Page 99 of The Contract Marriage

She nods, and I walk out, ignoring the weight of Simon’s eyes on my back. Know your fucking place, Simon.

I head out of the office, then stop. In the display window across the street is a mannequin with a pregnant bump and a little baby in a crib, all of them properly set and dressed. The sign over it says Button & Bloom. It’s a little store that specializes in maternity and baby items. Huh.

I cross the street and step inside. A smiling thirtyish Asian woman with a sleek bob greets me.

“Hi, welcome to Button & Bloom. I’m Sue. Can I help you?”

“Just looking around. When did this place open? I haven’t seen it before.”

She blinks, then laughs. “Actually, it’s been around for at least a couple of years. That’s how long I’ve been working here, anyway.”

“Oh. Uh…”

“It’s okay. Is this your first child or something? Most men don’t notice before then.”

“Yeah, our first kid,” I say, scratching the tip of my nose.

“How far along is your wife?”

“About eight weeks.”

She smiles. “Early to be buying, but the time does fly.”

“Exactly.” I should book a photographer to document the changes in Olivia’s body now that I think about it. That way we can look back and remember the miracle we created together. “Mind if I look around?”

“Not at all. Just holler if you need any help.”

A mind-numbing number of designs and colors bombard me in the onesies section. Since Olivia and I don’t know the gender yet, we should get something neutral, but a cream and purple onesie that says DADDY’S PRINCESS catches my eye. If it’s a girl, I can get her a tiara, too. How cute would it be to have a little black-haired baby with Olivia’s eyes, wearing a princess tiara and a cute purple onesie?

My heart pangs with sweet ache. I press a fist over my chest.

“These two are probably the best. It’s a boy, so blue and navy.”

Brielle?

I turn my head. My eyes collide with the woman I never wanted to see again in my life.

Chapter Forty-One

Liam

What shitty luck, running into this cuntastic parasite after that nice hug with Olivia. Brielle looks as greedy and calculating as ever, her sharp eyes cataloging everything. Bet she’s also putting a price tag on it at the same time.

Next to her is a visibly pregnant bottle blonde with dark roots showing. She has a look that Grandma would label “crass nouveau riche.” No class, no confidence, but somehow came into some money and is desperate to be recognized and fawned over. Very much like Brielle herself.

“Oh, let me see this one.” Brielle turns back to her friend, then seems to trip, falling backward toward me.

I step back, and Brielle falls on her ass. Did she expect me to catch her? These hands are Olivia’s exclusive property.

Sue rushes over. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.” She winces, but doesn’t complain further. The store has security cameras, and she probably doesn’t want her transparent ploy aired in front of everyone. She pushes herself up and swings her hair back. Her mouth purses. Underneath the makeup are dark circles and lines from furrowing her eyebrows too much. Guess things aren’t going too well for her and Tyler.

Karma’s still alive and well.

“Well, I guess somebody’s pregnant,” Brielle says, like the humiliating scene never happened.

I smile thinly. “That’s right. And somebody else isn’t on the baby shower guest list.”