Beckett soon followed the doctor into the office to pick up the prenatal report. Delaney, however, made an excuse about needing to use the restroom—and then just stood there.
Once they were both inside, she finally drawled lazily, “You can come out now. You've been standing there watching long enough. Haven’t had your fill yet?”
I stepped out without a word, my expression blank.
Seeing that I stayed silent, Delaney grew impatient. Her gaze sharpened with mockery.
“What, no shame left at all? You knew Beckett never loved you, yet you still insist on holding on to the title of Mrs. Shaw?”
I let out a cold laugh. “And you don’t find it shameful to be the other woman, fully aware he’s married?”
Delaney’s lips curled into a smile. “I never think of myself as a mistress. I think the person who is truly unloved in a marriage is the mistress.”
She lightly patted her belly, then added smugly, “ I’m pregnant with his child. So I’d say it’s time for you to step aside.”
From the moment I married Beckett, I knew he had a woman he considered his one true love. But I never thought she’d hold such an unshakable place in his heart.
The pain that shot through my chest nearly brought me to my knees. My grip tightened instinctively on the report in my hand.
And that’s when Delaney saw and snatched it from me.
She scanned the conclusion and burst into wild, gleeful laughter.
“Cancer, huh?” she said. “So, what do you think? Will you live long enough to give birth to that bastard baby, or are you both going to die together?”
Her laughter rang in my ears like sirens and something in me snapped. I stepped forward and slapped her, hard.
She staggered back dramatically, then fell to the ground with a wail.
“Evelyn, I didn’t mean to keep this from you! But I’m pregnant! How could you hit me like that?”
Huge, dramatic tears rolled down her cheeks. And before I could even process her performance, I felt a violent shove from behind. I lost my balance and my belly slammed into the cold, hard floor.
Beckett grabbed my arm and yanked me up. I was still dazed, still trying to process the shock, when he yelled in my face.
“Are you out of your mind?! How could you push Delaney? She’s pregnant!”
I stared at him, stunned. Before I could speak, Delaney cried out, “Beckett, please don’t fight with Evelyn because of me. I shouldn’t have asked you to come to the appointment with me. This is my fault. As long as the baby’s okay, she can slap me.”
She looked like a tragic heroine—eyes glassy, lower lip trembling.
Beckett’s face twisted with anger. His voice was low and sharp when he turned to me.
“You’ve crossed the line, Evelyn,” he said coldly. “Apologize to Delaney.”
The sound of it shocked even me. I laughed. Bitterly.
“You want me to apologize?” I said, my voice hoarse. “Beckett, do you know what this is?”
I shoved the cancer report into his chest, my hands shaking. My throat tightened with emotion.
He didn’t even look at it.
He tore the paper in half and glared at me like I was the problem.
“I don’t care what that says! All I know is you’ve gone too far. God, you’re pregnant, Evelyn! How could you be cruel to other woman?”
Tears finally slipped down my cheeks, hot and silent. My whole body trembled—not from pain, but from sheer fury.
Beckett saw me crying and for a moment, his expression softened. His tone shifted to something gentler.
“Alright… can you just apologize? I know I haven’t been giving you attention these past few months. But I promise I’ll make it up to you once the baby’s born.”
Then, without a trace of shame, he pushed me toward Delaney.
She looked back at me, eyes glinting with smug triumph.
I looked hard at Beckett, wondering how the man who once swore he loved me could change so drastically the moment Delaney came back. Had he forgotten every promise he made the day we stood at the altar?
I drew in a long, steadying breath.
“No,” I said quietly. “I won’t apologize. And Beckett… you’ve truly disappointed me.”
Then I turned and walked away.
As I walked away,Beckett’s face darkened.For a brief moment,panic flashed through his eyes.He started to take a step toward me—but then Delaney clutched her stomach and groaned.
“Beckett,it hurts,”she gasped,then forced out a teary plea.“But Evelyn’s more important.Go after her.”
Beckett hesitated only a second before shaking his head.“No.Don’t worry about her.Right now,your condition is what matters most.”
He glanced down the hallway where I’d disappeared and I heard him mutter,“Evelyn’s just throwing a tantrum.She’s eight months pregnant,she’ll be terrified if I divorce her.I’ll talk to her later.”
Then he scooped Delaney up and carried her into the hospital room.
When I got home,I stood outside for a long moment,staring at the house that was supposed to be ours.Since Delaney returned to the country,Beckett had barely been home.I could no longer feel the warmth this house once held.
I walked to the wall,took down our wedding photo and tossed it straight into the trash.
I didn’t want to leave a single trace of myself here—not one reminder of what used to be.
I packed up all our couple items and stuffed them into a trash bag.I was heading down the stairs with it when the front door suddenly swung open—Beckett walked in,carrying Delaney in his arms.
When he saw me standing silently by the door,a flicker of guilt flashed across his face.
“She’s not feeling well after what you did,”he said,like that explained everything.
“Not feeling well,huh?”I scoffed.“Then why isn’t she in a hospital?Why the hell would you bring her here?Do you think our home is some kind of recovery center for mistresses?”
“Watch your words,Evelyn,”he snapped.“I’m trying to fix things here.Whether you like it or not,Delaney is staying in this house.”
Delaney chimed in,her hand moving to gently rub her belly.“It’s true,Evelyn.There’s nothing going on between Beckett and me.I’m only staying for the baby.”
She said it just to provoke me.
I could feel the anger rising in my chest,bubbling and hot.I looked at Beckett and said,firm and loud,“This is our house,Beckett.I don’t want her living here.”
Beckett paused.His face twisted like he was conflicted.But then Delaney grabbed his hand and placed it on her belly.
Beckett’s heart melted instantly.When he turned back to me,his voice was full of irritation.“That’s enough!You’re pregnant too—how can you have zero empathy?”
“You pushed Delaney.I’m just trying to take care of her.If you don’t want her here,then maybe you should leave.”
His words hit like a slap.
I stared at him,the blood draining from my face.My whole body trembled.
And then I said,as clearly as I could,“As you wish.”
Tonight would be my last night in this house.After this,I’d be gone—and Beckett Shaw would be a closed ###Chapter in my life.
With my decision made,I grabbed the trash bag in my hand and marched out the door.
Delaney’s voice followed behind me,laced with mock pity.
“Don’t fight because of me,Beckett.Look,she’s so angry she even took down your wedding photo.”
Beckett’s voice rumbled low with frustration.“She’s just being dramatic.Once she realizes I’m not playing her game,she’ll come crawling back.”
A tear slid down my cheek.I walked into the cold night and threw the trash away along with very last shred of love I had left for him.
