The Maternity Store Call
My phone suddenly rang, showing an unfamiliar landline number.
I hesitated for a moment but answered anyway.
Hello, is this Yvonne Franklin? A gentle female voice came from the other end.
I replied, puzzled, wondering who it could be.
"This is Baby Paradise, a maternity store, reminding you that your membership card balance is below 50 dollars."
"We're running a promotion now: recharge 2000 and get 500 free, or recharge 5000 and get 1500 free. Would you like to consider it?"
My mind buzzed, and I almost dropped the remote control in my hand.
Maternity store? Membership card?
Zachary River and I have been married for eight years, and from the start, we agreed to be childfree.
I don't just avoid shopping at maternity stores—I can't even tell baby clothes sizes apart.
How could there be a membership card for a maternity store?
"Did you call the wrong number?" I tried to keep my voice calm.
"No, Ms. Franklin, we contacted you based on the phone number registered with the membership."
"The registration lists your spouse as Zachary River, right?"
Hearing Zachary's name, my suspicion only grew stronger.
After hanging up, I sat on the couch, stunned, for a long time.
I didn't come back to my senses until Zachary River walked out of the study.
"There was a call from a maternity store just now, saying I have a membership card but the balance is too low and needs to be topped up." I looked at him.
Zachary River paused briefly while pouring water, then smiled faintly.
"It's definitely a scam call. These schemes are everywhere nowadays."
"They probably got our info from somewhere and are trying to scam us."
He spoke casually, but his eyes looked a little evasive.
I stared into his eyes. "But they even know your name."
Zachary River handed me the cup, his tone turning a bit impatient.
"With information leaks being such a big deal these days, what's so strange about just knowing a name?"
"Don't worry about all these unnecessary things. Isn't it better to just relax over the holiday?"
After saying that, he turned and went back to the study, leaving me alone in the living room with more and more questions swirling in my mind.
I grabbed my phone and searched for "Baby Paradise Maternity Store," discovering it had three branches nearby and generally good reviews.
It didn't seem like one of those small shops that run scams.
I also checked my bank statements and found no record of any purchases at a maternity store in the past few months.
So who exactly got this membership card?
Why is Zachary River dodging my questions?
One question after another kept swirling in my mind, making me restless.
For the next few days, I couldn't stop thinking about that phone call.
Zachary went to work and came home as usual, acting like nothing was different.
But I kept feeling he was deliberately avoiding my gaze, and sometimes he even hid when taking calls.
On Friday night, Zachary said there was an urgent project at work and he had to go on a business trip to a neighboring city, promising to be back on Monday.
While he was packing, I noticed he had packed several new shirts and a bottle of men's cologne I had never seen before.
"Why did you bring so many new clothes on your business trip?" I asked.
"I have to meet several important clients there, so I need to dress more formally." He replied without looking up.
Watching him rush away, the unease inside me grew stronger.
Early the next morning, I made up my mind—I was going to the neighboring city to find Zachary River and get some answers.
I bought the earliest high-speed train ticket and headed out with my phone in hand.
Zachary's company is in the neighboring city's CBD; I had been there once before.
Standing outside the company building, I took a deep breath and stepped into the elevator.
When I got to the floor where Zachary River's office was, I didn't go in right away. Instead, I hung around in the hallway.
Suddenly, I saw Zachary River come out of his office, followed by a young woman.
She was wearing a pink dress, her belly slightly rounded—she looked pregnant.
Zachary River put his arm around her waist, his touch so familiar it sent chills through me.
"Take it slow, don't wear yourself out." His voice was so gentle it could've dripped water—I'd never heard him speak like that before.
The woman smiled and leaned into his embrace, "It's okay, the doctor said some activity is good for the baby."
They walked toward the break room, talking and laughing, completely unaware that I was nearby.
I froze in place, my hands and feet cold, my mind blank.
Who is that woman?
Why is Zachary River so good to her?
Whose child is she carrying?
Countless questions flooded my mind, making it hard to breathe.
I forced myself to calm down, took out my phone, and secretly snapped a photo of them.
Then I walked up to the reception desk, pretending to be there for a job interview, and started chatting with the receptionist.
"Who was that woman with Mr. River just now? They seemed really close." I asked casually, pretending not to care.
The receptionist smiled. "That's Mr. River's assistant, Eva Sharpe. I heard she's pregnant with his child—soon she'll be the CEO's wife."
