I woke up with swollen eyes and a pounding headache. The weight of last night’s betrayal pressed against my chest. I reached for my phone, fingers trembling, and called Jax. No answer. I tried again. Still nothing.
Maybe we could fix this. Maybe there was still something worth saving, and I was being reckless by calling my mother. I was torn. Maybe he could choose me if he learned that I knew the truth—maybe I was delusional to even think about this.
I exhaled sharply, wiping my face. Enough. I had already made my decision. And him not answering my call when I needed him only proved that I wasn’t his priority. I had noticed it before—how he would drop everything to run to Tania whenever she called, even when we were in the middle of something. I had told myself it was nothing. But now, I realized—it was everything.
I stopped calling him. I grabbed my coat and headed to the hospital. It was time to end this before I let him ruin me any further.
The hospital smelled of antiseptic. My steps were steady as I walked inside. I kept my head high, pushing forward.
Then I saw them. Tania. Jax. Together. Of course, that is why he wasn’t answering my calls.
Tania was clinging to his arm, her body angled toward him as if he were her entire world. He leaned in slightly, murmuring something that made her laugh softly. Her hand rested on her stomach, a subtle but possessive gesture.
Jax’s expression was warm, attentive—the way he used to look at me. But now, his focus was entirely on her.
My breath hitched.
As if sensing my presence, Tania turned first. Her eyes flicked to mine, and for a moment, something unreadable passed across her face. Then came the slow, practiced smile, the kind that carried just the right amount of concern laced with triumph.
Jax followed her gaze, his body tensing the moment he saw me. His expression flickered—shock, then something unreadable. Guilt? Annoyance? Whatever it was, he masked it quickly.
I felt frozen in place, as if the walls were closing in around me.
Tania was the first to speak. “Lorraine? What are you doing here? You should’ve called Jax if you weren’t feeling well.”
I kept my face blank. “He wasn’t answering.”
Jax finally looked at me. “Oh, my phone was dead. I would’ve come if I knew. What’s wrong, baby?”
I nodded, barely breathing. “It’s fine. I just came for some medicine.”
Jax gestured to Tania. “I was accompanying her for her prenatal checkup. It’s for my brother. Mom asked me to.”
I forced a smile. “Of course. Family first.”
“Let’s talk later,” he added, lowering his voice. But he didn’t let go of Tania. “I’ll make it up to you.”
I didn’t respond. Just turned away, pretending I hadn’t heard. As they disappeared into the doctor’s office, I stood frozen in place. Then, a voice from inside.
“The baby is perfectly healthy.”
Jax’s response was instant. “That’s a relief. I want to make sure everything is perfect for our baby.”
Our baby. It was his brother—but come to think of it, maybe it wasn’t his brother’s baby after all?
I walked out. That was it. The final straw. There was no way I’d let him break me over and over again.
An hour later, the procedure was over. The baby—gone. I felt a bit sad and guilty about my unborn child, but it was better. I cannot bring a child into this world where his father had betrayed me.
I wasn’t feeling well and still needed rest but I decided to just go home. I sat in the back of the taxi, staring at my reflection in the window. I felt hollow. Empty. But I had no tears left to cry. I only had plans to work.
By the time I reached my building, my mind was set on one thing—leaving. Ending this chapter of my life for good.
Then I saw him. Jax. Talking to a man in the shadows of the alley behind our building. The man looked familiar, and the way they spoke made my skin prickle.
I slipped behind a parked car, listening.
“Didn’t I tell you not to show your face to me?” Jax’s voice was sharp. “Haven’t I paid you enough?”
The man scoffed. “It’s not enough. If you don’t keep paying me, they’ll find out you orchestrated the accident that killed your brother.”
My breath caught. He had his brother killed?
Jax stiffened. “Keep your voice down.”
“Then keep the money coming.”
I stumbled back, heart racing. Jax. A liar. A user. A murderer. I couldn’t believe I had loved a man like him.
I pulled out my phone and dialed one of our staff, my voice barely a whisper. “I need you to investigate Jason’s accident. Get me everything you can.”
