Shadows Drift Beyond Memory by Xarin Vale novel Chapter 1

Chapter 1

My husband’s got this girl in his friend group who’s been gunning for me since day one.

We all went on a trip together. She was supposed to book everyone’s tickets–but somehow “forgot” mine.

She cried her eyes out apologizing. My husband told me to just let it go.

At our wedding reception, she “accidentally” smashed cake all over my face during one of those stupid games.

She said it was all in good fun. My husband told me to stop being so uptight.

I rubbed my pregnant belly and laid down the line.

“One more time and we’re done.”

After my husband finally said something to her, she chilled out.

Until our daughter’s first birthday party, when she stood there squinting at my baby’s face like something was off.

“How come she doesn’t look like you at all? Bro, are you sure she’s even yours?”

My husband flipped out and immediately threw her out.

Right when I thought he was finally on my side, that he was actually gonna cut her off for good-

That night, I saw this post blow up:

[Daughter just turned 1. Bro said she doesn’t look like me. Think my wife’s cheating. What do I do?]

Comment: If you’re not gonna get a paternity test, then I guess you’re fine raising some other guy’s kid. Enjoy the humiliation.

OP’s reply: I’ve thought about getting a test, but if my wife finds out, she’ll divorce me. I don’t want that.

The comments were brutal.

People were calling him a spineless doormat. A cuckold. A complete pussy.

Others called him out for trusting his friend over his own wife.

Comment: You keep calling them your “bro” like they actually want what’s best for you. They’re miserable and want to see you crash and burn.

OP’s reply: No way. We all grew up together in the same neighborhood. Why are you assuming the worst about my friend, just like my wife does?

Some people gave him advice.

Comment: Just secretly take a few of your daughter’s hairs and get a test done. If she’s yours, pretend nothing happened. If she’s not, blow it all up and divorce her.

At my daughter’s first birthday party, my husband Callum Adair’s pick–me “friend” Sienna had just stirred the pot by saying our daughter wasn’t

his.

That same night, this post shows up.

18:43

His Girl Bro Lied ‘Not His Baby‘–DNA Played Along, But Baby IS His!

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Chapter 1

And the OP’s daughter? Also one year old.

Plus, every time I told Callum that his crew–especially Sienna was deliberately messing with us and trying to drive a wedge between us, he’d say I was being paranoid and making them out to be villains.

And the OP? Same IP as us.

I was convinced. The OP had to be Callum.

I looked over at him, fast asleep next to me, mumbling something in his dreams. Hurt and rage crashed over me like a wave.

I grabbed his phone and unlocked it, went through everything–but there was no trace of this post.

Then I checked his chats with the guys. Nothing suspicious.

Maybe… it wasn’t him?

The anger inside me cooled just a little.

The next morning, Callum got up early like always to take care of our daughter. So gentle. So loving.

Relief washed over me. Maybe the post really was just a coincidence.

But then, as I walked out of the kitchen with a bowl of baby food, I saw him pulling at our daughter’s hair.

“What the hell are you doing?!”

I rushed over, shoved him away, and scooped her up.

Callum looked stunned. “Babe, what’s wrong?”

My eyes were burning. “Why were you pulling her hair?”

“You mean this?”

He held out his hand. There was a tiny bug in his palm.

“Some bug landed on her head. I was just trying to get it off.”

He looked hurt:

“Why would you think I was pulling her hair? And why are you freaking out?”

Guilt hit me hard. I’d misread the whole thing.

“I’m sorry. I just didn’t want you to hurt her.”

Callum didn’t push it after that.

That afternoon, after I put our daughter down for a nap, I opened X again.

That post been updated.

[I tried to pull some of my daughter’s hair today and my wife almost caught me. Thank God I played it cool and she didn’t suspect anything. Give me another idea, guys.]

18:43