My Pain Had a Plot Twist

That photo hit me like a slap across the face.

"A baby?" I stared at Kent, my voice raw. "Kent, is it true?"

He looked away and snatched the phone from his friend's hand.

"Don't listen to that crap. They're drunk and messing around." He shot his friends a glare. "Get out."

They left laughing.

The celebration in the living room never missed a beat.

Then Violet's sweet voice drifted through the door.

"Kent, come cut the cake!"

A flicker of irritation crossed his face.

"Clara, they were joking. Don't take it seriously. Why are you always so sensitive?"

Just like that, the blame became mine.

"A joke?" I laughed as tears streamed down my face. "Having your 'girl bro' teach me how to be a mother is a joke?"

"What else would it be?" he shot back. "You think it's real?"

The door cracked open, and Violet poked her head inside.

She'd changed into a clean dress and wore an innocent, worried expression.

"Clara, are you okay? They told me you..." Her eyes turned red. "It's all my fault. I shouldn't have done something so dangerous. I'm sorry. Don't blame Kent."

She sounded apologetic, but every word drove us farther apart.

"See? Violet already apologized," Kent said immediately. "She didn't mean anything by it."

"Enough!" I snapped. "Violet, get out! Kent Fenton, I want a divorce!"

"Divorce?" Kent let out a laugh. "What are you throwing a fit about now?"

"I'm not throwing a fit!" I struggled upright, pain making the room spin. "I've had enough. I want a divorce!"

I reached for my phone on the nightstand.

I wanted to call the police.

Call my family.

Kent's expression darkened.

He grabbed the phone before I could.

Then he slammed it onto the floor.

The screen shattered.

"Divorce? Don't even think about it." He grabbed my chin, his eyes cold. "I'm telling you right now—you'll be my wife for life. Don't even try to run."

His grip felt strong enough to crush my jaw.

"Kent, don't. You're hurting Clara." Violet stepped forward, playing peacemaker. "She's just upset. Don't fight with her."

Kent shoved her aside, pulled a bank card from his pocket, and threw it at my face.

"There's five hundred thousand in it. Consider it compensation on Violet's behalf. Behave yourself and stop talking about divorce."

The edge of the card scraped my cheek.

One last humiliation.

He thought money could pay for my pain.

For my dignity.

I looked at him, then at the "pitiful" Violet standing beside him.

All I felt was disgust.

I shoved him away and crawled toward the door with everything I had.

"Help... help!"

Kent caught my ankle and dragged me back.

"Looks like I've been too nice to you." His eyes turned icy.

He pulled a tie from the drawer and bound my wrists to the headboard.

Then he locked the bedroom door.

Outside, I heard him say, "Violet, go have fun with them. I'll have a talk with Clara."

There was satisfaction hidden behind Violet's concern.

"Don't be too hard on her. Clara is still Clara..."

Their footsteps faded away.

I was left alone in the cold room.

In the middle of my despair, I spotted something under the bed.

Something I'd dropped before.

An ultrasound photo.