part 2
PART 2
Audrey had been married to Dominic Hale for three years.
Long enough to learn that charm can be a costume.
Long enough to know his mother, Victoria, never smiled unless someone smaller was suffering.
Long enough to understand that Paige Mercer had never been “just a colleague.”
At first, Dominic had seemed wounded by his own family.
He told Audrey his mother controlled everything.
The house.
The money.
The guest list.
The family reputation.
He said Audrey was the first person who made him feel free.
She believed him.
That was the first lie she helped build.
After the wedding, Victoria moved through Audrey’s life like an owner inspecting a rental property.
She criticized Audrey’s clothes.
Her voice.
Her cooking.
Her fertility.
Especially her fertility.
Every Sunday dinner ended with some version of the same sentence.
“A Hale heir would settle everything.”
Audrey and Dominic had been trying for over a year.
Then Dr. Reed ordered tests for both of them.
Audrey’s results were normal.
Dominic’s were not.
Low count.
Poor motility.
Then the final diagnosis after a surgical complication he hid from everyone.
Irreversible infertility.
Dr. Reed told Dominic privately first because Dominic demanded it.
Audrey only learned part of the truth.
Dominic said the tests were “inconclusive.”
He said they could keep trying.
He said Audrey should not tell Victoria because his mother would make it dramatic.
So Audrey protected his pride.
She let Victoria blame her.
She let Dominic stay silent.
She let herself become the woman everyone pitied at dinner.
Two months later, Audrey felt strange.
Tired.
Dizzy.
Sensitive to smells.
She blamed stress.
Dominic was already coming home late.
Paige’s perfume was already on his shirts.
Victoria was already whispering that a barren wife should be grateful for patience.
Audrey planned to take a pregnancy test the morning after the family gala.
She never got the chance.
That night, she found Paige’s bracelet inside Dominic’s car.
Not hidden.
Dropped carelessly between the seats.
Audrey confronted him in the foyer.
Dominic said nothing.
Victoria came down the marble staircase in a silver robe and looked at the bracelet in Audrey’s hand.
Then she smiled.
“You should learn when not to ask questions.”
Audrey turned to leave.
Victoria grabbed her arm.
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And when Audrey pulled free, Victoria shoved.
Read the full story 👉 Audrey had been blamed for infertility for months, but Dominic secretly knew the problem was his.
