„ And I’d spent those three years secretly rebuilding it for him„ I’d poured money, resources,and connections into the Walsh Group„ He never knew„ He was too proud to ever accept help, especially from me„
I told Mark I needed to leave for my prenatal checkup„ He told me to rest and that we’d talk soon„ Two months pregnant„ I hadn’t told Jeremy yet„ I wanted to wait until the deal was done„ Three more days„ I’d tell him then„
At the clinic, I ran into someone unexpected„ Jeremy was there„ And he wasn’t alone„
He was standing next to a woman I knew all too well„ Melody Russell„ His high school sweetheart„ The woman who’d left him when he went bankrupt„
“Jeremy, what is he doing here with Melanie?
” the doctor asked, glancing between us„
The doctor smiled at me when I walked in with him, calling me his wife„ She mentioned another patient, a woman who always came aloneand looked exhausted„ Her husband couldn’t care less„ I felt sorry for her„
But then I saw her„ The exhausted woman from the hallway„ She was sitting in the waiting room, pale and tired„ And she was very, very pregnant„
Melody„
Jeremy excused himself to check on her„ I watched him touch her belly, and he looked at me with something like guilt„
I didn’t need an explanation„ I knew exactly what that meant„
“How could you do this? ” I whispered when he came back„
“Alison, what? ” he stammered„ “Please, Alison„ I’m not feeling too well„”
“Did you or did you not sleep with her? ”
He didn’t answer right away„ And the silence was worse than any confession„
“We’ll, yeah„ Yeah„ I thought so„” I said„
I wanted a divorce„
He begged me not to make a scene„ But I was done being quiet„ I was done being convenient„
I went straight to Mark, my voice shaking as I asked him to take me home„ But Mark wasn’t on my side anymore„
“Melanie told me everything„ How could you hurt Melanie?
” he demanded„ “She’s been doing a lot for this family„ You haven’t lifted a finger„ It would only be fair to Jeremy if you got a divorce„”
“Jeremy wants you to sign these and get out„”
He shoved papers at me„ Divorce papers„
I looked at my mother-in-law, who stood behind him like a soldier„ “You prepared divorce papers? ” I asked„
She didn’t deny it„
When I refused to sign, they threw me out anyway„ Melanie came to my house the next day, her hand on her belly„ She smiled at me from the doorway„
“You know what, Alison? Jeremy was never yours to begin with„ I’m his high school sweetheart„ If it weren’t for you, I’d be his wife already„”
“You left him 3 years ago because he went bankrupt„ The only reason you are back is because THE BUSINESS IS DOING WELL„ I’m right, aren’t I? ”
“You’re out of your mind„” I said„
She stepped closer„ “Jeremy and I were both drunk that night„ I’m sorry, Alison, but the baby’s innocent„”
And then she told me something I couldn’t undo„
“The baby’s not his,” she whispered„ “But I won’t let anyone find out the truth„”
I didn’t even have time to process it before she gasped and grabbed her belly„ She collapsed in front of me„ And when the police arrived, she pointed at me„
“She pushed me„ She’s trying to hurt my baby,” she sobbed„
I was arrested for assault on a pregnant woman„
While I sat in the cell, my world kept crumbling„ My mother-in-law came to the station, her eyes cold„ “How could you hurt Melanie?
Do you know she’s pregnant? ” she spat„ “You knew about Jeremy and the affair„ Melanie has been helping him„ She’s been doing a lot for this family„ You haven’t lifted a finger„”
I signed the divorce papers that same night„ I didn’t even read them„ I just signed them„ I wanted out„ I wanted to be free„
I went to stay with Mark, my throat tight„ But the phone wouldn’t stop ringing„ My mother-in-law had taken it upon herself to ruin me„
“Jeremy bought you those clothes since you’re leaving with nothing„ Take them off,” she’d said when I tried to leave the house with just the clothes on my back„ I took everything off but my underclothes and walked out into the rain„
I stood there, shaking, as her car pulled away„ And that’s when a black car stopped infront of me„
The window rolled down„ Mark was inside„
“Get in,” he said„
I didn’t ask questions„ I got in„
He drove me to a hotel and booked me a room„ “You need to rest,” he said„ “You’re in a delicate stage„”
“How do you know about the baby? ” I asked, my voice cracking„
He didn’t answer„
But he stayed„ He took care of me„ And over the next few days, I started to piece my life back together„
I found out Melanie had been lying„ She wasn’t just Jeremy’s mistress„ She had a plan„ She’d been sending money overseas from my wedding ring, which she’d stolen from our house„ She’d hired men to attack me at the hospital so I’d lose the baby„ I did lose the baby„
I miscarried„
I didn’t tell Jeremy„ I didn’t think he deserved to know„
And I began to plan„
I wasn’t going to let them destroy me„ I was going to take everything they loved„
I had one thing they didn’t know about„
I was the real CEO of the Acme Group„
I’d founded it three years ago, kept it secret„ I’d used it to secretly fund the Walsh Group„ And now I was going to use it to destroy it„
Mark, who was the deputyCEO, helped me orchestrate it„
We arranged acomeback event„ A grand banquet where the Acme CEO would finally appear publicly for the first time„
I invited Jeremy, his mother,and Melanie„
They came, thinking they’d schmooze the CEO into restoring their dying company„
The night came„ The ballroom was glittering„ Everyone who was anyone in business was there„
Melanie walked in, her hand on her belly, looking smug„ “Isn’t that Melanie? ” someone whispered„ “Didn’t she cause that drama between Laura and Avery last time?
