My Pregnant Wife Was Told to Use the Back Door at Her Own Husband’s Grand Opening—Then She Asked Him One Question

For three long seconds, Devon said nothing.

The only sound was the low hum of an air compressor inside the garage.

Renee stood near the entrance, one hand resting beneath her belly.

Celeste still held Devon's arm.

Paula shifted nervously beside the reception table.

Devon finally cleared his throat.

“Renee,” he said, forcing a smile.

“What are you doing here?””

The question landed harder than Renee expected.

She looked at the bakery box.

Then at the balloons she had helped hang.

Then at the man whose business she had spent months helping him build.

“I came to celebrate with my husband,” she answered.

Devon glanced around at the guests.

“Can we talk inside?””

Renee looked at the doorway.

“Apparently, I'm not allowed inside.””

Devon frowned.

“What?””

Paula immediately stepped forward.

“Mr. Devon, I didn't know she was your wife. She arrived carrying a box, and I assumed she was delivering the refreshments.””

Renee turned toward her.

“I told you who I was.””

Paula pressed a hand against her chest.

“I honestly didn't hear that clearly.””

“You heard me.””

“Renee,” Devon interrupted sharply.

“Please. Not here.””

Celeste finally released his arm.

She took one small step forward, studying Renee with an expression that was almost sympathetic.

“Devon, is this the woman you told me about?””

Renee turned toward her.

“The woman he told you about?””

Celeste looked at Devon.

He avoided her eyes.

“Celeste,” he muttered.

“Not now.””

But Renee had already heard enough to know that something was terribly wrong.

She looked at the woman in the red dress.

“Who are you?””

Celeste extended her hand.

“I'm Celeste. Devon's business partner.””

Renee didn't take it.

“Business partner?””

“Yes,” Celeste replied.

“I've been helping him with the shop.””

Renee stared at her husband's face.

“Since when?””

Devon rubbed the back of his neck.

“Renee, we discussed this.””

“No, Devon. We discussed hiring a manager. We discussed the equipment loan. We discussed how much money we could afford to put into this place.””

She pointed toward Celeste.

“We never discussed another woman introducing herself as your wife.””

A few guests exchanged uncomfortable glances.

Devon lowered his voice.

“Can you please stop making a scene?””

Renee gave a short, disbelieving laugh.

“I'm standing outside a business I helped prepare, holding my pregnant stomach, while another woman holds my husband. And I'm the one making a scene?””

Celeste crossed her arms.

“Look, I don't know what you've been told, but Devon and I have been working very closely.””

Renee looked at her.

“Working closely doesn't require pretending to be married.””

Celeste's jaw tightened.

Paula quickly stepped between them.

“Ladies, please. There are customers here.””

Renee looked at Paula.

“You were the one who told me to use the back door.””

Paula's cheeks reddened.

“I was doing my job.””

“Then perhaps you should learn who owns the business before deciding who belongs at the front entrance.””

Devon stepped forward.

“Enough!””

The sudden shout made several guests turn.

Renee went completely still.

Devon looked toward the reception table, where the cupcake box sat beneath the grand-opening banner.

Then he lowered his voice again.

“Renee, go home. I'll explain everything later.””

She stared at him.

“Later?””

“Yes. You're tired. You've been working all day.””

“I worked all day because I needed the money.””

Devon looked uncomfortable.

“That's not what I meant.””

Renee's eyes filled.

“I bought those cupcakes with my own paycheck. I came here because I wanted you to have something special on your opening day.””

She looked at the box.

“I even stayed up last night making sure the decorations matched your sign.””

Devon glanced at the guests again.

“Please don't do this.””

Renee slowly shook her head.

“You haven't even asked if the baby is okay.””

For the first time, Devon looked at her stomach.

His expression flickered.

Then Celeste touched his shoulder.

“Devon, the photographer is waiting. We have to take the opening pictures.””

Renee turned toward her.

“The photographer?””

Celeste smiled.

“Yes. We arranged a few family-style photographs for the business page.””

Renee looked at Devon.

“What family?””

Devon didn't answer.

Celeste pulled a phone from her handbag and opened a photograph.

It showed Devon standing beside her in front of the shop.

Her arm was around his waist.

His hand rested against her shoulder.

A large blue ribbon stretched across the entrance.

Below the photograph was a caption:

*A NEW BEGINNING FOR OUR FAMILY BUSINESS.*

Renee felt the blood drain from her face.

She took one step closer.

“Who posted that?””

Celeste looked down at the screen.

“I did.””

“And why does it say family?””

Celeste shrugged.

“It's a figure of speech.””

Renee looked at Devon.

“Did you approve this?””

He hesitated.

That hesitation told her more than an answer would have.

Paula suddenly spoke.

“Mr. Devon, perhaps we should take the photographs before more people arrive.””

Renee turned toward her.

“Could you stop calling him as though I'm not standing here?””

Paula's mouth closed.

Devon reached for Renee's elbow.

“Come outside. We need privacy.””

Renee pulled away.

“No. You had privacy when you decided to introduce someone else as your wife. You had privacy when you posted those photographs. You had privacy when you let your employees treat me like a delivery driver.””

Her voice cracked.

“I want an answer now.””

Devon looked toward the garage.

Then at Celeste.

Finally, he spoke.

“Celeste has been helping me with more than the business.””

Renee felt her stomach tighten.

“What does that mean?””

Celeste lowered her phone.

Devon swallowed.

“We've been seeing each other.””

A guest near the reception table quietly set down his coffee.