She Was Nine Months Pregnant When He Left Her — He Had No Idea Who Her Father Was

Meet me at the courthouse at 2. We’ll finalize.

No apology. No explanation. Just instructions, as if she were another item on his afternoon to-do list.

The Courthouse Encounter She Would Never Forget

Claire arrived at the courthouse to find Grant already there.

He looked rested. He wore a crisp navy suit and carried himself with the easy confidence of someone who believes they have already won. Standing beside him, her manicured hand resting on his arm like it belonged there, was a woman Claire recognized immediately.

Tessa Monroe. A coworker from Grant’s office. The same woman Claire had once been told not to worry about. The same woman whose holiday party invitation Grant had urged Claire to skip because she was “too tired.”

Grant looked at Claire’s pregnant belly.