The CEO's wife?
I stood there frozen, like I'd been struck by lightning.
I'm Zachary River's wife. When did this "CEO's wife" appear out of nowhere?
"So, Mr. River isn't married?" My voice trembled as I asked.
"I don't think so. No one's ever heard Mr. River has a wife." The receptionist said.
"Since Eva Sharpe got pregnant, Mr. River has been really good to her, even buying her a lot of expensive gifts."
"By the way, there was a 300 million project recently, and Mr. River turned it down just to accompany Eva Sharpe to her prenatal checkup. We all thought it was such a shame."
A 300 million project?
I remembered that last month, Zachary River told me the company was short on funds and asked me to transfer the money my mom left me so he could manage the cash flow.
It turned out he wasn't out of money—he'd spent it all on another woman and even gave up a 300 million project for her!
I couldn't listen any longer. I turned and ran out of the office, tears blurring my vision.
It turned out the maternity store membership card was issued by Zachary River for Eva Sharpe.
It turned out that when he said he was on a business trip, he was actually with Eva Sharpe.
It turned out that eight years of marriage meant nothing to him.
I sat by the flower bed outside the office for a long time, unable to stop my tears.
I wanted to rush up and confront Zachary River, but I didn't know what to say.
Just then, I saw Eva Sharpe walk out of the building alone, carrying an elegant handbag.
I wiped away my tears, stood up, and walked over to her.
"Ms. Sharpe, wait a moment." I called out to her.
Eva Sharpe turned around, looked at me, and wore a puzzled expression. "May I ask who you are?"
"I'm Zachary River's wife, Yvonne Franklin." I looked into her eyes and spoke each word clearly.
Eva Sharpe's expression changed instantly—from confusion to surprise, then quickly back to calm.
"Oh, so it's Ms. Franklin." She smiled slightly, a hint of disdain in her voice. "I thought Zachary had already divorced you."
"What do you mean?" I clenched my fists tightly, struggling to hold back the anger inside me.
"Nothing." Eva Sharpe touched her belly. "I'm pregnant with Zachary River's child. He'll divorce you soon and marry me."
"By then, I'll be the rightful Mrs. River, the wife of the River Group's president."
"You're just a passerby from his past; don't make trouble for yourself here."
Her words stabbed into my heart like knives.
I looked at the cream-colored coat she was wearing and suddenly froze.
That coat was a gift for our seventh wedding anniversary last year, from Zachary River.
He said he went to several stores before finding it and that it suited me perfectly.
But I only wore it once before Zachary said he'd accidentally lost it.
Turns out, he gave the coat to Eva Sharpe!
And that bracelet on her wrist—that was also a gift from Zachary for my birthday. He said it was a limited edition.
Now, it's on Eva Sharpe's wrist!
"The coat and bracelet you're wearing were gifts from Zachary to me." I pointed at her clothes and bracelet, my voice trembling.
Eva Sharpe looked down and smiled, "Oh, these? Zachary said they were gifts from others. He didn't like them, so he gave them to me."
"So you're the one who gave them? Seems like your taste isn't that great. I think these are pretty ordinary—I only wear them sometimes."
Her words made me furious. I rushed over to argue with her, but two women suddenly appeared beside her and stopped me.
"What do you think you're doing? Don't bully Eva!" one of the women shouted.
"Yeah, Eva's pregnant. If anything happens to her, can you take responsibility?" Another woman added in agreement.
Eva Sharpe looked at me smugly. "Ms. Franklin, I suggest you just go home quickly and stop making a fool of yourself here."
"Zachary loves me, not you. No matter how much you make a scene, it won't change a thing."
Just then, Zachary walked out of the office, and when he saw us gathered there, he hurried over.
"What's going on? What happened?" When he saw me, his face immediately darkened.
"Zachary, you need to explain. What exactly is going on?" I stared at him, tears streaming down my face again.
"The coat, the bracelet, and that maternity store membership card—you need to explain all of it!"
Zachary frowned and grabbed my arm. "If there's something, let's talk about it at home. Don't make a scene here."
"I'm not going back! You owe me an explanation right now!" I pulled my hand free from him.
Eva Sharpe came over, linked her arm with Zachary's, and said sadly, "Zachary, I didn't mean to argue with Ms. Franklin. She started it."
