Congrats Hubby! Your $1M V-Card Deal Came with Free HIV 2

Chapter 2

First thing next morning, I packed my bags and bolted.

Only then did I text Tristan, lying that I had to fly out for work-wouldn’t be back for two weeks.

Once I checked into the hotel, I opened that monitoring app I’d never used.

Within seconds, my phone connected to the bedroom feed.

What I saw made my blood run cold.

I’d only been gone half a day.

Tristan had already brought Ivy home.

She was wearing my pajamas, sitting at my vanity with her legs crossed, twisting open my five-figure face cream.

Not on her face. She was rubbing it slowly onto her feet.

Then, finding it tedious, she shoved her toes right into the jar and stirred.

Tristan was lying on the bed behind her.

Didn’t say a word.

“Tristan, this stuff’s expensive. Won’t your wife get mad?”

Ivy said it, but she didn’t stop.

Tristan sat up, wrapped his arms around her waist, eyes full of indulgence.

“Her face isn’t worth it anyway. Might as well use it on your feet.”

He slid a finger under her pajama strap.

“Same outfit. But on you? Sexy as hell. On that old hag? Like a potato sack.”

Ivy melted into him, giggling.

Watching them roll onto the bed, I immediately shut off my phone.

One more second and I was afraid I’d catch something through the screen.

11.07

Congrats Hubby! Your $1M V-Card Deal Came with Free HIV

14.3%

Chapter 2

Two weeks passed.

I took my PEP meds, put on a mask and went home.

I thought Tristan would at least pretend, send Ivy away before I got back.

Nope.

I opened the door.

She was still there, lounging on the couch and eating my $300-per-gram bird’s nest soup.

I kept my voice level.

“Tristan. You brought stranger into our home without even asking me?”

Before he could answer, another voice came from the kitchen.

“My son bought this house. He can let anyone stay here. Mind your business.”

I froze.

His mom was here too.

Margaret shot me a glare, planting herself between Ivy and me.

“Besides, Ivy’s not some outsider. She’s pregnant-our family’s most precious now.”

My stomach dropped.

a

Tristan deliberately avoided my gaze, lips moving.

“Babe, you know Mom’s been wanting a grandkid. And you… it’s been years. Nothing’s happened.”

Ivy spoke up, voice all soft and shaky.

“I’m so sorry, Celeste. It’s my fault. I mixed up my birth control with my vitamins. I didn’t mean to get pregnant.”

She stood up. “If it bothers you, I’ll get rid of it.”

Margaret lost it.

She stormed over and slapped me across the face.

“Celeste Monroe, are you trying to stop my son from having heirs? If anything happens to this baby, I’ll kill you!”

11:07

Congrats Hubby! Your $1M V-Card Deal Came with Free HIV

17.9%

Chapter 2

My ears rang. I cupped my face, stunned.

Turning around, I saw three place settings on the dining table.

Margaret caught me staring, smug.

“I didn’t know you were coming back. I only made lunch for three.”

I read between the lines, bit my lip, and walked out.

The door slammed behind me.

But I could still hear Margaret’s yelling inside.

“Son, you’re a billionaire. You should’ve divorced that barren bitch years ago. She’s been holding you back this

whole time.”

I leaned against the door and I laughed.

Back when Tristan was starting his company, I worked double shifts.

Daytime at the hospital. Nights washing dishes at restaurant.

Every cent I made went to him.

Now his mom was tearing me apart, and he didn’t say a word.

My face still stung. But honestly? I felt nothing.

Then my phone buzzed.

Message from my coworker.

“Celeste, got Ivy’s medical records from the CDC.”

I opened it immediately, brow furrowed.

Even though I’d expected it, seeing the data still shocked me.

Late-stage HIV. Stage-three syphilis. I knew that much.

But there were over a dozen other infections.

Most transmitted through blood or sex.

11:07

9

Congrats Hubby! Your $1M V Card Deal Came with Free HIV

21.496

Chapter 2

But even daily contact, shared towels, dishes, or open cuts-could transmit them.

Lucky for me, that wasn’t my concern.

Someone else would pay the price next.

♡ (0)

11.07

10

⊙ (0)

Congrats Hubby! Your $1M V Card Deal Came with Free HIV

25.0%