Love makes me wander

Chapter 1For five years of marriage, Jason had cheated on me at least fifty-two times. I’d swallowed it all down, every single lie and betrayal.Until I was nine months pregnant, and Jason’s secretary screwed up with a major client. To salvage the deal, he wanted me to go and smooth things over with drinks and apologies.I stared at him, disbelief hardening into anger. "I’m carrying our child, Jason! You want me to go out drinking? What if something happens?"He cut me off, impatience dripping from his voice. "It’s just drinks, Sarah. Relax, it’s not like I’m asking you to go to war."He actually told the staff to pour drinks for me even though I didn't want to drink. That night I went into labor.That day, I almost died in the hospital. He spent the night with his secretary at a villa in the Hamptons.I woke up after giving birth and looked at my mother-in-law. "You promised that if I had the baby, you’d agree to the divorce. Can I go now?"1Hearing me say that, I saw a flicker of worry, even pity in her eyes.“Sarah, honey, are you sure you don’t want to give him one more chance? He…”Before she could finish, a piece of gossip regarding Jason flashed on the TV in my hospital room.The photo showed Jason carrying a woman out of a car, her wearing his jacket.She was leaning against his chest, eyes half-closed, cheeks flushed an unnatural red.While she was covered up pretty well, someone had managed to snap a shot of her smooth, pale thigh, marked with what looked suspiciously like love bites.No explanation was necessary."CEO of Hawthorne Industries spotted getting cozy with mystery woman. Wedding bells on the horizon, perhaps?" the anchor droned.My mother-in-law, bless her heart, visibly deflated. She gasped for breath, her face red with anger.But when she looked at me, all I saw was guilt and compassion.Tears welled up in her eyes, and the words of persuasion she was trying to form got stuck in her throat.Finally, she choked out, “Okay, Sarah. I promise you, I’ll help you get a divorce.”Seeing her struggle to hold back tears, I felt a pang of guilt.But I didn't back down. "Thank you, Mrs. Hawthorne."After the baby was born, I couldn't bring myself to look at him.All I knew was that he was a boy, just under five pounds, pale and fair-skinned, and looked a lot like me.The nurse came in again, reminding me that he was past his observation period. After the examination, she confirmed that he was healthy and well.She urged me to see him, the precious baby I’d risked my life to bring into the world.But I shook my head. "No, thank you. It’s good to know he’s healthy."If I didn't see him, I wouldn't be tempted to stay.I knew that if I looked at him, I’d never be able to leave him.But I couldn’t stay with Jason, either.He'd be better off staying in the Hawthorne family.Lying in the hospital bed, I looked out at the view, wondering where I would go.I was abandoned at birth, raised in an orphanage.I had no family, no friends I could rely on.I felt like a small sailb...