ze for a

ne, she tapped the answer button. On cue, Fiona's voice came throu

respond when Clara suddenly grabbed his collar and press

his grip tightenin

After three years of marriage, sh

was determined to push him until he broke. And with someone like Fiona-sensitiv

action Clara w

a kiss traveled faintly through the phone.

ady: "Ethan.? Are you

he finally cursed under his breath and ended the call. The next

ere shifted

fuse she couldn't control. The darkness i

came and went constantly. Anyone could s

c se

topping. "Start something and thin

e moment Clara tried to slip from his gr

erything

ad never been like this-raw, over

she made it back into her apa

r. A tie hung loosely over the arm of the sofa. H

controlled-even in i

ot to

trying to prove something. Every mo

ra stifle

hard, a sharp pain shooting up her

didn't

A cold, sharp pain twisted deep in her lowe

hand against his ch

readable. Instead of pulling back,

egnant-but she couldn't tell him.

she wasn't sure she or

tell anymore what was pain and what was overw

ught that silent

back the throbbing ache in her abdomen.

pening frustration. He knew he shouldn't keep complicating things b

ly irritate

y while Clara remained curl

in the aftermath of Ethan's recklessness, sh

t all color

ack, about to speak. But the moment he saw

r immediately. "Why

ngs were between them. But this time, Ethan had sensed her resistance

dn't a

and away-then froze. Etha

blood on t

rcing her voice to steadiness, h

ly stared,

convinced him, he suddenly

s widened i

His voice came out low and intense: "Clara,

, she sta

and carried her straig

of fear, but exhaustion.

he pregnancy-she just hadn't e

ents efficient. He started the engine, revers

instructing the hospital to

hen-he'd fig

the doctor to prepare the operating room. I never intended to keep this baby.

r wife pregnant. And no woman wants her

someone like Fi

growled, his voi

silent. Truth be tol

gh the night, halving the usual

ff were alr