His Secret Baby…or Someone Else’s

Chapter 2

Eden’s POV

The key shook in my hand, the same hand that had just moments ago held plates and pastries.

Now? Now it was shaking, unable to do something as simple as unlocking a door.

I managed to open the door.

The house felt too empty, too quiet. Too cold.

I threw my hat aside and collapsed onto the couch. I wasn’t even sure how I ended up in the living room; I sat there staring blankly at the ceiling.

But all I could hear was his voice. His laughter.

The man I loved for years had kissed another woman in public.

He had humiliated me and I had just taken it. Because what else could I do?

I closed my eyes tightly, hoping for the pain to stop but it didn’t.

I must have fallen asleep, because when I woke up, the rays of the sun filtered through the blinds; it was bright and sharp.

Julian wasn’t here.

Of course he wasn’t.

I hadn’t expected him to come home. Not after what I saw, but still a part of the stupid, hopeful me thought maybe he’d walk in, apologize, and explain.

But all I got was silence.

I moved to the kitchen still in a daze, poured myself some coffee and stared at the wedding photo hanging on our fridge. My hand itching to rip it down.

But before I could, my phone buzzed on the counter.

A bank alert.

“$75,000 withdrawn from your joint savings account.

“What the hell…” I muttered as I tried to drop the cup on the counter.

I opened the bank app trying to make sense of it all. The entire joint account was practically drained. All our shared savings. The new house down payment we’d been building. Gone.

This was only one of many transactions Julian had made, some without me even realizing. Aside from the $75,000 I had just witnessed vanish, more money had disappeared in large sums, almost overnight.

And the worst part? Even though Julian made good money, he was a reckless spender. We still struggled, constantly scraping by. I had saved so much in that account, years of careful planning.

I even won the lottery at one point and put a large chunk of it into our joint savings account and now it was all gone.

I didn’t even think. I began to message him, ready to type What are you doing? Where is the money? when a new email popped up.

From Royce & Hamilton, Attorneys at Law.

My vision blurred as I opened it, and the words hit me like a bucket of ice water dumped over my head.

Subject: Formal Notification of Divorce Proceedings

Dear Mrs. Kane,

This email serves as a formal notice that Mr. Julian Kane has filed for divorce. As his legal representative, I will be delivering the official documents and terms of the property separation to your residence tomorrow at 10:00 AM.

You’re strongly advised to make yourself available to receive the paperwork. Please be aware that any future communication will be handled directly through our office. You may wish to consult with your own legal counsel at this time.

I couldn’t breathe. He didn’t even call. He didn’t text; he didn’t come home. He didn’t even look me in the eyes.

Just this…

After everything, after all the sacrifices, the love, the loyalty. I got an email.

I didn’t even realize when I started to cry. I couldn’t hold back the tears anymore as I clutched the phone tightly as if it could explain how my entire life just shattered with a few taps on a screen.

I was a wife this time yesterday.

Now I was just nothing.

***

I sat on the edge of the couch, still in yesterday’s clothes, a wrinkled hoodie and leggings that smelled like tears. The clock ticked loud enough to echo in my chest. 9:32am. I stood up. Sat back down. Got up again. I paced around and peeked through the blinds. Nothing, just the same quiet street, the same shy. 9:55am. My hands wouldn’t stop trembling; I hadn’t eaten. I hadn’t spoken to anyone. I just waited.

I watched the microwave clock countdown, a countdown to something I couldn’t stop. 9:59am. I held my breath. And then the doorbell rang at exactly 10:00am. The lawyer had arrived and I knew my life would change forever.

I didn’t move at first. I just sat there, staring at the door like it might vanish if I waited long enough. But the bell rang again, this time more impatiently.

I forced myself up, legs heavy, and then I opened it.

The lawyer stood there in a suit too polished for the broken pieces scattered around my life. A briefcase in hand and a professional smile plastered on like this was just business. And to him, maybe it was.

Mrs. Kane? he asked.

I nodded.

“I’m here on behalf of Mr. Julian Kane. As previously noted, these are the official divorce documents. I’ll need your signature on the marked sections. If you have any questions—”

“I don’t,” I whispered. My voice cracked on the second word, and I hated that.

He paused, maybe expecting a fight. But I didn’t have it in me.

I led him to the coffee table. He opened the briefcase, pulled out the envelope, and began explaining terms in a low, practiced voice. Things about accounts, separation clauses and accounts. I tuned him out and didn’t hear anything he said. I just stared at the thick stack of paper that would change everything.

My eyes scanned the top page, then immediately dropped lower and there it was.

His signature.

Neat, familiar, and cold.

Julian Kane.

I stared at it for a moment too long. My throat itching. That signature used to mean pay checks, contracts and love letters. Now it was a goodbye and he didn’t even have the decency to come in person. He’d already signed it just like that. He’d already walked out on the marriage, on me, on everything we’d built.

I didn’t even care about what he was taking or what he left me with. I couldn’t care to read the document. Because I was tired, tired of crying, tired of begging, tired of pretending like there was anything left to fight for.

Julian had drained me of love, money, strength, and respect, and now this?

My hand shook as I picked up the pen. The lawyer cleared his throat but said nothing. And just like that, I signed.

The papers were gone but the pain didn’t leave.

The lawyer was halfway to the door, collecting the last of his things, when he paused, turning to me like he’d just remembered something important.

“Oh, Mrs. Kane… uhm, I mean Eden,” he said politely, like this wasn’t the worst day of my life. “One more thing before I go.”

I didn’t respond. I couldn’t. I just stared at the envelope that had the documents where I had just signed my name.

“You’ll need to vacate the property by 6:00pm today.”

I blinked. “What?”