Fictitious Marriages Are Made in Heaven

“Nikita! Why are you so happy? Did they give you a prize?” I say, joking, when my husband walks into the house with a wide smile.

I also have joyful news for him. This morning I learned that I’m pregnant. And even if our marriage was originally “for fun,” now everything is different.

“Really? Better!” my husband answers—and then, suddenly, he nails me with his words: “You’ll never guess who I spent the night with!”

I almost drop the plates to the floor. Horror and a terrible guess hit me.

“She was with me, Liz… Nadine was with me tonight!” Nikita exclaims.

❃❃❃❃❃

Two years ago, my best friend and I decided to enter into a fake marriage. I was disappointed with men, and Nik was stuck in unrequited love. We decided to heal our wounds side by side.

It was all like in a Hollywood movie—where, apparently, a happy ending is planned for me. But because of it, apparently, not for me. Because Nikita finally got the woman he’s been longing for more than five years. And I see no point in confessing that I managed to fall in love with him.

And that I’m carrying his child under my heart.