Chapter 4

I couldn't care less about his excuses.

"I don't care. You don't need to explain."

By then, the stabbing pain in my abdomen was getting worse. I clutched my stomach, breaking out into a cold sweat as the color drained from my face.

On the drive back, Carter's phone rang again. It was Chloe.

"Mr. Hayes, could you please come pick me up from the pool? My outfit is... kind of revealing, and I feel really uncomfortable calling an Uber. Pretty please? Just this once..."

Unable to resist her breathless, coquettish whining, Carter smiled softly.

"Alright, alright. I'm on my way."

He hung up, reached over, and kissed the back of my hand.

"Babe, let's go pick up Chloe together. That way, you won't get any crazy ideas."

"Carter, you can't go. My stomach hurts so badly. Take me to the ER right now! Hurry!"

His face darkened instantly.

"Faith, can you stop being so dramatic? I invited you along so you wouldn't be suspicious, and now you're pulling this sick routine?"

"I'm not playing games! Take me to the damn hospital! I'm not joking, Carter, I'm in agonizing pain!"

"Stop faking it. Your acting sucks."

Suddenly, I felt a warm, heavy rush of fluid trickling down between my thighs.

"Carter, I'm pregnant! The pain is unbearable—it could be a miscarriage! We have to go to the hospital right now!"

Carter didn't believe a single word. He glared at me, pure fury in his eyes.

"You usually make up nonsense, but now you're lying about being pregnant?"

"We've been married for four years without using protection once!"

"You couldn't get pregnant in four whole years, but the exact second I need to pick up Chloe, you're suddenly carrying a baby?"

His temper boiled over. He slammed on the brakes, pulling the car abruptly to the curb.

"Get the fuck out! Get out!"

"Aren't you in such a rush to get to the hospital? Dying of pain? Bleeding out? Then get the hell out of my car! You're making me late for Chloe!"

"Fine. I'll get out."

The moment I unbuckled and reached for the door, he grabbed my arm aggressively.

"I gave you too much slack, and now you think you can disrespect me whenever you want!"

"Let's get a divorce, Carter."

The word hit him like a slap. He froze.

"Divorce?"

I nodded calmly.

"Mia already had the paperwork drawn up."

He let go of my arm, staring at me in disbelief.

"Faith, you actually want to divorce me? You better think this through. No other man would ever put up with an insecure, melodramatic psycho like you."

"I've thought it through. Goodbye."

I pushed open the door and stepped out. Before both my feet hit the ground, he slammed his foot onto the gas pedal.

The sudden acceleration jerked the open door, slamming it into my body and throwing me violently onto the asphalt.

Amidst the terrified screams of pedestrians, I collapsed into a pooling puddle of blood.

Carter never looked back. He just sped away.