The Grave of the Son You Traded for Her

Five years after the divorce was finalized, my best friend, Olivia, called to deliver the news, her voice heavy with that familiar, weary resignation.

Maddie, its a small world. Youre going to run into him eventually, and when you do

I wont, I cut her off.

I will never cross paths with Grant Montgomery again. Not in this lifetime.

The second I hung up, a friend request popped up on my screen.

The profile picture was a landscape photo Id taken years ago, a random snapshot from a college road trip.

The verification box read: Im back. Can we meet?

I have something very important I need to tell you in person.

Important matters?

I stared at those two words, a bitter laugh bubbling up in my throat. What could possibly be important between us?

Was it the crucial legal work my parents did, clearing his familys name, only for him to bankrupt and displace them in return?

Was it the way I helped him build the Montgomery Group from the ground up, nearly bleeding out in a restroom from entertaining old-money clients, only to find him cheating repeatedly, defiling our new home with another woman?

Or was it his final, monstrous act: canceling our sons surgery, locking us both in the wine cellar to teach me a lesson, which ultimately cost Jamie his life?

What on earth could be important now?

I pushed the sickening memories back, dragging his profile picture and the associated number into the digital abyss of the permanent block list.

After ending Olivias call, another message arrived, this time from Chelsea, our university class representative.

She was asking if I would attend the alumni reunion this year. She added a hurried, sympathetic note: I completely understand if you dont want to go. Everyone knows the situation, and we all support you.

She followed up with a few more carefully worded paragraphs of comfort and advice.

I looked at the dense block of text and found it strangely amusing. I had found peace, but everyone around me seemed stuck in the tumultuous history of it all. Perhaps our spectacular, dramatic fall had left too deep a mark.

But I was truly past it.

Now, I had to actively search my memory to recall what Grant Montgomerys face looked like. Yet, he had once been my most cherished person, closer than family. We were an ecosystem. We attended the same schools, from grade school through university, and studied abroad together.

My phone alarm blared, interrupting the rewind.

It was time for the truly important thing.

I parked the car at the base of the mountain trail, took a deep breath, and started up the path toward the chapel.

The young novitiate saw me and smiled immediately. Ms. Stone, youre back!

I handed him the gift bag. He took it, his expression thoughtful.

Ms. Stone, youve come here every year for five years, at the exact same hour and minute. Why is that?

I offered a small smile but didn't answer. I walked directly to the back of the chapel grounds, to a small, private meditation room that was always locked.

Inside, the room was simple. There was only one small altar. On it sat a lone, solitary memorial plaque.

I opened the large bag and began placing the items on the table.

The toy store clerk said these were the biggest hits this year, I whispered, carefully arranging the small figures. I dont know if youre into heroes and villains up there, but I grabbed a few different action figures.

And this mystery box. They say you can pull a hidden chase item. Youd love trying to find it.

After the toys, I laid out a pile of candy.

They probably dont make you brush your teeth over there, right? I chuckled, the sound brittle. So you can eat all the chocolate you want before bed. No cavities. Haha.

My laughter caught in my throat, and the tears started to fall.

I gently wiped the inscription on the plaque: Beloved Son, Jamie Stone, Placed by Mother, Madison Stone.

The line for the fathers name remained empty.

The chapel had a parking lot, but I always chose to park at the base and walk the eight thousand stone steps down. By the time I reached the bottom, my tears were usually dried.

I reached for the car door when my phone rangan unfamiliar number.

The voice on the other end was too familiar.

Maddie, even if you wont see me, you have to let me see my son!

I hung up immediately, blocking that number, too.

For five years, Grant Montgomery has not existed in my life. I had been fine.

I drove to my office. As I walked into my space, my assistant, Chloe, looked distressed.

Maddie, the partner weve been working with for months suddenly terminated the contract.

I looked up. Why? Our product quality and pricing were competitive.

Chloe frowned. I pressed them. They hinted that we might have offended the owner of the Montgomery Group.

Grants methods for crushing people hadnt changed much over the years.

Chloe chewed her lip. But we dont compete with them. Why would he target us?

I set my pen down and gave her the simple, quiet answer. Because hes my ex-husband.

Chloes eyes widened instantly, her mouth gaping.

Hes that ex-husband? The one in the rumors who was with the salesgirl?

