Chapter 1

My life felt simple, and I liked it that way. I was Sarah Thompson, soon to be Sarah Miller officially, though everyone already called me that. I was pregnant, carrying Ethan' s child, and we lived in a small, neat house in a quiet suburb. Ethan worked in marketing for a beverage company, a good job, steady. He thought I came from a small farm in Oregon, a humble place with good, hardworking people. That' s what I let him, and his family, believe. It was easier.

The truth was, my family' s "small farm" was one of the biggest organic farming and artisanal food operations in the Pacific Northwest. We supplied high-end grocery chains, fancy restaurants. But we kept a low profile, always. My parents, Mary and David Thompson, valued privacy over flash. My brother, Ben, was already a big part of running things. I knew I' d join them properly one day, but for now, I wanted this quiet life with Ethan.

Then came Olivia Hayes.

Ethan knew her from college. He told me once, long ago, how she' d gotten into a bad situation on a trip to Mexico, and he' d helped her, "saved her," he' d said. He felt he owed her something. Olivia was trying to be some kind of wholesome influencer online, all pastel colors and gentle smiles. Fragile, Ethan always called her.

The call came late. Ethan was supposed to be at a work conference, but he sounded stressed, his voice tight.

"Sarah, something' s happened."

My heart squeezed. "What is it? Are you okay?"

"It' s Olivia. She was at that big music festival, Desert Bloom. She... she got really drunk, went off with some guys. It' s a mess."

I frowned. "Oh, that' s awful. Is she alright?"

"She' s terrified. Her reputation, Sarah. This could destroy her. She' s not married, you know, it looks so bad." His voice dropped. "I need you to do something for me. For Olivia."

A cold feeling started in my stomach. "What do you mean?"

"I told everyone... I told them it was you."

The world tilted. "You what?"

"Just for a little while, Sarah. To protect Olivia. She' s so fragile. You' re married, you' re pregnant. People might judge, but it' s different. We can say you were just letting off steam before the baby comes. It' ll blow over."

I couldn' t breathe. "Ethan, are you serious? You want me to say I got drunk and went off with strangers? While pregnant?"

"It' s just a story, Sarah! To help Olivia. She can' t handle this. You' re strong. Please."

My hand went to my belly, a protective gesture. Strong? I felt like I' d been punched.

"Ethan, I can' t."

"You have to," he said, his voice hardening. "I already told my mother. She' s... concerned, but she' ll understand it was a mistake. Olivia needs this. I need this. Don' t make it harder."

He hung up before I could argue, before I could scream.

I sank onto the sofa, the phone slipping from my hand. My husband, the man I loved, the father of my unborn child, had just thrown me to the wolves to protect a woman from his past. The "fragile" Olivia.

And I, his pregnant wife, was just collateral damage.

The simplicity I cherished shattered into a million pieces. Pain, sharp and cold, spread through me. He didn' t just betray me, he betrayed our child. The whispers would start, the looks. Our baby, labeled before it even took its first breath. A child of shame.

My world, once so clear, was now a dark, confusing place. And it was Ethan who had led me into it.