The Broken Candle

Even as Sean and Evelyn were helping me to the operating room, I kept an eye on Rowena. She saw me being held back and started her own little act, clutching her belly, claiming she needed the operating room too.

"Bennett, it's time! The baby's too big, and I can't do this naturally. I need a C-section!"

Hearing that, I turned to the doctor beside me. "The operating room is a one-patient show, right? She can't come in!"

Rowena was beside herself, bowing deeply to me in a panic.

"May, please, stop making this so hard for me! Being pregnant isn't easy! Just let me be!" she sobbed, her plea filled with raw emotion as she doubled over.

Her display tugged at the heartstrings of the neighbors, who cast doubtful glances my way.

"She's bowing to you! How can you be so cold-hearted, you jealous thing?!" they muttered.

Hidden from their view, Rowena shot me a smug grin, sure she had played her cards right to get into the operating room with me.

I fought back with everything I had, screaming for all to hear, "Rowena's carrying a stillborn! She's plotting to swap her dead baby for mine!"

That hit a nerve. Sean and Rowena's composure slipped.

However, Rowena was quick–she whipped out her phone.

"May, you're slandering me, and that's a legal matter! I'm calling the cops on you this instant!"

As she dialed, she silently mouthed a venomous, "Die, you lowlife!"

I could not help but laugh.

She thought she could call the cops on me? Did she not realize I had allies of my own?

Soon enough, the wail of police sirens filled the air from below.

The crowd around us started pressing me to make amends with Rowena.

"To curse someone's child as a stillborn, that's just vile! Say you're sorry, now!"

"Or let the cops drag you off! Who'll look after your kid then?"

They were all too eager to play peacemakers, to brush the whole thing off.

However, Rowena was not about to let it go. She pointed at me, her voice rising in a furious shout.

"Just an apology? A woman's good name is worth more than that. I want her to prove her remorse by doing a month's worth of chores at my house!"

The crowd around us even started pushing me to agree.

"Come on, it's just a little housework. Compared to spending a night in jail, it's nothing! And your baby isn't some delicate little prince or princess. Just say yes!"

I let out an icy, sharp laugh.

"Oh, sure! Like I'd fall for that nonsense!" I snapped.

The onlookers froze, shocked. "Whoa! How can you say something like that? That's really rude!"

However, I had not insulted anyone I was not supposed to. I had, in fact, promised Rowena's mother-in-law, Nancy Parker, that I would keep a close eye on her daughter-in-law.

Nancy was a force to be reckoned with, always keeping a close watch on Rowena. When Sean and I moved in, she enlisted me to help monitor Rowena, especially if she got too cozy with other men.

I had been fooled by Rowena before, thinking she was the stay-at-home faithful type. It turned out that she had been sneaking into my husband's bed!

Right before I confronted Rowena, I had messaged Nancy, telling her that Rowena's baby was a stillborn, suffocated from not being delivered on time.

Nancy should be on her way at this point.

As the cops arrived, Rowena shrieked for them to arrest me. "This wretch! She's accusing me of cheating–"

She did not get to finish. A pint-sized but spry Nancy popped up from behind the officers, yanked Rowena's shirt, and revealed a swollen belly, streaked with blue veins.