His Wine Cost More Than My Unborn Child Chapter 04

His Wine Cost More Than My Unborn Child Chapter 04

Corbin came home late that night.

He opened the door, slipped off his shoes, and called out, “Nessa!”

I looked up from the couch.

He came over holding a small cake box, all secretive and pleased with himself.

“Look. A customer gave this to me when I was delivering. It was her birthday-she told me to have

some cake.”

“I looked it up. This place’s super expensive. Go on, try it. Tell me if it’s good.”

He carefully opened the box in front of me, watching my face with quiet excitement.

Over the years, he’d occasionally brought home expensive food.

Not often. Every time, he said some generous customer had given it to him.

Back then, I’d throw my arms around him and tell him there were still good people in the world.

He never touched any of it.

He always said he wanted me to have the best.

I used to be moved by that.

Now I knew the truth.

All those delicacies I could never have afforded-they were nothing but scraps from Corbin’s

dinner parties.

He couldn’t be bothered to eat them. So they ended up with me.

I almost laughed at myself. I was ridiculous.

“Why aren’t you eating?” He tapped my forehead with a grin. “Just have a taste. When I make enough money, I’ll buy you a whole one.”

I scooped up a bite.

It was probably delicious. But what did I know?

I couldn’t tell what premium cream tasted like. Or which famous pastry chef had made it.

I reached over and picked a long, soft curl of brown hair off his collar.

Corbin leaned in, squinting at it, then held it up against my hair.

“Weird. Where’d this come from? I haven’t been near any other woman.”

A second later, his face lit up with sudden realization.

“Oh, right. The customer who gave me the cake had long brown curls. I must’ve picked it up by

accident.”

He said it so naturally. So effortlessly.

And I remembered-there had been other times before.

He’d come home carrying the faint scent of perfume. Or alcohol.

And every time, there was an excuse.

“A customer was wearing way too much perfume.”

“Someone ordered delivery to a hotel.”

I’d believed every word.

“Eat up. I’m gonna take a shower.”

He rolled the strand of hair into a little ball and tossed it into the trash.

I set down my spoon and watched him walk away.

All I could see was the way he’d smiled at that beautiful woman earlier that evening.

Tamsin had told me she was Corbin’s fiancée.

It had been her birthday party.

Their engagement was just around the corner.

She’d even shown me the digital invitation

The perfect couple. A match made in

aven.

“Nessa, my advice? Cut ties with Corbin. And soon.”

Tamsin had said. “His fiancée isn’t someone you want to cross. If she finds out about you, I can’t promise what she’ll do.”

“And don’t expect Corbin to protect you.”

A cold smile had spread across her face.

“To him, you probably matter less than the family dog.”

Her words were harsh. But the truth usually is.

I’d been stupid. But not so stupid I couldn’t tell right from wrong once the truth was right in front of me.