She instantly clapped a hand over her mouth, mortified. Maddie, I am so sorry. I didnt mean to

I waved a hand dismissively. Its fine. Its all history.

Chloe still looked ashamed. I honestly thought those rumors were fabricated. Youre so successful, so amazing. How could he possibly betray you?

Years ago, everyone thought that. Even I did.

But the truth proved that no vow is unbreakable.

I called Chelsea back. Based on my plans, this would likely be my last chance to see them before leaving town. I wanted to gather my old roommates one last time.

That evening, the six of us squeezed into a booth. We ordered a case of beer, determined to drink until dawn.

After the third round, the conversation loosened. Chelsea picked up her bottle, hesitating before she spoke.

Maddie, theres something I never told you.

Grant kept calling me, trying to get me to set up a meeting. He said

She didnt finish. Olivia slammed her bottle down with a loud thud.

To hell with him! Grant Montgomery is a pathetic, ungrateful parasite!

Chelsea shot her a look, trying to quiet her, worried about upsetting me. But Olivia was too heated.

I want to say it! If the Stones hadnt raised him, hed be a charity case! And if your mom and dad hadnt cleared his parents name, he wouldnt have a name to begin with!

Then he turns around and destroys your life? That man deserves to be hit by a bus! Olivias eyes were bloodshot. Maddie, youre too damn forgiving! How can you be so calm after what he did?

I smiled sadly. Its not forgiveness, Liv. Its indifference.

Grant was indeed a bastard, but I had to admit, he was also a genius entrepreneur. When my parents finally cleared his family name, he was already twenty-five. But his parents business empire was already dust. The Montgomery Group was entirely his own creation.

And I had been his fiercest soldier.

Thinking back to those early startup days, the rush of building something was still exhilarating. For one huge contract he coveted, I drank with a room full of powerful, aged men until I had a stomach bleed. To land a key project, I once stayed awake for four nights straight preparing a proposal.

I was so consumed by his ambition, his dream, that I practically slept at the office.

I was too busy to even notice when he started sleeping with her.

The first time I saw Tess Holloway was at Grants mothers estate.

I was heading to his place, carrying the latest business proposal. But when I walked in, I saw a strange woman kneeling on the floor, carefully massaging Grants mothers aching feet.

Grant stood nearby, his gaze soft as he watched them.

The sight instantly felt wrong.

But Grant explained quickly: Shes just a sales associate from the mall who happens to have a natural touch. My mothers knees are bothering her, and they just clicked.

I started to say something, but Grant cut me off, a subtle furrow in his brow.

Maddie, you are a professional, a founder. Don't be one of those petty housewives who wastes her time chasing shadows and feeling jealous.

I chose to believe him. I thought our decade-long history was enough to withstand anything.

The day the Montgomery Group officially went public, we got married.

But I quickly realized it wasn't a casual affair. I saw Tess again, this time at our corporate headquarters. She was in a tailored suit, walking two steps behind Granthis new Executive Assistant.

I confronted him. His justification was cold and efficient. Tess has ambition in her eyes. Shes hungry, trainable. I like employees with strong potential.

From that day on, I noticed him systematically minimizing my authority. I had built the entire Market Strategy division; every single person was my handpicked hire. But Tess, using vague excuses, started pushing them out one by one, replacing them with her own staff.

I went to Grant to complain, but he only smiled. Competition drives growth, Maddie. Its called creative destruction.

It hit me then: he was slowly but surely eating away at my power in the company. As his partner, seeing the team I built crumble was crushing. My anger and betrayal became unbearable. I fought with him and gave him my resignation.

Just as I prepared to launch my own venture, I discovered I was pregnant.

Feeling that faint flicker of life inside me, my resolve softened. I willingly stepped back from the corporate battlefield, becoming the uncontroversial Mrs. Montgomery, a stay-at-home mom.

I believed my sacrifice for our family would earn his understanding.

The world slapped me again. The rumors about him and Tess grew into a storm. Newspapers and tabloids were full of photos of them together at industry events, arms linked, looking like the picture of a devoted couple.

I shoved the stack of magazines in his face. He grabbed my arm, yanking me to the mirror.

He pointed at me. Look at you. Do you think I want to take this out in public? You think I want people to laugh at me?

Once a crack forms in trust, the structure can never be fully restored.

On Jamies first birthday, we hosted a massive party. I had a terrible gut feeling all day.

