My Baby's Blood, Your Hell

My husband, Steven Garrett, was always "busy" overseas. So I thought I'd surprise him with a visit.

Instead, I found him shacked up with my best friend, Peggy Shane. That day, my heart snapped—I filed for divorce and let my family set me up with someone new.

Two years later, I bumped into Steven outside the hospital.

He ripped the prenatal report from my hands. "How dare you cheat on me! You think you can play me?"

I laughed, cold and sharp. "We're divorced, Steven. Who I'm with now? None of your business."

Steven Garrett yanked my wrist. "I never signed anything. You're still my wife."

Peggy Shane cut in, all dramatic. "Steven, you worried about her this whole time, and she go get knocked up behind your back?"

Then she looked at me. "Steven loves you, Cecilia. How could you do this to him?"

"Shut up, you shameless homewrecker."

Steven slapped me. Hard. "You cheated on me! And you've got the guts to scream at Peggy after sneaking around on me?"

I tasted blood. "What is wrong with you? I filed for a forced divorce two years ago. Your parents even got the papers."

He wasn't having it. "Liar. I never saw anything."

The way he looked at me—pure hate. "Who's the bastard that knocked you up?"

I stared him down. "Not your problem."

Two years ago, I caught him living with Peggy. Snapped pics. Filed for divorce. Game over.

Then came Xander Zane—the guy my family picked. We got married. For once, I was actually happy.

Now I was pregnant, barely holding on, and not about to waste another breath on these two.

I turned to leave, but Steven stepped in front of me. I glared. "We're done. Back off, or I'm calling the cops."

"She's bluffing," Peggy scoffed. "If she really called the police, everyone'd know she cheated. Her family would be humiliated. I bet she found out you were back and now she's trying to pin the baby on you—just to get your inheritance."

That pushed Steven over the edge. He kicked me. Hard.

"Shameless! You cheat and expect me to raise someone else's kid?"

Pain ripped through me as I hit the pavement, winded and speechless.

Like a lunatic, Steven dragged me into an alley.

I fought back, but I was too weak. Desperate, I pulled out my phone to call for help.

He snatched it and slammed it to the ground.

Watching it shatter, my stomach dropped.

Peggy smirked. "Steven, you can't let that baby be born. You'll be the joke of all Levaerom."

Terrified, I tried to run, but Steven yanked me back by my hair before I even made it two steps.

"You shameless woman," he spat. "I wasn't even gone that long, and you're already knocked up by some loser? I'll kill you!"

I hit the ground hard, barely able to breathe. "The baby's Xander Zane's. If anything happens to me, he'll make you pay."

I never wanted to drop Xander's name—but I was out of options.

Steven froze. "Bull. Everyone in Levaerom knows Xander's basically a coma corpse. What, he knocked you up from a hospital bed?"