Caroline's POV:
I awoke once again in a hospital bed, feeling an agonizing pain in my stomach. Instinctively, I brought a hand to my stomach, only to be horrified when I realized that there’s no longer a bump.
Screaming, I sit up with tears in my eyes. “Where’s my baby?” I gasp as nurses crowded around me, trying to calm me down. “What happened to my baby?”
The head doctor came up beside me, clipboard in hand. I prayed that he would tell me that my little boy had survived whatever had happened, but the sorrowful look on the doctor’s face had my heart plummeting.
“Caroline,” he murmured in a comforting voice, “You went into forced labor when you fell into the lake. We tried to save your son but… he didn’t make it. I’m so very sorry.”
I was overcome with grief and let out a devastated sob. I was inconsolable, my entire frame shaking as I cried into my hands. I couldn’t believe that my baby was dead. The precious bundle of joy I had loved for six months was gone.
I feel so alone. All I want is my husband beside me to hold my hand and tell me that everything is alright. I just wanted someone there to love me, but instead I was surrounded by the pitying gazes of the hospital staff.
“Where’s William?” I asked, hot tears rolling down my cheek. I didn’t care if he cheated on me. All I wanted was for him to hug me and tell me that he loved me. “Please, just tell me where he is!”
The doctor hesitated. “Caroline, I don’t think that’s a good—”
He stopped once he saw my tear-stricken face. “Please,” I begged him, shaking with sobs. “You don’t understand. I just want to see him.
One of the nurses spoke up, her voice quivering with emotion. “He’s in room 304,” she said softly. “But I really don’t think you want to go there right now.”
The doctor nodded in agreement. “Caroline, there’s something else we need to tell you.”
I didn’t care to hear it. Whatever it was, it couldn’t be anything worse than losing my baby.
I exited the bed and stormed out despite the protests of the nurses. In tears, I found the room the nurse had said William was in. Just as I was about to enter, I heard one of the nurses saying something nearby.
“Yeah, she went into premature labor just after she fell into the water,” the young nurse told her colleague. “We were able to save the baby just in time. The parents are very happy.”
“I heard what happened to that other woman,” the other nurse replied. “It’s so unfortunate. I heard her husband didn’t come to check on her even once.”
Unable to believe what I was hearing, I threw open the door to see Sophia holding a bundle in her arms. Beside her was William, smiling down at the baby before he noticed me with surprise. “Caroline?” he gasped, looking both startled and even angry that I interrupted this special moment with his “family”.
Before he can even say anything else, I’m in tears again. I hated how much they looked like a real family together right then, all the while my little boy had just died and I had no one there for me. How could William just leave his own wife and unborn child so cruelly? I could barely even stand to look at him.
“How could you?” I screamed, utterly devastated. “How could you do this to our family? Our baby is dead and you’re with your mistress instead of your wife?”
William was overcome with shock. “Dead?” he whispered, finally noticing my flattened belly for the first time. “He died?”
I choked out a sob. “Of course you don’t know!” I cried. “You couldn’t even be bothered to visit me! All you care about is her! You love her more than you ever loved us!”
I gave Sophia an angered look. As much as I wanted to hate her, I was more devastated by how my own husband had betrayed me. “You know what?” I scoffed. “You can have him!”
The man who had hurt me so horribly tried to approach me, as if he somehow cared. “Caroline, I—”
“I can’t believe I loved you!” I yelled, storming out of the room. I needed to get away from both of them. Just looking at them made me sick to my stomach. All I wanted to do was go home and grieve the loss of my baby boy.
I was barely out of Sophia’s ward before I felt a sharp pain in my stomach. I put a hand on my belly, before a torrent of blood spilled from my mouth. I knew instantly that it wasn’t from my miscarriage, and before I knew it, I had fallen to the floor.
Doctors rushed over to me in a panic. I cried out in pain as I was brought to a gurney. I was barely able to make out what anyone was saying. In the cacophony, I heard the words “terminal”.
My eyes widened. I strained to listen carefully, praying that it wasn’t true.
One of the doctors was talking to the nurses, frantic.
“She had stomach cancer. It’s spread too much to be removed.”
I choked out a sob, wishing that this was all some sort of nightmare. Reaching out, I grasped his hand, and he looked at me in surprise. Although I couldn’t say anything, the pleading in my eyes was enough to get him to understand.
The doctor lowered his head. “I’m sorry,” he rasped. “If the cancer gets any worse, you’re going to die within six months.”
