Chapter 4

That night, Caleb came home late, smelling of expensive cologne and cheap lies.

"Long day at the studio, baby," he said, kissing my forehead. "Missed you."

I had spent the afternoon crying, but when he walked in, I wiped my tears and put on a sad movie. I needed to control the narrative.

I curled up next to him on the couch, feigning sadness over the film's ending.

"Caleb," I whispered, my voice intentionally fragile. "You would never cheat on me again, right? I don't think I could survive it."

He pulled me closer, his embrace feeling like a cage.

"Gabrielle, look at me."

He tilted my chin up, his eyes full of that practiced sincerity.

"I swear on my mother's grave, I would die before I ever betrayed you again. You are my entire world."

The words, once a comfort, were now a poison. I leaned into him, letting him believe I was comforted, while my mind was a whirlwind of cold, hard planning.

A few days later, a package arrived. A large box from a high-end baby boutique. I opened it in the kitchen. Inside were expensive prenatal vitamins, organic baby clothes, and a silver rattle.

Caleb walked in as I was pulling out a tiny pair of boots. He froze for a second, a flicker of pure panic in his eyes.

"What's all this?" he asked, his voice a little too casual.

"I don't know," I said, looking at the gift card. There was no name. "Someone must have sent it."

He recovered quickly, laughing it off. "Must be one of the guys from the label. A joke, you know? Since we've been talking about trying again."

He wrapped his arms around me from behind, kissing my neck. "Soon, baby. I promise."

Later that evening, I was walking past his office and heard him on the phone. His voice was a low, furious snarl.

"Are you out of your mind? Sending packages to my house? Do you want her to find out? Stop these stupid stunts, Molly, or I swear to God, this whole arrangement is over."

I leaned against the wall, my heart hammering. It wasn't just a betrayal. It was a game to them. And I was the pawn they were moving around the board.

But the game was about to change. I was done being a pawn.

It was time to be the queen.