Ryan and I had spent thirteen years together. We had four wonderful children, and I was pregnant with our fifth. For years, I genuinely believed we had created a loving, stable family.
I had never been more mistaken.
One afternoon, I returned home from the store earlier than usual. As I walked inside, I heard Ryan speaking on the phone. He didn’t realize I was there.
“Baby, I love you so much. I’ll see you later at our usual hotel. I’ll make up another excuse for her. She believes everything I tell her. She’s such an idiot.”
For several seconds, I couldn’t move. It felt as if everything beneath me had suddenly disappeared.
Then Ryan turned around. He saw me standing there. And somehow, his reaction made everything even worse. He didn’t panic. He didn’t rush to explain. He barely even looked guilty.
