Chapter 2

Zach paused when he heard me, but his anger grew stronger. He slapped me hard across the face.

A wave of discomfort surged through me. I bumped into the corner of the table, and a sharp pain hit me instantly.

"You're seriously making jokes like that to defend him?" Zach stared down at me with a sneer.

"Celia, we wouldn't be in this mess if you had even a fraction of Sue's kindness. Aren't you afraid that if you keep babying Shawn, he could end up being a killer one day?"

Every word Zach said pierced me like a thousand needles.

I shook like a leaf, with sweat running down my hairline. I could smell blood filling the air as it ran down my legs.

Zach grabbed Sue's hand and reassured her. "Don't worry, Sue. I'll get you the best doctor. You won't have any scars."

I crumpled to the ground like a pile of mush, while Zach was fixated on the little blister on Sue's hand.

Sue glanced my way and suddenly yelled, "Oh no! Zach, look! What's wrong with Celia? That's blood. She's bleeding heavily!"

A large puddle of blood pooled beneath me. I gently pressed my stomach, sensing the tiny life inside slipping away.

Zach went stiff. "You're pregnant?"

Without thinking, he moved in closer, reaching for me.

Sue hurried over. "Celia, you had no idea you were pregnant? How far along are you? How could you be so thoughtless…"

Zach's expression changed in a flash. He sneered with a sarcastic grin. "Celia, where'd you get that blood pack? We haven't exactly been spending time together lately. Or is this kid not even mine?"

His words slammed into me like a lightning bolt.

I stared at him in disbelief. "Zach, how can you even say that? Don't you remember? Last wedding anniversary—"

"Zach, that's way out of line!" Sue interrupted, looking upset. "You can't drag Celia's name through the mud no matter how angry you are! Come on, enough drama. Let's get her to the hospital."

She crouched to help me get back to my feet. I shoved her aside, and she fell into my pool of blood, bracing herself with her hands on the ground.

Sue grimaced, her face twisting in pain. "That really hurts…"

Zach looked crushed. He quickly carried her, her face turning serious. "Quit pretending! You're just after Shawn's hand, aren't you?"

I clenched my jaw. "Since you already know that, why not just give it back already?"

Zach kicked the severed hand my way. "I'm not letting Shawn off the hook for what he did to Sue. He has to kneel and apologize!"

The tiny hand rolled across the floor, dark and grimy from the blood and dirt smeared on it. Yet, I pushed my way forward, cradling it against my chest as if it were something invaluable.