Trevor always used condoms. He often insisted on it, claiming the pills would only harm Elyse's body. Last night slipped out of control, though, and he did not bother to use one, so he prepared the pills for her by morning.
Rage burned through Elyse as she hurled the box straight into the trash.
That was the scene that greeted Trevor when he stepped inside. His expression tightened. Without saying anything, he crossed the room, picked the box out of the bin, opened it, then pressed out a pill and extended it toward her. "Take this," he said.
Meeting his eyes with a cold stare, Elyse refused to even glance at the pill. "I'm not taking it," she said. "Trevor, do you really hate the idea of me carrying your child that much?"
Shock flashed across his face, and his fingers curled tighter around the pill. "You actually want a baby?"
Every shift in his reaction did not escape Elyse, and her voice carried a sharp edge. "What's the problem? You've always claimed you like kids, haven't you?"
"You're still too young. If you get pregnant now, you have to pull back from your job. What about all the endorsement deals you've signed? And both of us are tied up with work all the time. Who's going to raise the child?"
"Stop feeding me those hollow reasons," she retorted. "Answer me properly. If I walk away from my career just to have your child, will you accept it?"
For a moment, Trevor simply looked at her, uncertainty and struggle written all over his face. Reaching for her hand, he placed the pill into her palm and softened his tone as he tried to persuade her. "Now isn't the right moment. Just wait a little longer for me."
Something heavy pressed down on Elyse's chest, making each breath feel tight. She pulled her hand back from him. "Forget it," she said, her voice turning cold. "If you don't want a baby, then there won't be one."
Without another word, she shoved the pill into her mouth and forced herself to swallow. The bitterness spread instantly, and tears slipped down her face without a sound.
Seeing that, Trevor's expression eased. He lifted his hand, wanting to wipe her tears away, but she jerked back.
Right then, his phone started ringing. His hand stalled in the air. After a brief hesitation, worry about something urgent from his team pushed him to answer the call.
"Hello, is this Mr. Trevor Blake?" the voice on the other end asked in a rush. "Your wife just collapsed in the obstetrics department. You need to get here immediately."
The words made Trevor pull the phone away as he checked the caller ID, only to realize it was Joanna Kirk's number.
Concern swept across his face in an instant. Turning around, he rushed toward the door while saying through the phone, "I'm heading there now. Please make sure she..."
The door clicked shut, cutting off the rest of his words. Elyse remained rooted in place. His wife? The obstetrics department? Those words should have belonged to her and Trevor, yet now they pointed to another woman. He already had a child with another woman. What place was left for her in all of this?
A sudden wave of nausea twisted Elyse's stomach. She covered her mouth and hurried into the bathroom. With nothing in her stomach, all she could bring up was the bitter taste of the pill she had forced down earlier.
Shock crossed Anthony's face the moment he arrived to pick her up and saw how drained she looked. "What happened to you?" he asked, worry clear in his voice.
Too worn out to go into details, Elyse only shook her head. She pushed her suitcase into his hands. "We're leaving," she said, her voice faint. "Bring a few people later to move the rest of my things."
Stunned by her words, Anthony grabbed the suitcase and followed after her. "You're seriously leaving Captain Blake for good? I thought things would calm down between you two after last night. How did everything fall apart like this?"
Since Elyse had an important ad shoot lined up for the day, she pressed a warm towel against her eyes the moment she settled into the car.
Anxious thoughts ran through Anthony's mind. No one understood better than him how deeply Elyse cared for Trevor. Back when they first got together, the company tried to force Elyse to end things with Trevor. In response, Elyse had slammed a termination contract and a blank check to cover the penalty onto the CEO's desk.
"Anthony, I'm filing for divorce," Elyse said, her tone stripped of emotion. "Don't ask me about it right now. I don't feel like explaining. Just find someone to draft a divorce agreement. I'll walk away with nothing."
