Chapter 5

That night was the first time Serena had ever stayed out overnight.

She realized how freeing it could be.

No getting up in the middle of the night to check if Leo had kicked off his covers. No waking up early to make fresh coffee and whole wheat toast for Carter in case he skipped breakfast...

Falling asleep on the plush bed of a boutique hotel in Williamsburg, Serena drifted off in a haze of alcohol.

When she woke the next morning, a note from Tara was on the nightstand.

'Serena, I had to run to the office. Call me anytime! I'll send you the names of the best divorce lawyers!'

Serena folded the note carefully and tucked it into her bag before picking up her phone.

One percent battery. Three messages from Vivian. One missed call.

Nothing else.

Serena stared at the screen and laughed bitterly.

She had been gone all night, and the only person who reached out was the woman who was sleeping with her husband.

She looked at the family photo on her lock screen and suddenly felt like a hypocrite.

She opened her photo album, chose a picture she'd taken of Central Park, and set it as her background before heading out.

Back at the Upper East Side apartment, she plugged in her phone, took a shower, and threw her smoke-and-alcohol-scented clothes into the laundry.

Only after all that did she open Vivian's messages.

"Serena, I'm pregnant!"

"Carter stayed with me in the ER all night. Must have been lonely sleeping by yourself, huh?"

"I should thank you, really. If you hadn't lost your uterus, there wouldn't have been room for me to give him his heir."

Maybe it was the lingering effects of last night's drinking, but reading these cruel, taunting messages, Serena couldn't quite identify what she was feeling.

As she sat there, her phone buzzed.

Carter.

She answered, and his tired voice came through.

"Honey, which OB-GYN did you see on the Upper East Side? A major client's wife is pregnant..."

A major client.

Serena looked down, the sound of the coffee machine masking her racing heart.

The emerald necklace was for a client. The doctor's recommendation was for a client.

Carter must think she was an idiot, the way he kept telling such lazy lies.

Her chest ached, and her voice came out cold. "I don't remember. I have things to do. Goodbye."

After hanging up, Serena sat at the marble counter, feeling hollow.

A few moments later, she called her lawyer.

"Daniel, if my husband has a child with another woman, how does New York law handle that in terms of asset division?"

Daniel paused. "New York is a no-fault state, Serena. Children born outside of marriage have inheritance rights. However, if we can prove your husband has been spending significant marital assets on his mistress, that counts as 'dissipation of assets.' In terms of property division and spousal support, the court may award you a larger share as compensation."

Ignoring the sting in her eyes, Serena spoke quietly. "I understand."

......

At seven that evening, Carter walked through the door.

Serena glanced at him, but his gaze toward her was cold.

He seemed to be holding back anger. "Why did you hang up on me? It was just a doctor's name. What was the big deal?"

In ten years of marriage, this was the first time Carter had spoken to her with such cold authority, like he was dressing down an employee.

Was it because of Vivian's baby?

The thought sent a sharp pain through Serena's chest.

Carter had expected her to back down like she always did. To apologize, to explain.

But when he saw her clear eyes turn red, an unexpected twinge of guilt hit him.

He didn't understand where it came from, so he just walked into his study and slammed the door behind him.

In the vast, quiet living room, Serena stared at the closed door, tears streaming down her face.

The glittering Manhattan skyline outside the window did nothing to warm the cold in her heart.