"I know she's your wife, and I don't want to put you in a difficult spot. Maybe I should just leave."
The more she said that, the more it hurt Zachary's heart.
"Don't worry, I've got this." Zachary comforted Eva for a moment, then turned sharply toward me with a fierce glare. "Yvonne, have you made enough of a scene?"
"Eva is carrying my child. If you scare her, you're going to regret it!"
I looked into Zachary's cold eyes and felt completely frozen inside.
I took out my phone and opened the photo album — yesterday, when he wasn't paying attention, I checked his phone.
The contact name he saved me under was "A mad woman"!
I held the phone screen up to his face. "Zachary, look, this is how you've labeled me!"
"Eight years of marriage, and in your eyes, I'm just a mad woman?"
When Zachary saw the phone screen, his face darkened further. He tried to grab my phone, but I moved away.
"You actually snooped through my phone?" He shouted angrily.
"If I hadn't snooped, how would I know your true colors?" I sneered, "Zachary, you really disgust me."
After saying that, I turned and walked away, not wanting to see his fake face again.
After leaving Zachary River's company, I didn't go straight home. Instead, I went to my brother Victor Franklin's office.
Seeing me burst in crying, my brother quickly put down his work and pulled me to sit down.
"What happened? Did someone bully you?" He handed me a tissue, his voice full of concern.
I told him everything in detail, including the call from the maternity store, the situation with Zachary River and Eva Sharpe, and even the notes Zachary left me.
My brother got more and more furious, slammed the table, and stood up. "Zachary River is way too much! How dare he treat you like this!"
"So many of his company's projects were thanks to me. Now that he's got a little power, he's acting ungrateful?"
My brother is really influential in the business world. Zachary's success wouldn't be possible without my brother's help.
"Victor, I want to get a divorce." I wiped my tears dry and said firmly.
"Fine, divorce! A man like that isn't worth holding onto!" My brother immediately supported me, "Don't worry, I've got your back. There's no way I'll let him get away with this!"
My brother quickly called his assistant and told him to stop all cooperation projects with Zachary River's company and freeze any financial support to it.
"Zachary River's company still depends on our funds and resources. Without them, his company won't last long," my brother said.
Then, my brother helped me get in touch with the best divorce lawyer.
The lawyer explained in detail the documents I needed to prepare for the divorce and the issues around dividing the property.
"Zachary River had an affair during your marriage and even gave Eva Sharpe large gifts — all of which can be reclaimed." The lawyer said.
"Don't worry, we'll do everything we can to get you the best possible outcome."
After handling all that, I felt a bit more at ease.
That night, Zachary called me, but I just hung up.
He sent messages asking where I was and told me to come home so we could talk.
I replied with: "There's nothing to talk about. Prepare for divorce. The lawyer will contact you."
It wasn't long before Zachary came back home.
He saw me sitting in the living room and quickly came over, trying to take my hand.
"Yvonne, I'm sorry, I was wrong. Please don't divorce me, okay?" His tone was pleading.
"Eva and I, it was just a moment of confusion. The one I love is you. I can't live without you."
I shook off his hand and looked at him coldly. "Zachary, stop pretending. I already know everything."
"You gave up a 300 million project for Eva, bought her my birthday gift, and labeled me 'a mad woman' in your phone. Have you forgotten all that?"
"And now you say you love me? Don't you think that's disgusting?"
Zachary's face flushed red, then pale. "Yvonne, I know I was wrong. I won't do it again. Please give me one more chance, okay?"
"We've been married eight years. Don't you have any feelings left for us?"
"Feelings?" I smiled, but tears fell down my face. "Of course, I have feelings. But that was the old you—I don't know who you are now."
"Zachary, it's over between us. Divorce is my only decision. Don't try to win me back."
I stood up. "This house was mine before we got married. You need to move out tomorrow. I don't want to see you anymore."
Zachary wanted to say something, but I just turned around and went into the bedroom, locking the door behind me.
His knocking and pleading came from outside, but I didn't soften one bit.
Eight years of love, eight years of effort, only to be met with betrayal and lies.
I don't want to continue this marriage any longer.
Download the SnackShort app, Search 【 810057 】reads the whole book.
My Fiction
SnackShort
Booklite« Previous Post
My Two Boxes of Ledgers
Next Post »
The Building To-be-Demolished