Ethan’s response made my jaw drop.
I sat on the bathroom floor, listening to the rest of the recording with my hand over my mouth.
Claire said something that made my whole body tense.
By the time it ended, I understood exactly what my husband had been doing every time he said he was “checking on the baby,” why he kept those folders, and what he planned to do once the baby was born.
He thought I would never see it coming. Well. Two could play at that game.
I decided right then to expose his betrayal by playing that recording for everyone we knew. I just needed the right opportunity to do it. That’s when I decided to throw a baby shower for Claire.
I decided right then to expose his betrayal.
***
The next morning, I came downstairs with a smile on my face and told Ethan I wanted to throw Claire a baby shower. “She’s doing something incredible for us. She deserves to be celebrated.”
He smiled. “I think she’d like that.”
I spent the next two weeks planning it. Ethan watched all of it with quiet satisfaction.
He thought he was watching his plan unfold. He had no idea the recorder was sitting in my desk drawer, tucked inside an envelope along with documents my lawyer had drawn up for me.
I told Ethan I wanted to throw Claire a baby shower.
***
Soon, the day of the baby shower arrived. The living room was full of people. Claire sat in the center of it all, smiling nervously as people told her what an extraordinary gift she was giving Ethan and me.
Ethan stood beside her, proud, grinning, and oblivious to the fact that I was about to show everyone what a liar he was.
When it was time for the toast, I stood up with a glass of sparkling cider.
The day of the baby shower arrived.
“I want to thank everyone for being here today,” I said. “And most of all, I want to thank two people who have been taking such good care of this baby.”
Ethan smiled. Claire looked touched.
I turned toward them. “Ethan has been visiting Claire constantly. Bringing groceries. Vitamins. Helping with everything. So before the baby arrives, I thought everyone here should hear just how dedicated he’s been.”
Ethan’s smile stayed in place, but something behind his eyes shifted.
Ethan smiled. Claire looked touched.
