After I Stopped Loving Him

The next morning, I didn't rush to deal with Jackson's scandal at work. Instead, I went to the hospital for a check-up.

The doctor, looking somber with my results in hand, confirmed the baby wasn't likely to make it.

My health wasn't great, my medication history had impacted the pregnancy.

And the drenching rain last night only made things worse. I was advised to schedule a termination procedure for the following week.

After the appointment, I headed to the office to sort out the mess Jackson left.

As fate would have it, just as I pushed open my office door, there sat Emily on the couch.

Dolled up in her smoky makeup, she broke into a saccharine apology as soon as she saw me.

"Zoe, Jackson and I got carried away last night. It was all the booze-talking. Please, don't take it to heart."

"I'm so sorry for the hassle... Thanks for looking after Jackson these past years..."

"Now that I'm back, you won't have to..."

I cut her off with a chuckle, "Two years hardly count as 'years.'"

Her face fell slightly, and I asked flatly, "What do you want now?"

Her eyes, enhanced by brown contacts, roamed over me, settling on the ring on my finger.

"Zoe, that ring you're wearing, it matches the one Jackson has. I think it's time you gave it back."

She stepped forward, reaching for my arm. I was already on edge, and in my struggle to keep her from discovering the secret beneath the ring, I accidentally struck her face.

Emily exploded, wielding her brand-new Hermes like a weapon, aiming for my head.

The metal clasp gashed my forehead, blood slowly blurring my vision.

A piercing sound filled my ears.

I raised my hand to strike back, only to be restrained by a firm grip from behind.

That once-familiar voice, now harsh and foreign, warned, "Zoe, lay a finger on her and see what happens."