She claimed it was her mother, but the secretive calls continued, along with a $15,000 charge on our bank statement that Ruby couldn’t explain. Tension grew, and so did Max’s agitation.
Late one night, Max pawed frantically at the crib. I lifted the mattress and found a hidden pregnancy test—positive and recent. My heart pounded. Jenna was only three months old, and I’d barely been home.
Ruby appeared, her face falling as she saw the test in my hand. She confessed: a lonely night led her to an old friend. Max had seen her hide the test and had been trying to alert me ever since.
Shattered, I packed a bag. Max followed, his loyalty unwavering. Ruby’s pleas filled the days that followed, but trust was broken. Without it, love felt hollow.
Max and I left that night, stepping toward healing. His steady presence reminded me of a love that was true—loyal and unbreakable. Together, we would find our way forward.