I Can Smell Every Lie, and My Husband Reeked of Betrayal Chapter 09

I Can Smell Every Lie, and My Husband Reeked of Betrayal Chapter 09

The chat window sat silent for ages.

Three minutes. Five minutes.

At last, the phone rang.

“Shannon, just hear me out-”

“Hear you out about what?”

“It was Chloe’s idea to surprise you. She knows all the best brands from raising Wren.”

“Finn.”

I cut him off. My mind was spinning.

“You took another woman shopping for our baby’s crib. She picked out our stroller, our kettle, and scribbled for me on the slip.”

“You call that a surprise?”

“Shannon- “}

“She’s stepping into my spot as this baby’s mother, and you’re letting her.”

Heavy breathing came through the phone speaker.

After a beat, he spoke.

“You’re overthinking. She was just trying to help out. You’re exhausted being pregnant.”

“I never threw a fit when you went shopping with Mallory.”

“Mallory is my best friend. What is Chloe to you?”

He had no reply.

Somebody called out in the background. That’s Wren’s high little voice.

“Uncle Finn! Come look at my new room!”

Chloe’s voice followed, then lowered quickly. “Wren, hush, Finn’s on the phone.”

He held the phone’s mouthpiece closed with his hand, but I heard every single word.

He was at Chloe’s new apartment. Helping her move in. Putting up bookshelves. Hanging curtains.

And he’d taken her to shop for baby gear meant for my child.

I hung up.

The gardenia scent pricked at my temples like a stabbing headache.

I pushed open my car door and threw up onto the pavement.

I wiped my mouth when I finished. I restarted the engine and pulled out of the parking lot, and my phone buzzed again.

Unknown number.

I answered.

A soft, gentle female voice came over the line.

“Shannon, it’s Chloe.”

I stayed quiet.

“Finn told me you’re upset. It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have taken it upon myself. I’ll make sure I check with you first next time.’

She paused, her tone dropping even softer.

“You know how much Finn loves you. While we were picking out those items, he kept pointing things out and saying Shannon would like this color, Shannon hates anything too flashy.”

“His heart is yours.”

My grip on the steering wheel tightened.

“Chloe.”

“Yes?”

“Your gardenia perfume is way too strong. I don’t care for gardenias. Tone it down before you show up at my house again.”

There was one beat of silence on her end.

“Of course, Shannon. I’ll keep that in mind.”

She hung up.

She kept her tone soft and polite the whole call.

She’d heard my warning loud and clear, yet she chose to play dumb.