That evening, I walked into our master bedroom and saw it: Grant and Tess, naked and entangled, on my sheets. Tess was wearing my favorite silk robe.

My mind went blank. My stomach rebelled, and I fell to the floor, retching violently.

Grant showed no remorse, only the anger of a man caught. He pointed a finger at me. Maddie, if you dare make a scene, if you embarrass me, I will personally guarantee your parents business is wiped out by morning.

From that day, he dropped all pretense. He brought Tess to live in the house.

I realized then that his mother, who always claimed to treat me like a daughter, had known all along. She even pulled me aside, offering a piece of wisdom: A successful man has options, dear. You just need to be reasonable.

I couldnt maintain this filthy, rotting marriage for another minute. I decided I was going to divorce him.

But as I prepared the papers, Jamie was diagnosed with acute leukemia.

The doctors said the best option was a bone marrow transplant. I tested immediately, but I wasn't a match.

In my darkest hour, Grant was a match. He became my last, desperate hope.

For Jamies life, I swallowed my pride and put the divorce on hold.

He donated marrow twice. Both surgeries were successful.

Just as Jamies health stabilized, Tess became pregnant.

She brought in a spiritual consultant who declared the child was the Montgomery familys lucky star, destined to usher in a golden age. The entire household treated her pregnancy like a sacred event.

Tess decided the primary bedroom I lived in had bad energy and demanded I move. Grant indulged her, moving me into a dark, tiny utility room.

Next, she claimed Jamies nursery had the best light and needed to be converted into her babys room.

I watched the house staff begin throwing Jamies favorite toys and books into garbage bags. I charged forward, blocking them.

You cant touch my sons things!

The private security were all Grants hires, now explicitly protecting Tess. She ordered them to restrain me. They held me down on the floor.

Tess sat on the sofa, a smirk playing on her lips. Fine, Maddie. You want to save his little room?

Wipe the mud off my boots with your sleeve. Then Ill call them off.

Go to hell! I screamed, glaring up at her. You pathetic whore! Youll rot for this!

The words were barely out of my mouth when my hair was seized, and a sickening crack echoed through the room. Grants hand slammed into my face. My cheek instantly swelled.

Grant stood over me, his eyes cold and empty.

Are you insane, Maddie? You dare curse her? Shes carrying the Montgomery heir!

Once, if Id gotten a paper cut, he would have fussed over me. Now, he hit me for another woman.

After that day, life for Jamie and me in that house became a continuous nightmare. At Tesss instruction, the house staff fed us spoiled leftovers. Our utility room was tiny, freezing, and without heat in the winter.

One night, freezing, Jamie cried and shook me awake. Mommy, Im hungry.

I tried to sneak to the kitchen for food. Tess caught me, screaming that I was stealing from the pantry.

That night, in the twenty-degree cold, Grant locked me outside in the garden for the entire night.

Shivering violently, I repeated my mantra in my head: Just hold on. One more surgery. Then everything will be fine.

The doctors had confirmed it: one final bone marrow transplant, and Jamie would be cured. I endured the humiliation, focusing only on that goal.

But I never imagined Grant would deliver the final, lethal blow.

The day before the surgery, I noticed the staff was packing up suitcases. A terrible premonition hit me. I rushed to find Grant.

He was discussing the plans with the same casual air hed use to talk about the weather.

Tess wants to give birth in London, and the company needs to expand overseas. Were moving tomorrow.

A cold dread washed over me. What about Jamies surgery tomorrow?

Grant waved it off. Ive already found a suitable new donor for Jamie. The surgery will proceed as scheduled.

Dont worry. Once I settle the overseas business, Ill be back for you both.

I immediately called Jamies doctor. The doctor confirmed the surgery had been canceled. And there was no new donor.

I charged back to Grant, hysterical. Why did you cancel the surgery? Are you trying to kill Jamie?

He was instantly annoyed. Maddie, can you stop being dramatic? Youre just looking for a reason to stop us from leaving!

To ensure he wasn't delayed from flying out with Tess, he ordered his security to lock me and Jamie in the downstairs wine cellar.

A sudden, sharp ring of my phone snatched me out of the memory. I thought it was my daughter, Stella, calling for a bedtime story, and snatched it up.

Instead, I heard Grant Montgomerys frantic, tortured voice on the line.

Maddie, theyre saying theyre saying Jamie is gone