Chapter 2 

Countdown: 20 days. 

Lena was out earlier and home later than ever. 

The wedding she promised me might as well have never existed. 

Sometimes I’d catch a glimpse of her best friend’s social posts. 

In the corner of almost every photo–there she was, standing beside a man. 

That face… 

I’d seen it before, buried in the photo album on her phone. 

That afternoon, one of my business partners called out to me. 

“Hey, grab the design drafts–we’ve got a client meeting.” 

“I heard this new client’s the guy Lena’s been rumored to be dating.” 

I nodded, a little dazed. 

Even though we’re business partners, they don’t know I know Lena. 

Definitely don’t know we’ve been secretly married for five years. 

The client’s office was in the same building as Lena’s firm. 

I knew exactly whose company it was–Ethan’s. 

Freshly launched after his return to the U.S., backed by Stratus Equity. 

Finance blogs couldn’t shut up about Lena and Ethan’s ‘reunion.‘ 

When we stepped into the executive suite, I wasn’t surprised to see her. 

Lena was holding a beautifully wrapped box, handing it to the man behind the desk. 

Ethan. 

Her face froze the second she saw me. 

Everyone picked up on the weird tension. 

Ethan looked me over, amused. 

“And you are?” 

22:31 

Pregnant for Three Months: My Husband and Sons Locked Me in a Coffin 

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Lena hesitated, clearly unsure what to say. 

1 smiled and introduced myself. 

“I’m Ryan, the designer on this project. Lena and I are…” 

Lena and I spoke at the same time: 

“College friends.” 

The moment those words left her mouth, my grip on the drafts tightened. 

The edges of the paper bent under my fingers. 

It wasn’t the first time I covered for Lena. 

And it wasn’t the first time she refused to acknowledge me. 

That’s what a hidden marriage is–erasing your existence, piece by piece. 

This meeting didn’t go smoothly. 

Lena slipped back into her ‘boss bitch‘ persona, negotiating like she was Ethan’s personal lawyer. 

“We need the price down another ten percent.” 

She pushed us to the absolute edge of profitability. 

My partner hesitated, then reluctantly gave in. 

“Damn. Lena really is as sharp as they say. Nailed our floor price on the first shot.” 

She lowered her gaze, avoiding mine. 

That ruthless side of her? 

Used to impress Ethan–even if it meant gutting me, her own husband. 

Ethan didn’t say much. 

Just sat there smiling like he’d already won. 

And he had. 

Ethan unwrapped the box. 

“Have some cake, everyone.” 

But before he could touch it, Lena reached out in a panic. 

“Ethan, don’t–you’re allergic to peanut butter. Let me check it first.” 

22:31 

Pregnant for Three Months: My Husband and Sons Locked Me in a Coffin 

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the Ithan’s allergy? 

She Hovey forgin 

I used to find comfort in the idea that maybe just maybe there was a tiny part of her that cared. 

Now I know 

Even that part was a lie. 

22:31