”
I stood on the balcony, watching them„ Mark stood beside me„
“Ready? ” he asked„
I nodded„ We walked down„
“Hello everybody,” I said into the microphone„ “I am the CEO of the Acme Group„”
The room went silent„
Melanie froze„ Her face went white„
“Impossible,” she said„ “She was supposed to be in the ICU„”
I turned to the crowd„ “Three years ago,” I said„ “the Walsh Group was on the brink of bankruptcy„ Alison sacrificed everything„ She married you to save you,” I said to Jeremy, whose eyes were wide„ ” She’s been providing resources secretly to the Walsh group for years„ Without her, you’re nothing„”
“You’re the liar here,” Melanie screamed„ “Why not tell everyone who the real father of your baby is? ”
She gestured at me wildly„ “Melanie’s baby is Jeremy„”
But I had more evidence„ I pulled up photos on the jumbotron„ Photos of Melanie with another man„ The real father of her child„
“This man,” I said calmly„ “He’s the real father„”
Melanie went pale„ “It’s not what it looks like,” she stammered„ “She set me up„”
But the man himself walked out from behind me„ “You left Jeremy 3 years ago to be with me abroad,” he said to Melanie„ “And now you want to leave„ You are carrying my child„ We agreed to come back here to scam money from the Walsh family and spread it evenly„”
“Roman,” Melanie hissed„ “I don’t even know you„ He’s lying„ Get him out of here„”
But the evidence was overwhelming„ I had bank records, recordings, everything„ Melanie had paid the man who attacked me then„ She’d tried to destroy me„ She’d tried to take everything I had„
“Melanie,” I said, “you’re going to prison for a very long time„”
“Jeremy,” she pleaded, turning to him„ “I did it because I love you„ I didn’t want Allison to take you away from me„ Remember who risked everything to take you out of that fire„ Please, please just help me„ Bring the fire„”
But Jeremy’s face was hard„ He looked at her with something I’d never seen before„ Pure loathing„
“You have taken credit for saving me from that fire,” he said slowly„ “I would have thought that you’d done it, but you didn’t„ You ruined my life„ You made me believe something that’s not true„ You ruined Allison„ You made me hurt Allison„”
“Going to abandon me,” Melanie wept„ “You promised to make things right„”
“You’re not going to make things right,” I said quietly„ “You’re going to get taken away and you’re going to face the consequences of your actions„”
Security led her out„ The last thing I heard was her crying Jeremy’s name„
The room was silent„ Jeremy stood across from me, his face pale„
“Alison,” he said slowly„ “I didn’t know„ I didn’t know any of it„”
“Didn’t you? ” I asked„ “You never asked„ You never askedwhy I was gone so often„ You never asked where the money came from„ You never asked whothe real father of her baby was„ You just believed her„”
“I was wrong,” he said„ “I know I was wrong„ Please„ Please come home with me„ I still love you„ I’ve always loved you„”
I looked at him for a long moment„ The man I’d married„ The man I’d sacrificed everything for„ The man who’d chosen her without hesitation„
“I don’t want to get back to my old life,” I said finally„ “I want to run my own company again„ I want to be Avery Halifax again„ I don’t want to be Alison Walsh anymore„”
His face fell„ “Alison, I know our relationship won’t be like this again now,” he said„ “It may be fixed, but there will always be marks„ I can’t change what’s happened, but I’ll always be there for you„ I’ll always love you„”
“Me, too,” I said„
And I walked away from him„
The next days were quiet„ I went to the hospital to recover from everything„ The doctors said I was physically fine„ But I wasn’t fine„ I had lost a baby„ I had lost three years of my life„ I had lost myself„
Mark came to pick me up from the hospital„
“Ready to go home?
” he asked„
I looked out the window„ “I think I’m ready to start again,” I said„
He smiled„ “Then let’s go„”
I had a new life waiting for me„ I had my company„ I had my freedom„ And for the first time in years, I knew exactly what I wanted„
I wanted to be Avery Halifax again„ And that was enough„