Caroline's POV:I had never once faced the fear of death until now. It wasn’t until I lost my baby that I realized I didn’t want to die. I didn’t want it to end like this. Now, in my darkest moment, the only person I wanted to rely on was my husband.My life has been a happy one for the most part. My childhood was wonderful, I made so many great and supportive friends, and I even met the man of my dreams. All that I wanted was to start a family, and now that it’s been ripped from my hands, I realize that I still have so much left to live for. William and I had been so happy together. At least, that’s what I thought at first. Was that all a lie? Had Sophia torn us apart, or had I done something wrong to cause our marriage to crumble?Either way, I couldn’t bear to face William after what he had done to me. He’d completely and utterly betrayed me and abandoned our baby. I didn’t know if I would ever be able to love and trust someone again like I had with William. I felt as though he ha
Caroline's POV:I nearly stumbled over my own feet entering the police station. I entered the building, about to rush to the front desk. I could hear a slew of pings from my phone, no doubt all from William trying to find out where I was. We were supposed to be registering for our divorce, but my father came first.“Excuse me,” I announced to the woman at the front desk. “I think there was some kind of mistake! I’m here to see Thomas West?”The woman furrowed her brow before seemingly recognizing the name. “Oh! You must be Caroline,” she greeted. “Is there a problem?”“Yes, I was told he was arrested,” I explained, wringing my hands nervously. “There must be some sort of misunderstanding.”She shook her head. “No misunderstanding here,” she replied. “Your father has been arrested for an outstanding debt he owes to a government entity.” My lips parted in shock. “What does he owe?” I asked, my hands shaking as they gripped the counter. “Whatever it is, I’ll cover it. I swear.”The fron
Caroline’s POV:William stopped as soon as he saw me, his hand clutching Sophia’s while Sophia cradled her baby on one arm. I struggled not to burst into tears at the sight and instead clutched the ring in my hand. “Caroline…” William murmured, his face a mix of agitation and confusion. “What are you doing here?”The saleswoman noticed William and smiled brightly. “Oh, Mr. Anderson! Good to see you. Are you here to pick out something for your fiancé? Let me just finish up helping this young lady sell her ring and I’ll be there to help you.”My eyes widened at her words. “Fiancé?” I whispered, shocked. “You’re already marrying her?” William opened his mouth, but nothing came out. The saleswoman seemed to finally read the room and quickly ducked out, leaving me with my husband and his mistress. Sophia looked between us, her cold gaze settling on the ring in my hand. “William? What’s going on?” she asked, her brow furrowed. “Why is she selling her jewelry? Is your family in financial
Caroline’s POV:The hand over my mouth smothered any hope of a scream. I struggled, but my body didn’t obey. Silent tears streamed down my face as I felt their hands on me, invading every inch. The world around me blurred and faded, sounds warping into cruel echoes.“She’s not even fighting back! I told you, she wanted this!” “Perfect. Hold her down. She’s all mine now.” My mind screamed in terror, but my body remained frozen, helpless. The horror of what was coming brushed me, leaving me with nothing. I couldn’t move, couldn’t fight, couldn’t cry out for help. I was lost, sinking into darkness. What was the point? I was theirs now. They were claiming me in all the awful ways they could. I lost something to them, something I would never get back. That broke me. But then, faintly, a voice broke through the haze. A shout, distant, but growing closer. Through the fog of fear, I barely made out a figure running toward us. His presence wasn’t just a silhouette but a force that cut thro
William’s POV:“William, honey,” Sophia started, inspecting her bare neck in the dim light of the morning rays. “I want a new necklace. Can you take me to the jewelry store?”I smiled softly and wrapped my arms around her supple waist, admiring her flawlessness in the mirror. “Of course, baby. Anything for you”If Sophia wanted something, I was more than ready to give it to her. This had been the same way with Caroline early on in our marriage, but she didn’t matter anymore. Sophia was the only one for me.I also just needed a distraction from the past few days. After all, with Caroline trying to back out on our divorce and take money from me, I’d been extremely frustrated as of late. She really thought she could trick me like that, siphoning money from me for herself and a father who deserved exactly what she got. I brought her to the same jeweler where I’d purchased Caroline’s ring only a couple years or so prior. In light of my struggles with Caroline, there were bad memories atta
Caroline’s POV:Hearing Martin’s soft-spoken words sent a flurry of mixed emotions washing over me. He wanted me to rely on someone? As I was silently deliberating what to even say to that, my phone started to ring. I curiously glanced at the caller ID to see that it was James, William’s personal assistant. Giving Martin an apologetic look, I said, “I have to take this call. Do you think you could give me a few minutes?”Martin’s smile was kind and sweet. “Of course. I’ll go get us some coffee, alright?”As soon as he was gone, I reluctantly glanced down at the Caller ID. I didn’t want anything to do with William right now, but I had no choice. Sure enough, there was James’ snippy tone on the other end. “Mrs. Anderson?” The title made me wince with pain. It didn’t feel right to be called his wife after his unfaithfulness to me, even if we were still married. “Please, just call me Caroline. What can I help you with?”“I’m just here to remind you that Sara Anderson’s birthday party is
Caroline’s POV:I don't know how William knew about Martin, but for Martin’s sake, it was best that my husband knew as little about him as possible.“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I shot back, my arms crossed and gaze hardened with defiance. A scoff left William’s lips as regarded me with contempt, backing away. “We haven’t even finalized the divorce, and yet you’re already seeing other men,” he sneered. “Some woman you are.”My lips parted in surprise as anger sparked somewhere in my core. How dare he? “Excuse me?” I snapped sharply, offended by the accusation. “What are you even talking about?”“Don’t play dumb!” William scowled, his features twisted with a deep frustration. “I saw someone bringing you to his car. You already have a new boyfriend?”William witnessed Martin carrying me into his car? From the anger exuding from William, I knew that for Martin’s sake, it was best to play dumb and pretend I didn’t know him.“I collapsed because of low blood sugar, William
Caroline’s POV:“What are you doing here, Martin?” I inquired in a hushed tone, huddling close to him to avoid eye contact with William. “You know people here?”Martin’s eyes flitted cautiously between William and I. “I came here on behalf of my parents. They’re friends with the Andersons and wanted to discuss business dealings with William.” Then, rather unsubtly, he asked, “Aren’t you getting a divorce?”An answer was trapped in my throat. I tried to smile, but just like my heart, it came off bitter and hurt. A sympathetic look crossed Martin’s face and he put a hand on my shoulder, sending a wave of comfort through me. “Do you want to leave? I can get you a cab if you—”Like a raging bull, William stormed over to us and seized Martin by the wrist, his gaze cold. My lips parted in shock while Martin sent William a look of indignance. “Get your hand off of me,” he snapped, wrenching his wrist away. Despite his warm demeanor and charming features, it was clear he wasn’t helpless again