When A Quiet Woman Snaps

Nobody cared I was bleeding. Lina kept up the waterworks while Jackson wrapped her in his arms.

"You... are you okay, Isabella?" he asked eventually, voice as fake as a soap opera.

I backed away, terrified, instinctively shielding my stomach.

"Isabella... I'm sorry... I didn't mean to..."

Lina's sniffles filled the room. She took a few slow, dramatic steps, sucking all the air out of the space.

Jackson's voice turned cold. "Apologize to Lina, and we'll pretend this never happened."

Not a request. A verdict.

Tears blurred my vision as I stared at him.

This man... was this really who I promised forever to?

Lina ducked behind him.

"I didn't mean to make you guys fight," she whispered, like I was the psycho ruining the peace.

Then she took off like she was the one who'd been broken. Jackson watched her go—then followed.

Right before walking out, he looked back. "You really let me down. Don't wait up. I'm not coming home."

His eyes were ice.

I stepped outside, only to realize—I'd left my phone. Awesome.

My knees felt like they were on fire as I limped back to Lina's room. Just as I raised my hand to knock, I froze.

"Oh, Jackson... you should really take off your wedding ring..." Her voice was breathy, soaked in lust.

"Leave it on," he growled. "The taboo's the turn-on."

Clothes rustled. Moans followed.

I couldn't breathe. My chest caved in.

"She still thinks you'll stay with her," Lina giggled. "But you only want me, right?"

"Don't mention her."

The headboard slammed into the wall.

He took her like he'd lost control. "Only with you do I feel alive."

"What do you like about me, huh?"

"Everything," he panted. "You're softer. Sweeter. You listen. You're the one I want."

Lina moaned, dragging it out, bed creaking beneath them.

"I'll give you a child," she gasped. "A real heir. Not like her—can't even get pregnant."

Their moans filled the room, each one stabbing me like a knife.

Three years ago, he almost died. I signed the donor papers. Gave him a kidney.

When he needed blood, I gave until I passed out.

Told myself—if he makes it, I've still got a shot at life.

I was wrong.

After he recovered, the whole underworld was under heat. His accounts froze during the probe.

Too proud to beg the family for help—said he had to rebuild "his own empire" alone.

So I stepped in.

Waited tables at shady casinos. Scrubbed blood off gym floors. Mixed drinks for gangsters in sketchy backrooms.

No sleep. Barely ate. Just kept hustling for the "clean money" he needed to bounce back.

He never knew how bad it got. I never wanted him to.

All I ever wanted... was for him to look at me one day and just say, 'Thanks, Bella.'

But now, he was kissing someone else.

I slipped off my wedding ring—the one with our initials carved inside.

Set it down on Lina's stupid white wicker table.

I couldn't love him anymore. Couldn't believe in him.

I was leaving.

And I was taking my babies with me.