The Return of the Ex Wife

Ivanna Robinson

I stare at the paper in my hand, my eyes filling with tears. The knot that has been lodged in my throat for the past two years finally loosens, and a sob escapes me.

"Is this real?" I ask my friend, still unsure how to process the news.

Viena looks just as emotional. She takes my hands in hers and nods, a soft smile on her lips.

"Yes, Ivy. You're pregnant. You finally did it."

I pull her into a tight hug as reality crashes over me. And how could it not? After so long trying to conceive, knowing that I'm finally carrying the child of my marriage is, at the very least, overwhelming.

"Now I need to plan something special to tell Shane," I say with a breathless smile, because if anyone is going to be happier than me, it's my husband.

Viena nods in agreement.

"I'll help you. Shane deserves it."

I nod and stand from the bench where we've been sitting outside the gynecology office.

I tuck the envelope with the best news of my life into my bag, and as we walk down the hallway, I run into Abigail Allen. A grimace of distaste tugs at my lips, though I quickly mask it when I see she's accompanied by my mother-in-law-something that happens far more often than I'd like to admit.

"Ivanna, dear, what a pleasure to see you. It's been a while-how have you been?" she says, her smile as bright as it is fake.

And despite her sugary tone laced with unmistakable cynicism, what truly catches me off guard is the swell of her belly. She's pregnant. I freeze for a second, stunned, but say nothing.

Then I hear my mother-in-law's voice.

"You're not the only one, dear Abbi. My daughter-in-law not only makes sure to stay away from me, she's also managed to drag my son along with her," she says in that hypocritical tone she always uses with me, looking me up and down as if I were something beneath her. "What are you doing here? Finally decided to get tested so you can prove to Shane you have no future with him?"

Bile rises in my throat at her words-words that have been my weak point for years. Thanks to her, above all else.

"And does Shane agree with you?" Viena cuts in, and I want to pinch her to keep her quiet. I don't want a confrontation-not today, not when I'm this happy, when soon we'll finally prove this woman wrong about me. "Because your son, much to your disappointment, is completely in love with Ivanna. Whatever poison you're feeding him clearly isn't working."

But Aurora Robinson doesn't glare at my friend the way she usually does. Instead, her eyes gleam with something far worse-something that makes my skin crawl.

"Is that what you think?" she shoots back, then looks at me again. "Then you must already know everything, right?"

I frown, confused. I have no idea what she's talking about, but Abigail's sudden shift doesn't go unnoticed.

"Aurora, no, please. You know what Shane made me promise-I can't betray him like this," she says in a meek, almost distressed tone that leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.

What the hell is going on?

I narrow my eyes at her.

"What do you have to do with my husband? You know he barely gives you the time of day-"

Abigail laughs, smug and satisfied, and something in that sound warns me I'm not going to like what comes next.

"That's what you'd like to believe, isn't it?" she says. "To save your marriage-I get it. I'd be possessive too if I couldn't give my man what he wants most. But deep down, you know you can't hold onto a man as intense, rough, and relentless as Shane. When he sets his mind on something, he gets it. And I'm sorry to tell you this, dear, but you'll find out soon enough anyway."

She rests a hand on her belly.

"I'm pregnant with your husband's child. He asked me to give him his heir. It wasn't easy for me at first, but we've always had undeniable chemistry. I couldn't say no."

"What did you just say?" I ask, my vision blurring with rage and disbelief, unable to fully process her words.

I take a step forward, but Aurora moves in front of Abigail.

"Don't you dare threaten her, or you'll find out exactly what I'm capable of," she snaps. Over her shoulder, I catch the satisfied look on Abigail's face. "Do you understand what's happening here? Shane had to find himself a mistress because the woman he chose can't even give him a child. Aren't you ashamed? You're so pathetic you've kept him away from his family-from the woman who actually deserves to stand by his side-only to find out like this that you will never be enough for him. Not for Shane. Not for the Robinson family."

"Shane would never do this to me. You're lying." I shake my head.

Now it's Abigail's turn to arch a brow.

"Why would I lie about something you can easily verify?" she mocks.

I shove Aurora aside and face her directly.

"I trust Shane. I know he wouldn't do this to me. You've been trying to tear us apart for so long that now you're resorting to this kind of low tactic. But let me make one thing clear, Abigail-you're not going to succeed."

My voice is steady, because what Shane and I have is real. I know him well enough to believe he wouldn't be capable of something like this.

"Do you think throwing yourself at him earns you points? You said it yourself-he's relentless. When he told you to stay away, it wasn't a suggestion. Do you feel powerful because Aurora supports you? Shane himself will tell you that means nothing. You're just a social climber who's run out of options-and that's the nicest thing I can say about you."

Abigail's face turns red with rage, and before I can react, her hand cracks across my cheek, snapping my head to the side. The sting is immediate-but I don't stay still. I hit her back just as hard, the sound echoing through the hallway.

"Touch me again, you idiot," I snap.

Aurora lunges to defend her, but Viena steps in beside me.

"You've gone too far this time," I continue. "And unlike before, I'm not staying quiet. Shane will hear about this. Your masks will fall-and you'll regret it."

Suddenly, Abigail winces, her face twisting in pain as she doubles over with a groan.

Aurora's eyes blaze as she rushes to her.

"Do you see what you've done? I told you you'd regret this! Shane will never forgive you for this, you wretched girl!"

Blood begins to trickle down Abigail's legs, and I freeze.

Aurora screams for help, and when people rush in and take Abigail away, she turns back to me, eyes stormy with fury, and lunges. I shield myself as best as I can-I have no intention of hitting my husband's mother. Viena steps between us again.

"Abigail is carrying my grandchild," Aurora hisses. "If she loses that baby, I swear you will pay for it. Want proof that I'm not lying? That Shane really is the father? Just walk into that office and read the document he signed a few days ago. Once you see it, you'll finally understand how little you mean to my son. You'll realize you lost to me from the very beginning."

She walks away, leaving me standing there, trembling, staring into nothing as if trapped in a nightmare.

Viena stands in front of me, but I can't hear a word she says. She helps me sit down, then disappears for a moment. When she comes back, the look on her face tells me everything I don't want to hear.

She kneels in front of me, her expression torn between anger, disappointment, and sadness.

And it's enough.

Enough to confirm what, deep down, I was already bracing for.

"I'm so sorry, sweetheart," she says softly. "Shane signed the papers. He acknowledged the baby Abigail is carrying as his. It's in her medical file."