When her eyes opened again, the sharp bite of antiseptic flooded her nostrils.
Trudy turned her head instinctively, scanning her surroundings.
Zachary's face filled her vision, so haggard it was barely recognizable.
His voice came out dry and cracked, like a man holding back pain. "Trudy, you're pregnant."
"Why didn't you tell me sooner? Our baby... we almost lost it."
Trudy lowered her gaze, and the realization that her child was still alive sent a fierce wave of joy crashing through her.
But her expression betrayed nothing. Her voice was ice. "I'm getting rid of it."
Zachary stared at her in disbelief. "Why?"
"We're divorced. Why would I carry your child?"
"You— how can you be so heartless?" Zachary sputtered, his voice beginning to shake.
"This is the baby we waited five years for! And you want to just toss it away like it's nothing? Trudy, you have no heart!"
"I have no heart?"
Trudy let out a quiet, scornful laugh, as if she'd just heard the most absurd joke.
"Why do you think I never got pregnant all those years? You really don't know the reason?"
Zachary's chest tightened under her accusing stare.
His eyes darted away, and he changed the subject without thinking.
"Trudy, you must be hungry."
"I made you your favorite clam chowder myself."
Trudy looked at the steaming bowl in his hands, and for the first time, the sheer absurdity of it all hit her full force.
She was allergic to shellfish.
Five years of marriage, and Zachary didn't even remember that.
But all she said was, "I'm not hungry."
Watching her refuse to budge, a flash of irritation crossed Zachary's eyes.
He clenched his jaw and pulled a document from the bedside table.
"If you're not hungry, then sign this first."
Trudy's gaze swept across the page and landed on the bold heading: Jewelry Design Copyright Transfer Agreement.
Her stomach dropped. "What is this supposed to mean?"
Zachary's voice was even, matter-of-fact. "Three months ago, you anonymously submitted a jewelry design to the Greenleaf Competition and won first place. I had the entry registered under Serena's name."
He pushed the agreement into her lap.
"You're just a housewife with a plagiarism scandal hanging over your head. Putting a first-place award on you would only make people question the integrity of the competition."
"But Serena is different. She's the head of the company's design department and the daughter of the nation's wealthiest man. First place belongs with her. Still, just to be safe, sign this so there won't be any legal complications for Serena down the road."
Trudy's eyes burned red, her whole body trembling. "That's my work. What right do you have to hand it over to Serena?"
"I won't sign this."
She raised her hand and pointed at the door. "Get out. Get out!"
Zachary looked at her, and the cold in his eyes could have frozen a person solid. "You can refuse."
"But you won't like the consequences."
"I'm sure you don't want to stand by and watch Matron Grace die."
Trudy's teeth ground together. "You animal."
Matron Grace shared no blood with her, but in Trudy's heart, the woman meant more than any birth mother ever could.
That was why Trudy had dragged Zachary to meet her when they first got married.
He'd promised then that he would treat Matron Grace like his own mother.
Five years later, he was using the old woman's life as a bargaining chip.
Trudy stared at him, unblinking, until a single tear slipped from the corner of her eye.
"Fine. I'll sign."
Her hand shook as she wrote her name, each stroke deliberate.
Zachary glanced at the signed agreement, and satisfaction finally surfaced in his eyes.
"Get some rest."
"The full product line for this jewelry collection launches today. Pre-sale numbers are strong, so in three days there'll be a celebration gala honoring the original designer, Serena."
"Though you did contribute to the design, so you're welcome to attend."
With that, he turned and left.
Trudy pulled the phone she'd hidden beneath the blanket and pressed stop on the recording.
She cradled her stomach, and the tears came freely.
She had told Zachary she wanted to terminate the pregnancy on purpose. If she hadn't, he would have forced her to end it anyway, all for Serena's sake.
The only way to protect her child was to act like she didn't care, to make Zachary lower his guard. Only then did she stand a chance of keeping this baby alive.
She bit down hard, jaw locked, and swore that Zachary Simmons would pay for every last thing he'd done.
