Chapter 7
The house was empty]
Ethan and Sophia were gone []
It was just me, standing there, staring at the bloodstain on the floor.
I tried to piece together what had just happened-[]
But all I could remember was Ethan shoving me aside in a panic.[]
He’d scooped Sophia into his arms and rushed out,
But not before giving me a look that was cold, and full of something I couldn’t name.]]
Suddenly, 1 felt frozen.[]
I sank to the ground and wrapped my arms around myself.[]
knew right then-
I’d screwed up.[]
I wasn’t good enough to be the kind of wife Ethan wanted.[]
I pulled out the divorce agreement I’d drafted a long time ago.]
My tears hit the lines I’d written so carefully.[]
By the time Ethan came back, I’d already pulled myself together.[]
I was ready to face whatever storm was coming.]
But he just looked at me, calm and unreadable.]
“Did you push Sophia?“]
His eyes were dark, impossible to read.[]
I didn’t know if he wanted the answer to be yes or no.]
So I dodged.
“How’s the baby?”
“Gone.“1
He said it like it was nothing.]
But it hit me like a brick to the chest.
“Did you push her?]
He asked again
I figured he was too numb to feel the pain.]
Too heartbroken to do anything but find someone to blame]
And I couldn’t tell him it was all a setup.
A good wife wouldn’t throw her husband into an emotional nightmare like that.]
Wouldn’t make him face the idea that the mother of his child had faked it all.]
So this was mine to carry ]]
I shut my eyes tight
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But the explosion 1 expected never came.[]
Ethan was quiet
Too quiet.]
I opened my eyes, unsure what to expect.[]
He wasn’t angry.
His face was twisted into something between a laugh and a cry.[]
And then–he actually laughed.]
He pulled me into his arms.]
“I knew it,” he said, like he’d won something.[]
“I knew you still cared about me.“[]
“You
were jealous. You were mad I was giving her attention.“[]
“Lillian, I’m so damn happy right now.“]
Each word made my skin crawl.]
So that’s what this was?]
Sophia had just been a pawn in some twisted test to see if I still loved him.[]
Even the loss of a child didn’t phase him-]
Because he was just happy I’d finally snapped.[]
I stared at the joy on his face,[]
At the smear of Sophia’s blood on the hem of his coat.
He looked like a devil.[]
And yet-
I didn’t push him away.]
Somewhere in the back of my mind, something told me I couldn’t.[]
He leaned down and kissed my forehead.[]
“Lillian, I know I’ve put you through hell lately.“[]
“But don’t worry–Sophia’s out of the picture now.”
w.“1
I’m yours. Always.“]
His voice was gentle
But every word sent shivers down my spine]
My mind and body were at war []
Something deep inside me screamed.
Alert! Alert! Violation detected First punishment initiated []
A searing pain hit my chest.[]
I doubled over-
And coughed up a mouthful of blood
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Leard Ethan shouting my name, panicked.[]
But all I felt was pain. And exhaustion.
I closed my eyes.]
