My Fiancé Chose His Friend’s Pregnant Widow and Lost Me Forever

I go to the condo to get my things. There's another pair of women's slippers by the door. Prenatal vitamins are on the entry table. My perfume has been pushed into a corner. Sophie is sitting on my couch. She's wearing my lounge set. "Claire? You're back?" I walk into the bedroom. Our wedding photo is gone. A maternity portrait of Sophie hangs in its place. My clothes have been packed into two cardboard boxes. A note on top says: Claire's things. Put in storage for now. I turn to Sophie. "Who packed my clothes?" "I did." "Why?" "Your perfume makes me nauseous. Pregnancy has made me really sensitive to smells." "So you packed up my closet." "I'm sorry. I didn't think you'd mind this much." She follows me into the living room. "I'm only staying temporarily. I get scared when I'm alone at night. Ethan is just worried about the baby." The front door opens. Ethan comes in. He looks at Sophie first. "Are you okay?" "I'm fine. Please don't blame Claire. I shouldn't have stayed here." Then he turns to me. "Claire, why didn't you tell me you were coming?" "This is my home." "I know. But Sophie just got back from the hospital. She doesn't need more stress." I point toward the bedroom. "Where's our wedding photo?" "I put it away." "Why?" "Seeing it makes her think about Daniel." I look at him. Yesterday, he left our wedding for her. Today, I'm being told to be careful in my own home because she might get upset. "I'm taking my things." "Claire, can we talk first?" "About what?" "Yesterday. I know I screwed up." "Yesterday was our wedding." "I'll make it up to you." I pick up one of the boxes. Sophie starts crying. "I can leave. I don't want the baby and me to become a problem between you two." Ethan turns to her. "You're not a problem." I pick up the second box. Then I take our wedding photo off the floor beside the dresser. Ethan follows me to the door. "Claire." I don't stop. The next morning, Sophie posts again. I know I shouldn't be staying in someone else's home, but I was scared to be alone. The photo is taken on our balcony. People start asking who the home belongs to. Then someone uploads the video from our wedding. Ethan leaving. Me standing there after him. The comments spread quickly. People call me jealous. Cruel for making a pregnant widow feel unwelcome. By afternoon, people at work have seen it too. One of my clients jokes about it during a meeting. I shut him down and finish the presentation. When I leave the office, Ethan is waiting downstairs with my favorite takeout. "I told Sophie to delete the post." "Did she?" "Not yet. She's emotional right now." "Are you going to explain what happened?" "If I say something publicly, it'll bring more attention to her. She can't handle that kind of stress." "What about me?" He looks at me. "You're stronger than she is." I take the food from his hand and drop it into the trash. "Don't bring me anything again."

After that, Mom calls me. "Your dad got into an argument today. Someone recognized him and said you were bullying a pregnant widow." Dad has a heart condition. Mom tells me he had trouble breathing afterward. I go straight to my parents' house. He's stable, but his doctors have already been planning another procedure. Ethan and I have been saving for the medical costs for months. That night, I check our joint savings account. Twenty-two thousand dollars is gone. I call Ethan. "Where's the money?" He pauses. "Sophie needed to put down a deposit at a private maternity clinic. She also wants a postpartum doula." "That's my father's medical money." "I know. I'll replace it." "When?" "Tomorrow." "My dad could need it at any time." "Sophie needed the deposit now." "Her postpartum care is more urgent than my father's heart?" "That's not what I'm saying." "Then what are you saying?" "Your dad's procedure isn't happening right now. Sophie is getting close to her due date. She can't wait." I laugh. "She can't wait. My dad can. I can. Our wedding can. Our home can." "Claire, you're the woman I'm going to marry. I know you can handle things." I hang up. Ten minutes later, he transfers five thousand dollars. For now. I'll replace the rest. The next day, I go back to the condo with a list of everything I paid for. "If you're staying here, I want my share reimbursed." Sophie looks at the total. "I don't have that kind of money." "You own a condo downtown." Her expression changes. "You looked into me?" "You post your location online." "That condo is my security. Daniel is gone. I have to think about the baby." "Then use your own money." I put the list on the table. "And I want every dollar Ethan took from our joint account paid back." The front door opens. Ethan walks in carrying a thermos. Sophie takes a step backward. "Ethan, don't blame Claire. She just wants me to leave." Her foot slips near the stairs. She falls and immediately grabs her stomach. "Ethan..." He rushes over. Then he looks at me. "What did you say to her?" "I asked her to pay me back." Sophie grabs his arm. "Claire didn't push me. I just lost my balance." Ethan looks at me again. "I know you didn't push her. But did you have to come here and upset her?" "You know I didn't touch her, and you still think I'm the problem." "She's pregnant. Just apologize so she can calm down." I tear the list in half. "I'll get back what you owe me myself." I leave. That night, Mom calls again. This time, Dad is in the ER. His condition suddenly gets worse. At the hospital, the doctors tell us he needs more tests and may need an urgent procedure. The money Ethan took is the money I planned to use for this. I call him. "I'm at the hospital too," he says. "Why?" "Sophie is having contractions." "My father is in the ER. Transfer the money back." "Can you cover tonight? I'll fix it tomorrow." "I need it now." Then I hear Sophie crying behind him. "What if I lose the baby?" Ethan immediately says, "I'm here." Then he gets back on the phone with me. "Claire, figure something out for tonight. I have to go." He hangs up. Mom walks over with Dad's paperwork. "Do we have enough?" I look at my phone. "Yes." I don't know how I'm going to cover it yet. But I don't call Ethan again.