A Quiet Goodbye

"We've gotta keep her calm for now. How else are we gonna get her to raise our baby? Everything I've done is to make sure your kid inherits Lousteau Corp—don't you get that?"

The air left my lungs. I staggered back.

He didn't just destroy my pregnancy—he wanted me to raise theirs.

Ten minutes ago, he was holding my hand like I was his whole world.

Now he was in the next room, plotting to make me a babysitter for his mistress's kid.

If I hadn't heard it myself, I wouldn't believe this was the same guy I gave eight years to.

I heard them shift on the bed—Brigitte's giggle, sticky sweet.

"The doc said it's safe to, y'know... help with the stress in third trimester... mm! You're terrible!"

I stood there, frozen. Let the pain sink in deep.

Then I turned and walked straight to the doctor's office.

***

"Dr. Jourdain, just be straight with me. The baby... there hasn't been movement in a while, right?"

I was weirdly calm. Guess I was already numb.

He adjusted his glasses, hesitated. Then gave in.

"Mrs. Lousteau... I wasn't supposed to say anything without Mr. Lousteau's go-ahead, but... your baby passed two months ago."

He knew the risk. Knew how dangerous it was to carry a stillborn that long.

But they let it happen—just to break me down, get me to raise someone else's kid.

I met his eyes.

"I need a favor. After the surgery, tell him I died on the table."

His face crumpled. "Alright. I'll do it."

As I stepped out of the office, there they were—Brigitte waddling down the hall, Elroy right next to her, playing the doting dad.

Our eyes locked. Elroy froze, then bolted over like his shoes were on fire.

"Babe, I've been looking everywhere. You shouldn't be walking around alone—it's not safe."

The red marks on his chest said otherwise. Still fresh. Still glowing.

I smiled, cool and sharp. 'Yeah, not safe—for you, if I find out what you've been doing,' I said inwardly.

"I wasn't feeling well. Just had a quick question for Dr. Jourdain," I said, brushing past him.

Brigitte followed, eyes full of venom. Her smile was all sugar-coated spite.

"Mrs. Lousteau, your husband really worries. You were gone two minutes and he was already panicking."

Could've gagged on the sarcasm.

Before I could speak, Elroy snapped, face stormy.

"What's it to you? Back off."

He tried to cover the affair with attitude, but the guilt in his eyes as she walked off gave him away.

I just saw a charm hanging around her neck. It looked like mine... but it wasn't.

Back in my room, I looked it up.

Mine was a knockoff. Useless. Worse than useless.

Brigitte's was the real one.