Back then, she had grabbed my sleeve just like this, making it look like I'd pushed her down the stairs and caused her miscarriage.
My heart lurched. I was about to warn Nanette, but Abigail was already pulling the same trick—tilting her head back and letting herself fall.
My heart shot into my throat.
This time Abigail wasn't framing me, but in my past life, Nanette had stayed by my side until the very end. I already considered her a friend.
Thankfully, at the last second, Nanette reached out and grabbed Abigail by the collar.
She turned to me. "Is this how she framed you back then? Used this baby to ruin you, made sure you'd never have children?"
I gave a heavy nod.
Nanette looked at Abigail with contempt. "Stooping to something this filthy—seems like you really don't want this baby after all."
"Fine then. I'll take care of it for you myself. Save you the trouble of pinning it on me."
With that, Nanette let go, and Abigail tumbled toward the road.
A car was coming. It couldn't swerve in time. The front bumper slammed into Abigail's stomach.
Spencer came sprinting from somewhere in the distance, his eyes red and wild.
He clutched Abigail's blood-soaked body, glaring at Nanette with pure murder in his eyes. "Nanette James, you're vicious!"
"Someone like you doesn't deserve to be a Gilbert bride!"
"Even if you got on your knees and begged, I wouldn't marry you now."
Then Spencer turned to me, his tone leaving no room for argument.
"Grace, go home and get ready. You're marrying me in three days."
Before I could refuse, the ambulance arrived.
Spencer climbed in after Nanette, didn't even spare me a glance.
I watched the ambulance disappear down the street. "Nanette, this is exactly what my life used to be like."
"You saw it all. Do you still want to marry him?"
Nanette's expression went distant. It was a long moment before she answered. "There's one last thing I need to do. If he still disappoints me after that, I'll give you my answer."
She pulled out her phone.
"Dad, come with me to the hospital..."
I understood Nanette, I really did.
Because I'd been the same way once—unable to let go.
Spencer always believed Abigail over me. He'd misunderstood me more times than I could count.
My friends told me to divorce him.
But I'd loved him since we were kids. I just couldn't bring myself to leave.
So I kept telling myself he was just temporarily blinded. Kept convincing myself to forgive him, over and over.
I knew better than anyone—matters of the heart, you have to figure out on your own. No one else can help you.
So I didn't push. I just said calmly, "Alright. Whatever you need to do, I'll go with you."
By the time we reached the hospital, Abigail was out of danger and awake.
When Spencer saw Nanette and me walk into the room, he immediately pulled Abigail behind him, on guard.
"Nanette, Abigail lost the baby because of you. I haven't even settled that score yet, and here you are waltzing in!"
Pain flickered in Nanette's eyes. "Spencer, I wasn't trying to hurt her."
"She was trying to frame me. That's the only reason I acted."
Abigail's voice came out in a wounded whimper. "Spencer, I didn't..."
"I only wanted to apologize to Miss James in private. To beg her forgiveness, to ask her to stop pressuring you."
"But she wouldn't accept it. She called our baby a bastard, said it didn't deserve to be born."
"Spencer, maybe I'm just not good enough for you. Maybe we should end this..."
Spencer panicked. He pulled Abigail into his arms and pressed a tender kiss to her forehead.
"Don't say stupid things. You're the only woman in this world who deserves me."
