After the fifty-million-dollar stock transfer went through, I didn't want to go back to the hospital or home. I checked into the first hotel I could find.
Sometime past midnight, a deafening crash jolted me awake.
Joe kicked the door in.
His face was ashen with rage as he shoved his phone in front of me.
“Sarah, explain this.”
On the screen was a photo of me leaving The Riverside Club, Hal Whitney standing beside me.
The angle was deliberate.
I had only glanced back over my shoulder, but the shot made it look like we were kissing.
The caption was even worse——
【Delgado Group CEO's wife spotted with mystery man; cracks in the billion-dollar marriage?】
My first instinct was relief. At least it wasn't about the stock sale.
Joe read my expression the wrong way entirely.
“Sarah, have you no shame? I've been so good to you, and you go and cheat?”
I fired back before I could stop myself：“And what about you? Lillian's pregnant! Are you going to stand there and tell me that baby isn't yours?”
Joe's face went white, then mottled red. Cornered, he lashed out：“How do you know that? You had someone following me?”
“Like you're any better? You're the one carrying some other man's kid!”
“Lillian already told me. You booked an abortion to get rid of that bastard in your belly!”
I looked up in disbelief：“You'd rather believe a woman who threw you away than trust me even once?”
Before I could finish, Sunny grabbed the ashtray from the nightstand and hurled it at me.
“Mom, you're disgusting!”
“Why did you cheat? Do you know everyone's laughing at me for having a slutty mom?”
I pressed my hand to my forehead, blood seeping between my fingers, and stared at the boy I'd nearly died giving birth to.
“You think this is Mommy's fault? What about your father? He cheated too!”
“Why won't you take my side? Why won't you stand up for me?”
Sunny looked at me with pure revulsion.
“You're just a housewife. How can you compare yourself to Dad? He's a CEO of a public company.”
“Besides, Dad knew Aunt Lillian first. You're the homewrecker!”
Every word was a knife, driven straight into my chest without mercy.
Joe didn't correct him. Didn't tell Sunny who the real homewrecker was.
He grabbed my wrist with a stone-cold expression, squeezing so hard something cracked.
“We're going to the hospital right now. You're getting rid of that bastard.”
I fought him with everything I had, screaming myself raw.
“Joe, I didn't cheat! This baby is yours!”
“If you don't believe me, wait until it's further along and get a paternity test!”
I had considered ending this pregnancy, yes. But I never wanted my child branded a bastard.
Joe let out a cold, scornful laugh.
“You love me so much, right? If it were really mine, you'd never have the heart to get rid of it.”
“Sarah, I won't believe a single word out of your mouth.”
Reasoning with him was pointless. In desperation, I turned to my son.
“Sunny, you've told me so many times you wanted to be a big brother, remember?”
“The baby in Mommy's tummy is your little brother or sister.”
Sunny glared at me with disgust.
“The thing in your belly is a bastard! A dirty kid!”
“Aunt Lillian's gonna give me a real brother or sister!”
I searched his eyes, desperate for even a flicker of hesitation.
There was only loathing.
He was Joe Delgado's son through and through. Just as heartless as his father.
The lights in the operating room were blinding.
When the cold instruments entered my body, the pain radiated from my abdomen through every nerve until there was nothing else.
My child was sentenced to death before it ever had a heartbeat.
When I opened my eyes again, I was in the master bedroom of a villa.
My ankles were wrapped in cloth-padded shackles. The door was bolted from outside. The windows had been nailed shut.
I was a prisoner.
A mute housekeeper was the only person I saw, bringing meals once a day.
She also forwarded me videos and photos from Lillian.
Joe set off fireworks all night long just to make Lillian smile. Sunny stood at a podium at school, announcing proudly that Lillian was the mom he loved the most.
None of it mattered to me. The only thing on my mind was getting out.
When the housekeeper came with my meal again, I finally found my chance.
I pressed the sharpened handle of a spoon to her throat and told her to let me go.
Her hands trembled as she unlocked the shackles.
I whispered an apology, struck the back of her neck to knock her out, took a fistful of cash from her pocket, and ran.
On the road, I flagged down a cab and gave the driver Jordan's address.
Jordan's eyes went red the second she saw me.
“Sarah, you...”
“No time to explain. Is everything ready?”
Jordan steadied herself and handed me an envelope.
Inside was a divorce certificate stamped with an official seal and a one-way ticket to Norway.
“I saw those stories about you online a few days ago.”
“I've been trying to reach you nonstop. I was about to call the police.”
I looked at her with all the gratitude I couldn't put into words.
After years of friendship, she didn't ask what had happened. She just choked out, "Take care of yourself."
I nodded and walked quickly into the dark.
At the same time, Joe felt a sudden, inexplicable pang in his chest while sitting beside Lillian.
Then the villa's house manager called.
“Mr. Delgado, your wife... she's escaped.”
He barely hung up before his secretary's call came through.
“Mr. Delgado, the stock price just hit limit down across the board...”
