lia

table, my swollen belly exposed, the rhythmic thump-thump of my baby' s heartbeat echoing through the

er traced a tiny leg on the screen. "Your baby is strong, healthy. A fighter, just like th

what would be the impact on the baby?" The words tasted like ash, a confession of a desperate thought that still haunted t

an induced labor. The baby is fully formed, viable. They would be born, simply premature. It would be a living child, Aurelia." Her

ter seeing that strong heartbeat? The desperation that had driven me to consider it felt like a monstrous part of myself, a dark shadow I was trying to escape. Th

of guilt and protective rage, a familiar figure materia

rolled, was raw, desperate. He lunged

uch me!" I hissed, clutching my belly protectively. My vo

ll pregnant. Thank God. You didn't do anything foolish." He tried to pull me tow

certainly not going anywhere with you." I dug my heels in, resisting hi

ts from potential business risks. Kaleigh's name being on it was a technicality. You're blowing this out of proportion."

pent my entire pregnancy whispering sweet nothings in Kaleigh's ear? Was it a technicality that you were sleeping in her bed, while I was alone, day after day, week after week?" My voice rose, raw with yea

w them?" His grip loosened, his eyes wide. He hadn't e

ies, your convenient excuses. I chose to see you as the man I loved, not the calculating monster you

lea. "Aurelia, I... I made mistakes. Terrible mistakes. But our child... this changes everything. We ca

. But this baby will have nothing to do with you or your corrupted world. You forfeited that right the

you will never touch them." With that, I turned and walked away, not looking

ia accounts, and instructed Ms. Davies to cease all contact with Jacob' s legal team. I want

concern. "Aurelia, Jacob has refused to sign the divorce pap

"He wants the baby,

atening to fight for full custody once the baby is born. Given his influence, his w

drag my name through the mud, paint me as an unfit mother. The thought of him taking my child, raising them in

take?" I asked, my voice barely a

with sympathy. "He could easily drag this out. And during that tim

ght was unbearable. He would use my child, sculpt them into Kaleigh's image, complete his perfect, perverse family with his true love. I pictured my innoce

ms. My resolve hardened, clear and cold. I would make him agree to the divorce. I would make him

e disappear entirely. An