I stood frozen beneath the crystal chandelier, champagne flute trembling in hand. The room buzzed with laughter, but all I heard was the echo of that clinic door closing behind Colin and Sadie. He wasn’t supposed to be here. This was my sanctuary, my family’s estate, my last stand against the ache in my chest.

And yet, there he was—Colin Hughes, in a tailored tuxedo, escorting her through the crowd. Sadie Scott glowed, one hand resting on her belly, the other linked with his. Was it pride on his face? Affection? My stomach twisted. I hadn’t told anyone about my own pregnancy. Not even my mother.

A waiter passed. I set down my drink—non-alcoholic, though no one knew—and stepped forward. My heels clicked like a countdown. They hadn’t seen me yet. One word could shatter everything. Or I could turn back, vanish into the garden, and let the lie fester.