The anesthesia from my C-section hadn't even worn off when Adrian Cole walked into the room with Chloe Bennett, who he treated like a little sister. Chloe raised her phone and pointed the camera at me. "Adrian, look! Giving birth really does turn a woman into a wreck!"  Laughing, she turned the screen toward him. Adrian didn't stop her. Instead, he chuckled. "Better watch it, Chloe, or Natalie will come after you later."  Chloe laughed even harder and shoved her phone in front of my face. On Instagram, she'd posted a photo of me lying on the delivery table with the caption: So this is the "goddess" Adrian defied his family to marry. Wonder if she's still worth it.  The post had 72 likes. Unable to stand it any longer, a nurse stepped forward. "The patient needs to rest..." Adrian tried to smooth things over with a grin. "All right, Chloe. Delete the photo. Natalie is shy." Then he looked down at me, his voice gentle. "Honey, don't be mad. She's still a kid. She doesn't know any better." I glanced at the list of people who had liked the post. Adrian's profile was the first one there. My incision throbbed, but my heart had gone numb. This time, I didn't cry.

On the day of the engagement party, I pushed open the door to the dressing room and saw my fiancé's "buddy" wearing my designer wedding dress, laughing in his arms. She held up an ultrasound report and said, "Oliver, your daughter takes after you; she's got an eye for your fiancée's wedding dress." Oliver Cooper straightened her veil and replied, "If you like it, keep it. Perfect for maternity photos." Seeing me enter, Violet Turner gave him a light tap and said, "Layla, don't be mad. Oliver said you wouldn't mind." I'd only just asked what was going on with the baby when Violet handed me a Co-Parenting Agreement. As she spoke, she wrapped her arms around my arm with a grin and said, "Layla, don't worry. I'm only borrowing the sperm, not your husband." I looked at Oliver. He looked completely normal and said, "She's a total tomboy; she can't raise a kid alone. We'll raise the kid together, the three of us." I didn't ask when they did it. I turned away and, bit by bit, wiped off the engagement makeup I had redone seven times.