Chapter 1
Chapter 1
Eight years married. His family group chat has his side piece in it–not me.
Marcus left his phone on the coffee table while he showered.
Big mistake.
It buzzed. I glanced over.
Group name: Our Family.
His mom’s text popped up, all sunshine and smiles.
“Lily sweetie, dinner this weekend! Marcus has been missing you SO much!
My stomach dropped.
Lily.
Missing you.
I snatched his phone.
Group Members: 6
Marcus Bennett.
Patricia Bennett.
Robert Bennett.
Vanessa Bennett,
Lily Harper.
Derek Walsh.
Six people.
His whole damn family.
And the bitch he’s been screwing behind my back.
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Chapter 1
Not his wife.
Never his wife.
I didn’t scroll through the chat right away.
No-first I screenshotted that member list. Sent it to myself. Proof.
Then I scrolled up.
Group created: March 17th, 2018.
We got married October 2017.
Five. Fucking. Months.
Five months into our marriage, and he made a family group chat. Added everyone-his parents, his sister, her
husband.
Everyone except his actual wife.
I kept scrolling, my throat tight.
The oldest messages were from Marcus.
“Mom, easier to coordinate family stuff this way. Let’s use this from now on.”
Patricia sent back a heart emoji.
Vanessa dropped some dumb meme.
Robert took three minutes to type: “Great idea, son.”
Our Family.
I’m wearing his last name. I have his ring on my finger.
But I’m not family.
The messages from 2018 were painfully normal-birthday reminders, Thanksgiving plans.
My name popped up here and there. Like an afterthought.
Patricia: “Is Marcus’s wife coming for Christmas?”
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Chapter 1
Marcus: “Nah, she’s doing her mom’s place.”
Vanessa: “Oh good. Smaller crowd.”
Oh good.
I remembered that Christmas. Marcus told me his mom wanted to keep it small, said I should just spend it with my family instead.
I actually felt grateful. Thought he was being sweet. Saving me the hassle.
Turns out they just didn’t want me there.
I scrolled to 2019.
March.
That’s when she showed up.
Lily Harper.
Vanessa added her with zero hesitation. “Big bro, got your girl in here!”
Marcus replied with one word: “Thanks.”
Then Patricia jumped in immediately.
The message made my stomach drop through the floor.
“Lily sweetie! So glad you’re here! We should’ve added you AGES ago!”
Ages ago.
I’d been married a year and a half, Never got an invite.
She walks in, and suddenly it’s we should’ve done this sooner, welcome to the family, we love you.
The shower turned off.
I slammed his phone back down, Screen first. Hands shaking.
Marcus strolled out in a towel, hair dripping everywhere.
“Why are you just sitting there like a statue?”
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Chapter 1
“Waiting for the hot water.”
“There’s plenty. Go ahead.”
He grabbed his phone without even glancing at the screen. Swiped it locked. Shoved it in his pocket.
Every. Single. Night.
Phone always on him. Always password-protected. Always just out of reach.
I used to think it was normal.
God, I was so stupid.
I went to shower.
The water was scorching, but I barely felt it.
I stood under the spray with my mouth ope
choking on steam and rage and heartbreak, trying not to scream.
When I came out, he was already in bed. Back turned.
Of course.
I picked up his dirty clothes off the floor. Folded them. Put them away.
Same routine. Same marriage. Same lie.
Eight years of this.
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