PART 7 – I Started Looking Back at the Little Things I Had Ignored, and Suddenly My Husband’s Happiness Didn’t Look Like Love Anymore

The next morning, I woke before Daniel.

I went downstairs and made coffee.

The house was quiet.

Sophie was still asleep.

Daniel's phone was charging beside the television.

I walked past it without stopping.

I didn't want to become someone who secretly searched through her husband's belongings.

But I also didn't want to keep living with questions I was afraid to ask.

I sat at the kitchen table.

The bills were still inside the drawer.

I pulled them out.

Mortgage.

Electricity.

Car payment.

Insurance.

I remembered the night Daniel had told me he felt like a failure.

I remembered how I had comforted him.

Then I remembered his words about Graham's promotion.

At the time, I thought he was simply desperate to improve our situation.

Now I wondered whether money had been used to make me agree.

I placed the papers back inside the drawer.

Daniel came downstairs.

"You're up early."

"Couldn't sleep."

He poured himself coffee.

"Everything okay?"

I looked at him.

"Daniel, can I ask you something?"

He turned.

"Of course."

"Are you still expecting that promotion?"

His expression changed.

Only for a second.

"Why?"

"I was just wondering. You haven't mentioned it lately."

He shrugged.

"Things at work are complicated."

"Is Graham still considering you?"

Daniel took a sip of coffee.

"We'll see."

I nodded.

He walked toward the hallway to get his jacket.

That was all.

No explanation.

No excitement.

Nothing.

After he left, I sat there thinking about the way he had answered.

It wasn't proof of anything.

But it wasn't reassuring either.

Later that afternoon, I received a message from the clinic confirming my next appointment.

I added it to the calendar.

Then I looked at the date.

The pregnancy was moving forward.

There was no way to pause time while I figured out what my husband was hiding.

That evening, Sophie asked me to help with her homework.

We sat at the dining table.

She was drawing a picture of a house.

"Mommy, can Graham visit the baby when it's born?"

I looked at her.

"That's something the adults will arrange."

"Will the baby know who we are?"

I didn't know what to say.

I gently moved a strand of hair away from her face.

"We'll always wish the baby well."

She nodded and returned to her drawing.

Children have a way of asking questions that adults spend years avoiding.

After bedtime, I went downstairs.

Daniel was sitting on the couch.

His phone was in his hand.

He looked up.

"Come sit with me."

I remained standing.

"Who were you talking to the other night?"

His smile disappeared.

"What night?"

"The night I woke up and heard you in the kitchen."

He stared at me.

For several seconds, neither of us spoke.

Then he put his phone down.

"Work."

I waited.

"Who was it?"

"Graham."

I felt my stomach tighten.

"What were you discussing?"

He leaned back.

"Business."

I looked at him.

"At two in the morning?"

He rubbed his forehead.

"Something came up."

I wanted to ask about the baby.

I wanted to repeat the words I had heard.

But I stopped myself.

He was already watching me differently.

"Why are you asking all these questions?"

I shook my head.

"I'm just curious."

He stood up.

"You're tired. You should get some rest."

Then he walked upstairs.

I remained in the living room.

The television was still playing.

I turned it off.

For the first time since agreeing to the surrogacy, I didn't feel like I was helping someone build a family.

I felt like I was standing outside a locked door.

And my husband had the key.

Click here to continue reading: PART 8: I Finally Realized That the Biggest Warning Had Been Sitting in Our Kitchen All Along, Hidden Behind the Bills I Tried So Hard to Pay