I stand in the kitchen, the late afternoon sun streaming through our open windows and illuminating the space with a hazy golden glow. I hum along to the radio as I prepare dinner for EJ and I, thoughts of our baby, our plans, our dreams and our love warming me from the inside out.

I was transported to another world until the hard click of the door brought me back to reality. I heard EJ's voice, now tinged with surprise, coming from the living room and my heart sank. Instantly, I knew who had just walked in—Sami, EJ's ex-wife. I could hear her heels clicking on the wooden floor, drawing nearer and nearer.

The mere thought of her name, Sami, felt like I was walking through a blizzard. Ten years ago, she was the woman EJ had chosen over me and my unborn baby. The sharp pain of betrayal still stung deep inside me, like an icy wind blowing away my heart's warmth. That moment had changed everything and left me broken in its wake.

EJ had assured me he was over her, but they hadn't seen each other since our reunion. A part of me felt an icy chill of fear every time I saw EJ's name illuminated on my phone or their pictures on social media. It was like a tiny yet persistent voice in the back of my mind whispering warnings of past repeating itself.

Sami stepped into the room and paused, taking in the tense atmosphere and EJ's rigid posture. From my angle I saw everything reflected in a mirror. His eyes, normally twinkling with mischievousness, were now guarded. "Sami. What brings you here?" he asked, his voice even but conveying a subtle note of unease.

Sami's voice had an unmistakable taunting lilt. I looked into her eyes - a deep, dark blue - and saw the malicious glint that she used to have when we were both in love with the same man. I clamped my hand over the swell of my stomach as if protecting my unborn child from her presence. Her lips curled up in a smirk, like she knew just how much of an effect she had on me and she had no idea I could even see her.

I hovered in the doorway, my heart pounding and a lump growing in my throat. Sami and EJ were standing mere inches apart; his arm muscles flexed as he gestured during their conversation and she had her hand resting lightly on his arm. I could feel the heat radiating off of them as I watched them, their shared laughter floating across the room towards me like a wave of guilt. My stomach twisted as all of my old anxieties and unresolved feelings surged through me.

I back away from the doorway, swallowing down a lump that had formed in my throat. The sound of EJ and Sami's laughter drifted into the kitchen, punctuated by moments of silence - moments when they leaned into each other, as if drawn together by an invisible force. A wave of uncertainty rose up within me. Could their feelings be gone for good? Or was there still something between them that lingered beneath the surface? I watched their shadows dance on the wall, watching deep-rooted thoughts creep out from the darkness.

My knife came down hard on the vegetables, violently dicing them, as if my fear and uncertainty could be diced into tiny pieces just like the carrots. I tried to push away thoughts of Sami—the woman with whom EJ had a past affair and had children with already—but I found myself unable to shake the feeling that this could all happen again. After everything we had built, our family, our love, could it all unravel once more in the face of temptation?

The air seemed to thicken as I stood at the doorway, my breath coming in shallow gasps. I could feel the darkness of my memories creeping over me, threatening to swallow me whole. But before it could take hold, I shook them off and steeled myself for what was to come. Through the open door, I heard the tinkling laughter of Sami, EJ's ex-wife that invited herself to cause trouble. Fear and doubt swirled inside me, like a tightening string around my heart. Taking a deep breath, I stepped into the living room with my vegetable tray in hand. Sami sat on the couch, smiling widely at something EJ had said. As she shifted her gaze towards me, I saw a glimmer of challenge in her eyes.

Sami froze as soon as she saw me and her face softened in dismay. Her bright red lips twisted into a smirk, her piercing blue eyes narrowing in distaste. She crossed her arms over her chest and with her nose upturned said in a haughty voice, "I see you crawled your way back to my ex-husband, again."

I took a deep breath and returned her gaze. "Sami, how long are you in town?"

Her expression darkened, but she kept the same aloof posture. "I came for Sloan. To see her for myself. And then I stopped to visit my children - I guess while I'm here," she replied coldly. "Do you object?"

"There is no stopping you." I turned away from Sami as the cold pitt in my soul couldn't be good for the baby inside me. My heart fluttered I could lose everything, again but I said, "Look EJ, I'm tired. It's been a long day."

He flashed a rare smile, and my heart leaped in my chest. "I'll be right up, darling," he said, his hand lingering on mine.

As I walked away, my nerves prickled like needles under my skin. I traced circles over my belly, feeling the flutter of life inside - our baby.

At least she hadn't start screaming at me this time. I had to protect our little one, no matter what.

With one last glance back at EJ and Sami, I climbed the stairs to our bedroom. The sound of my footsteps echoed through the empty hallways.

I tried to push the doubt out of my mind as I sat down on the edge of our bed. Would EJ choose me this time? Or would Sami win him back yet again?

I closed my eyes and whispered a prayer.