iable. I was pregnant. At the same time, Olivia Davis, my husb

ial joy of expecting my first child overshadow

his eyes avoiding mine. He sat on the opposit

his voice strained.

r my still-flat stomach, a nervo

" he said, the words dropping

what are you talking about? We

gaze was cold, distant. "To protect Olivia, we have to say her baby is mi

breath caught in my throat. "You want me to take the blame? To

her." He spoke as if it were a simple business transaction, a logical solu

r reputation not matter? Do my feelings not matte

ence. "It' s a difficult situation. I'

ight thing is to stand by your pregnant wife, not throw

u' re being emotional.

side me shattered. The love I had held for him for five years crumbled into dust. It was a

to leave the room

going?" I asked

ivia. She' s not

blow. He was leaving his distraught, p

ivia abroad in three days, to a place where she could give birth without any

my phone. I didn't call Liam. I

ice shaking but firm. "

ep, weary sigh. "Oh, Ava. I' m so sorry. I had a feeling

his coldness, his plan to leave with Olivia. I sobbed into the pho

am, to make him see sense. But I knew it was hopeless. Liam was completely under

him I wanted an abortion. I couldn't bring a child into a world where

eyes, which had been cold before,

low and dangerous. "You wi

"The one you' re about to declare a bastard to the who

"You are not leaving this house. You are not touch

t he was protecting our child. The hypocrisy was suffocating. He wanted the child, but only as a p

finally understood. He wanted to keep me here until it w

ered to my unborn child, "I' m so sorry. I can' t let you be born into this lie. I can'

ing choice, but it was mine. I would not let

t tray. He was acting like a concerned husband

eling?" he aske

my heart a block of ic

this. I' m just trying

' re not taking care of me. You' re holding me prisoner. You

ossing his features before he hardened them ag

or Olivia, cutting it into small, perfect slices because she had morning sickness and couldn' t stand strong smells.

y, he had looked startled, almost gui

u' re hom

ce tight. Olivia sat at the table, smil

ur bedroom, that mem

wo days," I said sud

s, I know. I was thinking... we should have a part

front. He had no idea I had already spoken to her. A plan began to form in my

y voice devoid of e

s. "Good. See? We can get through this. I still l

l. His promises were worthless. His love was a li