The Baby Trap Backfired

Three days after we got home from the hospital, Mia used her recovery as an excuse to kick me into the guest room.

"You snore and keep Noah awake. Sleep next door."

Yep. She named the baby Noah.

I didn't argue. I grabbed my pillow and left.

At two in the morning, I woke up needing the bathroom.

Still half asleep, I headed for the door and noticed a thin strip of light shining through the crack.

Just as I reached for the handle, I heard a voice inside.

Mia's voice.

Soft. Flirty. Intimate. Mixed with quiet breaths and low moans.

"...Did you miss me?... Mm... Look what I'm wearing today... Do you like it...?"

My hand froze on the knob. Heat shot from my feet straight to my head.

I slammed my palm against the door.

"Why are you still awake? What are you doing in there?"

The bathroom went dead silent.

Two seconds later, frantic rustling broke out inside.

Then the door swung open.

Mia stood there in a robe, her cheeks slightly flushed. Her phone was clutched in her hand, the screen turned facedown.

"I... I was watching a movie."

I looked at her.

"A movie?"

Her eyes flicked away, and she instinctively took a half step back.

"Yeah. I couldn't sleep, so I was watching some funny videos. Go back to bed. You have work tomorrow."

She slipped past me, rushed into the bedroom, and locked the door behind her.

I stood in the hallway, slowly clenching my fists before forcing them open again.

The next morning, my phone rang.

The name flashed across the screen:

Andy Drake.

"Elroy, I need you to oversee the Kingston project for the next two weeks. You leave the day after tomorrow. The company's covering the flight."

It wasn't a discussion.

It was an order.

I was about to tell him Mia had just given birth and needed someone home with her when my eyes drifted to the living room.

Mia sat on the couch with Noah in her arms, watching me expectantly.

"Honey, it's okay. I can take care of Noah by myself. Go make some extra money so we can buy imported formula for him."

The last bit of hope inside me disappeared.

I lifted the phone. "Okay. I'll leave the day after tomorrow."

The second I hung up, Mia visibly relaxed.

"Don't worry. I've got everything under control at home!"

I nodded and headed into the study.

Then I pulled out my phone and ordered a set of hidden cameras.

While Mia was in the bedroom feeding Noah, I tucked the first camera into the gap behind the TV and hid the second inside the bedroom smoke detector.

The day I left, I stood by the front door with my luggage.

For once, Mia came over on her own.

She slipped her arms around my neck and kissed me.

"Honey, thank you for working so hard for this family."

The warm yellow light softened her features, making her look gentle and devoted.

I patted her back.

"Wait for me to come home."

***

The second my hotel room door clicked shut, I didn't even drop my bags.

I yanked open the monitoring app.

The living room feed filled the screen.

My front door swung open.

Andy walked in wearing a tailored suit and gleaming dress shoes. Like he owned the place, he strolled right inside and kicked off his shoes, swapping them for my slippers.

Then he flopped onto the couch, crossed a leg, and patted his thigh twice.

The bedroom door opened.

Mia stepped out.

My finger jerked.

She wasn't in pajamas.

She was wearing a black lace teddy I'd never seen before.

Swaying her hips, she crossed the room and dropped onto Andy's lap, her arms draped around his neck.

Andy wrapped one hand around her waist while the other wandered freely.

He let out a gross laugh.

"Can your pathetic husband even satisfy you with that tiny thing he's got?" He pinched her chin. "That sad little travel allowance I gave him? Think of it as my tab for tonight."