The Calm Before Ruin

"Letting you have Ethan is the last thing I'll do for you.

"Once we've signed those divorce papers at the courthouse, we're done. For good."

Yvette froze, but she quickly composed herself, massaging her temples and scoffing, "Cut the drama, Jayden. You're the one who wanted to marry me, remember?

"Ethan's only asking for one little thing. You've got me. Isn't it enough to grant him this?"

Her voice softened, as if she were talking down to a child, "Come on, no more tantrums. I'll get you a bigger, shinier ring, okay?"

I stopped dead in my tracks and turned to face Yvette.

"You've had your 100 chances, Yvette."

For a second, she looked lost, her face a mask of confusion. "What 100 chances?"

My fingers clenched involuntarily, and a bitter laugh escaped me.

All this time, I had put up with Yvette's hurts, clinging to a promise. A promise she did not even remember.

I brushed away a tear, steadied my shaky voice, and said, "This is where it ends, Yvette. We're through.

"Here's to you and Ethan. May you have a lifetime of love and happiness."

After those words, I could not bear to stay a moment longer, enduring Yvette's scorn.

Ethan barely held back a smirk, pretending to be worried as he said, "Yvette, do you think he found out, and that's why he's doing all this?"

At his words, Yvette's face twisted, and she hurried after me, her skirt in hand.

Her voice rose sharply, "Jayden! You knew I was pregnant all along, didn't you?

"So you said yes to marrying me just to make a scene, to let everyone know I'm carrying someone else's baby, right?"

It hit me like a bolt of lightning, shattering the fog in my mind.

Pregnant?

Yvette had just lost her virginity to Ethan yesterday. How could she be pregnant already?

An icy realization washed over me, and a heart-wrenching thought took hold.

Yvette had been with Ethan long before. They had been sneaking around behind my back!

I was the fool, spun in their deceitful game.

'Hah. I get it now. I see how it is. I was blind all this time,' I seethed inwardly.

I whipped out my phone and dialed my people. "Yeah, get over here, now!"

Ethan looked at me, startled. "He's not calling the press, is he? Yvette just managed to get rid of them!"

Before I knew it, Yvette slapped my phone out of my hand.

Her nails raked my face, drawing blood that welled up instantly.

My heart clenched in wave after wave of pain.

I held my chest, the pain excruciating. Yvette, as if blind to it, pointed at my nose and yelled furiously, "Jayden! It was just one night. Are you trying to destroy me?"

Her words pounded on my nerves like a relentless hammer, and I inhaled sharply. "I don't want any part of your mess with Ethan! Let go of me!"

My defiance sent Yvette over the edge. She clutched my collar in a vice grip and hauled me toward the water's edge.

Before I knew it, my head was submerged, the lake's icy grip clawing at my nostrils, flooding my lungs, and stealing my breath.

Yvette's hands were relentless, dunking me again and again. "You think you can just walk away? What about the baby I'm carrying? There are plenty of witnesses who saw you come into the room yesterday.

"I don't care. That child is yours to own up to!

"Jayden! Apologize! Admit you're wrong! Promise you won't leave me!"

My lungs screamed for air, my throat burned with the taste of blood. With a violent cough, it spewed forth, disappearing into the murky depths.

I clenched my jaw, refusing to give her the satisfaction. Yvette's eyes flicked to a small boat nearby, her expression contorted with rage as she squeezed my throat.

"Looks like I've been too soft on you. You've forgotten your place."

She dragged my limp body to the boat, snatched the rope from the stern, and bound my hands.

"I'll release you when you come to your senses."

Her high-heel slammed into my back with a vicious thud.

Splash!

I plunged into the depths.

The water embraced me, crushing the last pockets of air from my lungs.

I fought against the relentless tide, but it was no use–the water was unforgiving.

"Think about what you've done while you take your little swim," she sneered.

As darkness closed in, the love that once lit her eyes twisted into a savage grin.

Just as her fingers reached for the boat's switch, a team of armed Soldati burst onto the scene.

Their leader fired, the shot ringing out perilously close to Yvette's hand.

"Freeze!"