The Price of Their Little Princess

I was in our Aspen vacation cabin, setting up the nursery for my soon-to-be-born child, when a blizzard descended without warning.

My foot slipped, and I tumbled from the icy terrace down a steep slope, my body rolling over and over.

Lying in a pool of my own blood, I trembled as I pulled out my phone to call my husband, Caleb Hayes, who was supposedly on a business trip.

"Clara, you're being paranoid. I just brought Maya to Malibu to help her clear her head. Can you stop being so suspicious and jealous? You're due in two weeks. I'll be back, okay? Just relax."

Through the phone, I heard Maya’s delicate giggle. "With a body like that, shouldn't you be wearing a little less?"

Caleb hung up without another word.

My sister-in-law and best friend, Tessa Beaumont, found me. She held me, sobbing, as she frantically called her husband, Julian Hayes, for help.

"Are all pregnant women this hysterical?" Julian said coldly. "Don't you start with the emotional blackmail like Clara does. Caleb and I are busy with Maya's rehab. We don't have time for your drama."

Then, he blocked her.

My injuries were too severe. The rescue team couldn't reach me in time.

Even though she was six months pregnant herself, Tessa somehow dragged me into her car and drove for hours through the raging blizzard to the nearest hospital.

By some miracle, I survived. My baby did not.

The stress and exhaustion proved too much; Tessa miscarried, too.

"I want a divorce," I choked out, my eyes swollen shut from crying.

"Me too. I'm done with Julian."

We filed for divorce together.

And that was when Caleb and Julian finally lost their minds.

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1

The moment I filed for divorce, Caleb Hayes called.

"Clara, your pregnancy doesn't give you a free pass to get hysterical. I have feelings, too."

"You're an old-money heiress. You grew up around betrayal and scheming—it's all you know."

"But just because your world is cynical doesn't mean you can project that onto me. Maya is like a sister to me. She's been struggling with anxiety, and I was just helping her unwind."

"Taking care of my sister doesn't make me a bad husband. You're due in two weeks; I'll be back in time. Why are you making such a big deal out of nothing?"

Caleb spoke as if he genuinely believed he was the one being wronged.

My blood boiled. "I fell from the terrace, Caleb. I lost our child. I almost died. If that's 'nothing,' then why don't you fucking tell me what a 'big deal' is?"

"That's enough, Clara. Stop pushing my buttons with this jealousy over Maya. You know how much I care about you and our baby, but your constant aggression is just cruel."

The nerve of him, turning this back on me. If he really cared, why wasn't he here when I was fighting for my life?

I was shaking with rage. "Enough. Just come back. We're getting a divorce!"

"You need to get a handle on your emotions. You're still pregnant. I'm not arguing with a pregnant woman. Just rest up in the hospital and stop overthinking. Maya's getting hungry. I'm going to grab her some lunch."

Just as he had yesterday when I was begging for my life, Caleb calmly hung up.

Meanwhile, I sat there, the terrible finality of our child's loss crashed down on me, and my sobs tore through me.

My best friend, Tessa Beaumont, cried until she passed out. She used her mother's phone to call her husband, Julian Hayes, only for him to lash out at her.

"It takes real talent for you two to get under Caleb's skin like this. He's the most loyal guy I know."

"If you're this good at drama, you should quit your gallery job and go into acting with Clara. Maya doesn't like to be disturbed during her rehab, so stop calling."

"Call one more time, and I'm blocking all of you."

To them—to Caleb and Julian—Tessa and I were just a pair of jealous, irrational women. The loss of our children meant nothing to them.

The Montgomery and Beaumont families rushed to our side, sick with worry.

But Caleb and Julian were the only ones who never showed.

On the day of the funeral, Tessa, still clinging to a sliver of hope, tried calling Julian again. By then, he had blocked every number connected to her.

I called Caleb over a dozen times before he finally answered.

"It's not your due date yet, why are you calling again? I just got Maya to sleep, and you woke her. When are you going to stop acting like a spoiled princess?"

I forced myself to remain calm. "It's our son's funeral today. And our nephew's. I already sent you and Julian the details. Get over here. Now."

That seemed to enrage him. "Clara, are there any lines you won't cross in your jealousy? You keep talking about our son as if he's gone. Don't you have any fear of jinxing it?"

My anger was so intense it stole my voice.

Tessa snatched the phone from my hand. "No mother would ever joke about her own child!" she snapped. "The funeral is at Willow Creek Cemetery. If you and Julian have even a shred of doubt, come and see for yourselves!"