Chapter 3 - You Never Owned a Brick
I clicked the remote.
The private messages vanished.
An official deed verification appeared.
Gavin stared at the television.
I watched recognition turn into confusion.
“You see, Gavin,” I said, “you thought being listed on administrative title paperwork gave you ownership leverage.”
“Tessa—”
“But three days ago, the title company completed its review of my grandfather’s testamentary trust.”
I changed the slide.
The relevant provision appeared.
“This property was conveyed solely to me through protected premarital assets.”
Gavin's face lost color.
“And the trust contains an alienation restriction.”
Maren looked from the screen to him.
“You told me—”
“Shut up, Maren.”
Her mouth dropped open.
Interesting.
Twelve minutes earlier they had been partners.
Now they were already turning on each other.
“You never owned a single brick of this house,” I said.
Gavin swallowed.
“Tessa, stop. Please. We have a child coming.”
I looked down at my belly.
“I have a child coming.”
His expression changed.
“You can't keep my daughter from me.”
“I didn't say anything about that.”
My lawyer had been very clear.
Property and marital betrayal were one matter.
Parenthood was another.
I wasn't going to make threats involving my daughter.
But I also wasn't going to let Gavin use her as emotional camouflage.
June walked forward carrying two manila packets.
She handed one to Gavin.
The other went to Maren.
Gavin stared at his.
“What is this?”
“Read it,” June said.
He opened it.
His eyes raced over the first page.
Maren looked at hers.
Her hands began trembling.
June faced her.
“That's a subpoena concerning eighteen thousand dollars transferred from Tessa and Gavin’s joint account into yours over the last five months.”
Lorraine made a choking sound.
“You stole from your pregnant wife?”
“Mom—”
“To pay her?”
“Mom, stay out of it!”
Lorraine stared at her son as though seeing a stranger.
“You were planning to push your pregnant wife out of her own home?”
“It isn't like that!”
“How is it?”
Gavin turned toward me.
“Tessa, give me the remote.”
“No.”
He stepped forward.
“Give me the damn remote.”
Caleb moved before I could react.
My brother stepped between us.
Two cousins joined him.
“Back off,” Caleb said.
Gavin froze.
I picked up a wrapped package of infant clothes and moved it aside.
“Your bags are already packed.”
He stared at me.
“What?”
“They're beside the curb.”
“You went through my things?”
“I packed your clothes.”
“You can't throw me out of my own house!”
“The locks were changed two hours before the shower.”
“You can't—”
“The local precinct has documentation concerning the temporary order and property status. Follow your lawyer’s instructions.”
For the first time, Gavin looked genuinely frightened.
Not because he had lost me.
Because he had lost control.
Maren stepped backward.
Her heel caught the edge of the patio.
The champagne flute slipped from her fingers.
It shattered.
Everyone flinched.
Maren stared at the broken glass.
Then she looked at Gavin.
“You told me the house was half yours.”
He said nothing.
“You told me she couldn't make you leave.”
“Maren, don't.”
“You said we'd raise our baby here!”
A murmur swept through the guests.
Gavin's father closed his eyes.
Lorraine whispered, “Oh, God.”
Maren suddenly understood that Gavin had lied to her too.
That didn't make her innocent.
But it made the entire conspiracy even uglier.
“You promised me,” she whispered.
Gavin snapped.
“You knew I was married!”
Maren recoiled.
“And you knew she was my best friend!”
“There it is,” June murmured.
The alliance was dead.
Maren covered her face and ran.
Seconds later, we heard her car start.
Gavin remained.
Alone.
Thirty-two people had arrived expecting cake.
Instead, they had watched his secret life collapse.
He grabbed his keys.
Before leaving, he looked at me.
For one terrible second, I remembered the man I had married.
The man who had cried when our pregnancy test turned positive.
The man who had assembled the crib incorrectly three times because he refused to read instructions.
The man I had loved.
Then he said, “You'll regret humiliating me.”
And the memory disappeared.
“No,” I said. “I regret trusting you.”
He walked through the gate.
It clicked shut.
Silence settled over the yard.
Then Lorraine approached me.
She was crying.
“Tessa, I am deeply sorry.”
I didn't know what to say.
She touched my arm.
“If you'll allow me to remain part of that little girl's life, I will never defend what he did.”
“Thank you.”
My mother hugged me.
June joined her.
Then my daughter kicked.
Hard.
I laughed through my tears.
The baby shower continued, strangely enough.
People stayed.
Someone swept up the glass.
Someone cut the cake.
And for the first time in twelve days, I could breathe.
But at 8:43 that night, after the final guest left, my phone buzzed.
It was Gavin.
A single message.
You think you won. Check your email.
I did.
And when I saw the attachment, my blood ran cold.
Because Gavin had one final card to play.
May you like
And it involved our unborn daughter.
---
