My Husband Begged Me to Stay

When I woke up, the ceiling was white. I blinked against the harsh light, my body aching like it had been dragged through fire. My hands instinctively moved to my stomach.

Flat. Empty. And then I remembered. I had begged him. Begged Cameron not to do it. Not to take away the one thing that gave me hope.

“Please,” I had whispered, clutching his arm. “Please don’t do this. I’ll leave. I won’t ask for anything. Just let me keep the baby.”

But his eyes were like glass—cold, unfeeling.

“I can’t have anything competing with the child Sofia’s carrying,” he said. “You weren’t even supposed to get pregnant. That was a mistake. And I don’t want your child.”

I had cried until I couldn’t breathe. Screamed until my voice gave out. But none of it mattered. I was strapped to that hospital bed. And they took it from me.

I didn’t even get to say goodbye. Now, I lay there—hollowed out and too tired to move.

Cameron was gone. Of course he was. Not even a shadow of him remained in that white room. Only a nurse sat at the side, checking my vitals like I was just another chart to tick off.

“You’re free to go when you’re ready,” she said softly. But nothing in her voice sounded like kindness.

I couldn’t mourn. I wasn’t allowed to. I’d been stripped, piece by piece, until there was nothing left to grieve with.

Still, I got up. My legs trembled beneath me, but I stood. Pulled on my clothes. Buttoned up the pain.

I was going to face him. And then I saw them. Right outside the hospital doors, standing like a perfect picture.

Cameron and Sofia were laughing. He had his hand on her belly, beaming. “I still can’t believe it. You’re pregnant. We’re having a baby.”

A sharp pain twisted through my chest.

They didn’t see me at first. I walked past them slowly, quietly, like a ghost. Then Cameron spotted me.

“Oh, great. You’re awake.” His voice was casual, light. “Can you grab some fruit for Sofia then come back here? She’s craving mangoes… and we still need to stay here for a while.”

I blinked at him. Just hours ago, he forced me to abort our child. Now he was asking me to run errands for the woman carrying his real baby.

People nearby were watching. Whispering. Pity in their eyes. Disgust in their mouths.

“There’s the neglected wife.”

“She’s ruining a happy couple.”

“Poor Sofia, having to deal with that woman still hanging around.”

I nodded. Didn’t say a word.

Then I turned and walked away. But I didn’t buy mangoes.

I walked straight to the tallest building Cameron owned.

Fifty-two floors of cold, gleaming glass. It reflected the city like a mirror—shiny on the outside, empty within. Just like him. I didn’t wait for my uncle. Even if he came… what would be the point? There was nothing left to save.

I stepped into the elevator and pressed the top floor. The ride up felt endless, yet far too quick. The moment the doors opened, I climbed the last flight of stairs to the rooftop and pushed the door open.

The city below looked tiny, a mess of streets and moving cars. Far in the distance, the river curled around the skyline like a silver ribbon, glinting faintly under the overcast light.

I stood at the edge.

Inside the hospital, Cameron finally noticed I was not coming back. At first, he brushed it off—maybe I’d taken longer than expected. Maybe I was sulking. Again.

But when a staff member rushed into the lobby, breathless, everything changed.

“Sir,” she said, almost afraid to speak, “I think… I think someone’s on the rooftop of the tower.”

He didn’t react.

“Sir, it’s a woman. In a white dress. She’s standing on the ledge. One of the guards said she looked pale. Shaking. It might be—”

“What? Who? Why do I need to care—”

“I think it’s your wife.”

Upon hearing that, Cameron felt something in his chest he never felt before. Then, he ran. By the time he burst through the rooftop door, I was already there on the edge.

“Alicia!” His voice cracked from the effort, the fear.

I turned slowly. It was the first time we’d looked each other in the eye in weeks. Maybe longer. And in that one glance, something in him shifted.

His breath caught. His face fell. He looked… terrified.

“Alicia,” he said again, softer this time, like if he moved too fast, I’d vanish. “Stop! If this is one of your schemes to get my attention, then I’m here. Get down now—”

“I already did everything,” I replied, my voice calm. “I gave up everything. And you still took more.”

His throat bobbed. “We can fix this. We’ll talk, we’ll—”

“No,” I said. “There’s nothing left to fix. You killed my parents. You killed my baby! I begged you to let me keep our child and you didn’t even flinch. You celebrated with your mistress while I was lying in a hospital bed, mourning the only thing I had left.”

“I know I’ve made mistakes,” he said, voice rising with desperation. “I know I’ve hurt you. But this isn’t the way. Don’t… don’t jump.”

I saw the panic flare in Cameron’s eyes.

I smiled softly.

“I’m done, Cameron. Be happy because this is the last time you’ll ever see me.”

And I jumped.