~Chapter Four ~

Not sure where I was going, all I knew was that I bolted out of his office bawling my eyes out while Kayla watched me run past her.

I sped away from the building, tears blinded me as I gripped the steering wheel.

My whole body trembled from the weight of what just happened- his cold words, how he threw me out like some wet dog, the humiliation.

How did we get here? How did I let it get this bad?

The anger in my chest tightened, and merged with the hurt until I could barely breathe. I wiped my tears, my heart raced faster than the engine as I flew through the streets. Maybe if I drove fast enough, I could outrun the pain.

But then it happened-lights, and a deafening crash, the world spunned in an instant as my car somersaulted, I didn’t even see the ambulance.

The impact jolted me violently forward, the glass shattered on my face as I slammed my head on the dashboard and the car came back down in a heavy thud.

And everything turned pitch black, if this was death, this stillness, this silence

Then I preferred it.

***************

As my eyes flew open, the bright light sterile light irritated my retina. Everything slowly became audible, and I could hear the heart monitor. Oh no, no no….

With instincts, my hands went to my stomach, searching, feeling for any sign of my baby. It was too little to start moving, but I hoped to God he was in there.

“The baby is fine, Mrs. Miller,” I heard a calm voice beside me, and I turned to see a doctor standing by my bed.

My head pounded, and every part of me felt heavy, like it had been broken into many pieces and barely put back together.

“You just need to worry about yourself right now,” the doctor continued softly. “you need rest.”

Rest? I couldn’t rest. My mind wouldn’t stop racing. I tried to sit up, but a sharp pain shot through my arms and legs, which forced me to collapse back onto the bed.

I couldn’t focus on the physical pain because my heart was breaking all over again.

Regardless of Ethan’s newly found hate for me, I needed my husband, I needed him here.

Maybe, if he saw me like this, he’d finally come back to me. Maybe he’d realize that this wasn’t just about us anymore—a baby is involved.

And after this was over, we would tell his mother that I was carrying his child then maybe Tara would go away….for good.

But who was I kidding? The same man who wouldn’t even look at me, who had already moved on…what was happening to my life?

My fairytale marriage was nothing but a nightmare now. It wasn’t supposed to be like this.

“You were lucky to be alive,” the doctor’s voice cut through my thoughts.

“You lost a lot of blood at the scene and needed a transfusion immediately. We checked your records, and your husband was a perfect match, but….”

His words faltered for a moment. I stared at him, my breath caught in my throat as I waited.

I remember meeting Ethan at that charity function—how me pursued me so relentlessly, and wouldn’t leave till he had my number.

He was so charming, so kind back then. He swept me off my feet like I was in some kind of Disney movie. And he promised me that perfect life—the one every little girl dreams of.

“He refused to donate. He said….he couldn’t do that for his ex-wife”

I felt like I had been punched in the chest, My entire body went numb as the doctor’s voice trailed off, his explanation turned into a distant echo in my ears.

He had a chance to save me—save his child—when I needed him the most, and he didn’t.

My eyes filled with tears again, What had I done for him to hate me this much? I did everything he asked of me.

I gave him everything—my heart, my trust, my dreams. I quit my career, my passion for designing, just to be the wife he wanted.

And still, it was never enough, I was never enough.

I sobbed, my chest beared the weight of it all, and the throbbing pain in my head intensified. The bandage that held my skull together felt tight, but not as tight as the ache in my heart.

“Mrs. Miller?” The doctor voice cut through my sobs as I laid helplessly on the bed, “Are you okay?”

I managed a small nod, though nothing about me felt okay. Everything was broken—my body, my marriage, my life..

“The hospital will compensate you,” the doctor said gently. “It was their ambulance that collided with your car. You will be given…”

“we’ll take the money .”

The voice that interrupted was cold, familiar and it tied my stomach in knots.

Ethan, my husband

He was here, But it obviously wasn’t because he cared. Not to even check on me.

Ethan walked in properly, his presence filled the room like a toxic gas or a dark gloomy cloud. His eyes glanced at me briefly, cold and emotionless, as his hands rested casually in his pockets.

I barely even registered the doctor’s expression before Ethan added, “I need to talk to her. you should leave…”

The disrespect was so loud, the doctor was utterly stunned for a moment.

But after a deep sigh, he gave a small smile and left us alone. Alone with him—the man who once promised me the world, but stood before me like a stranger.

“You’ll need the money, don’t you think?” His voice cut through the silence, casual, almost indifferent.

“I mean, after we divorce and you stop leeching off of me, you’ll need something to survive on. I’d say your accident was a blessing”

The words stabbed me like a thousand needles, I just stared at the ceiling, trying to hold back the rush of emotions that rose in my chest, but a single tear slipped out and betrayed me.

“You think death is your way out, Anna? Huh?” he scoffed as he paced around in the room, then he paused for a moment,

“Even if you were dead, I’d still take your cold hands and sign those papers.”

“What did I ever do to you, Ethan?” I choked out the words, my voice quivered with the weight of the pain. “why do you ha-hate me so much?” I sniffled.

He let out an impatient sigh. “I’m not here to answer your questions. I’m here to give you a last minute warning.”

Of course. Of course he didn’t care.

His words, his presence—it felt like a punishment. I knew where this was heading, but that didn’t make it hurt any less.

“I’m covered in stitches and bandages, Ethan” I whispered, my voice shook. “Our baby…our baby could have been hurt.”

He slowly strode to one side of the bed, and I turned to face him. desperate hoping for even a glimpse of remorse in his eyes.

But there was nothing. No softness, no regret. Just the hard, cold truth.

“Y-you don’t even—“

“I don’t care if it dies,” he cut me off with a scoff

“For fuck’s sake Anna, I told you I didn’t want it.”

As if air was been knocked out of my lungs, more tears poured down my face and the saltiness stung the little bruises on it.

Maybe for the first time, this was truly it. There was no coming back from this, Ethan miller hated me--- Hated me enough to wish away our child.

And still, against all reason, I loved him. I loved him with a madness I couldn’t understand, a madness that wouldn’t let go, no matter how many times he hurt me.

“Listen,” he continued, as he leaned in closer, his voice was low and dangerous. “I’m going to make you sign those divorce papers even if I have to drag you to the lawyer myself. I’m done playing games with you, Anna.”

I didn’t even think , before he could finish his threats, the words just stumbled out of my mouth.

“I’ll sign it”

His eyes widened for the first time, caught off guard. “Huh?”

For the first time in a long time, his arrogance left. He stood there, and stared at me like he hadn’t expected me to break so easily.

Maybe he thought I’d keep fighting, and keep holding on to the scraps of what we had.

I could, I still would if he had some remorse when he walked in, but no….

“I’ll sign the divorce papers, Ethan” I repeated, my voice remained steady

“I’ll leave you..”