The Instant I Left, He Begged for More

I woke to swollen eyes and a relentless headache pounding through my skull. The heaviness of last night’s betrayal weighed down on my chest. With trembling fingers, I reached for my phone and dialed Harold’s number. No response. I tried again. Still silence.

Maybe there was hope. Maybe we could fix this mess. Perhaps I was rushing by calling my mom. What if, once he knew I’d uncovered everything, he’d choose me? Or maybe I was fooling myself.

I exhaled sharply and wiped my face. Enough. I’d already made up my mind. His refusal to answer when I needed him most was proof—I wasn’t important to him. I had seen it before: how quickly he dropped everything when Kate called, even if we were in the middle of something. I’d convinced myself it was nothing. But now, I knew the truth. It was everything.

I stopped dialing his number. Slipping on my coat, I headed for the hospital. It was time to end this before he destroyed me any further.

The antiseptic scent hit me as I entered. My steps were steady, head held high as I pushed forward.

Then I spotted them—Kate and Harold. Together. That explained the unanswered calls.

Kate clung to his arm, her body turned toward him as if he were her whole world. He leaned in, whispering something that made her laugh softly. Her hand rested possessively on her belly.

Harold’s gaze was tender and focused—the way he used to look at me—but now, all his attention was on her.

My breath caught.

Sensing my presence, Kate was the first to turn. Her eyes locked on mine, a flicker of something I couldn’t read crossing her face. Then, a slow, practiced smile—a mix of feigned sympathy and quiet triumph.

Harold followed her gaze, his body tensing the moment he saw me. Shock flashed across his features, followed by something else—guilt? Annoyance? Whatever it was, he quickly masked it.

I felt rooted to the spot, like the walls were closing in.

Kate spoke first. “Pam? What are you doing here? You should’ve called Harold if you weren’t feeling well.”

I kept my expression blank. “He didn’t pick up.”

Finally, Harold looked at me. “Oh, my phone died. I would’ve come if I’d known. What’s wrong, babe?”

I nodded weakly. “Nothing serious. Just needed some medicine.”

Harold gestured toward Kate. “I’m here with her for her prenatal appointment. It’s for my brother—Mom asked me to come.”

I forced a smile. “Of course. Family comes first.”

“Let’s talk later,” he said quietly, not letting go of Kate’s hand. “I’ll make it up to you.”

I didn’t reply. I turned away, pretending not to hear. As they disappeared into the doctor’s office, I stayed frozen.

Then a voice floated out from inside.

“The baby is perfectly healthy.”

Harold’s response was immediate. “Thank God. I want everything to be perfect for our baby.”

Our baby. It was supposed to be his brother’s child—but now I wondered if it really was.

I walked away. That was it. The breaking point. There was no way I’d let him keep tearing me apart.

An hour later, the procedure was done. The baby was gone. A pang of sadness and guilt hit me, but I knew it was for the best. I couldn’t bring a child into a world where its father had betrayed me so deeply.

Though exhausted and still weak, I chose to go home. I sat in the back of the taxi, staring blankly at my reflection in the window. Hollow. Empty. All my tears were spent. All I had left was a plan.

By the time I reached my building, my mind was set on one thing—leaving. Closing this chapter for good.

Then I saw him. Harold, speaking with a man in the shadows of the alley behind the building. The figure looked familiar, and the tone of their conversation sent chills down my spine.

I slipped behind a parked car, straining to listen.

“Didn’t I tell you to stay away?” Harold’s voice was cold, cutting. “Haven’t I paid you enough already?”

The man scoffed. “Not nearly. If you stop the payments, everyone will find out you planned your brother’s accident.”

My breath caught. He had killed his own brother?

Harold tensed. “Lower your voice.”

“Then keep the money coming.”

I stumbled back, heart pounding. Harold—liar, manipulator, murderer. How could I have loved someone like this?

My hands shook as I pulled out my phone, whispering into it. “I need you to look into Jason’s accident. Get me every detail you can find.”