The Breaking point

chapter 1

I leaned against the headboard, wincing as another sharp pain shot through my lower back. Being eight months pregnant was no joke. The house was dead silent, its emptiness weighing on me like the walls were closing in. I glanced at the clock: 12:47 a.m. Jason wasn’t home—again.

“He’ll be back soon,” I whispered, rubbing my belly. “It’s just work. He’s stressed.”

But the excuses I had been feeding myself for months felt hollow. I couldn’t shake the growing doubt. Jason had been distant since I told him I was pregnant. Late nights at the office, endless meetings, and a coldness that felt like a stranger had taken over the man I gave everything to.

“Stop overthinking,” I muttered, swinging my legs off the bed. “You’re imagining things, Andrea. He loves you. He’s just busy.”

The ache in my back flared again as I made my way to the kitchen. I grabbed a glass and filled it with water, trying to steady my thoughts.

Fifteen years. Fifteen years of my life spent building his dream, standing by him when no one else believed in him. I left behind my family, my inheritance, my world—all for Jason. He wouldn’t betray me.

Would he?

My phone buzzed on the counter, the sharp vibration breaking the silence. Frowning, I grabbed a glass of water and picked my phone .

Unknown Number.

I hesitated before opening the message. What I saw made my blood run cold.

The first picture was Jason, unmistakably him, holding hands with a woman outside a hotel.

The second? Him leaning in, pressing his lips to hers.

The third shattered me completely: Jason, laughing, his arm around her waist as they shared some intimate moment in public.

“No… this can’t be…” My voice cracked as I scrolled through the images, each one a knife to my heart. My hand trembled, and the glass slipped from my grasp, shattering on the floor.

Tears blurred my vision as I reread the text that came with the photos:

“Here’s your loving husband. If you want more proof, come to the Belleview Hotel. Room 712.”

For a moment, I stood there frozen, my mind spinning. Jason… cheating? After everything?

“No. This is a lie. This has to be some mistake,” I said aloud, my voice shaking. But deep down, I felt the truth sinking in.

I grabbed my car keys from the counter. “I need to see this for myself. I need answers.”

The house loomed dark and empty behind me as I walked out, my heart pounding with every step.

By the time I reached the car, only one thought echoed in my mind: What will I find when I get there?

I gripped the steering wheel, my knuckles white as I sped down the empty streets. My vision was blurred from the tears streaming down my face, but I didn’t care. The pictures were burned into my mind—Jason, the man I gave everything to, holding another woman like she was his whole world.

“Pick up, Jason!” I screamed, my voice echoing in the car as I dialed his number again. For the fifth time, it went straight to voicemail. I slammed my fist against the wheel.

“You coward!” I yelled into the phone as the voicemail beeped. “You disgusting, lying cheat! After everything I’ve done for you, Jason! Fifteen years of my life—gone! And for what? So you could parade around with some tramp?”

The tears came harder, my voice breaking as I sobbed into the phone. “I gave you my inheritance, my dreams, my life, and this is how you repay me? You’re a monster, Jason! A heartless, selfish monster!”

I threw the phone onto the passenger seat, my body trembling with rage and pain. The images of him with her wouldn’t leave my mind.

“Why, Jason?” I whispered, my voice hoarse. “Why would you do this to me? To us?”

The speedometer climbed as my foot pressed harder on the gas. My chest felt tight, the weight of betrayal crushing me. I wanted to confront him, to see his face when I showed him those pictures. I wanted him to feel the same pain ripping through me.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, blinding headlights appeared on my left. A white truck. I barely had time to react before it slammed into my car.

The sound of metal crunching and glass shattering filled my ears. My body jolted violently as the car spun out of control, my head hitting the side window. Pain exploded through me, sharp and unforgiving.

For a moment, everything went silent.

Then, I heard voices—faint and distant. Sirens wailed in the background, growing louder.

“Ma’am, stay with us!” someone called. A man’s voice. Strong, urgent. “We’re getting you out. You’ll be fine.”

I tried to respond, but the words wouldn’t come. My body felt heavy, my vision darkening.

“Her vitals are dropping! We need to move fast!” another voice said, panic lacing their tone.

Darkness pulled at me, and I let it take me.

When I opened my eyes again, the world was blurry, the lights above me harsh and cold. I was lying down, the sterile smell of a hospital surrounding me. The beeping of machines filled the air, steady and rhythmic.

“She’s awake,” a voice said softly. A woman.

I tried to speak, but my throat was dry, my voice barely a whisper. “What… happened?”

The nurse leaned closer, her face kind but serious. “You were in a car accident, ma’am. You’re in the hospital now. You’re safe.”

My mind was foggy, memories of the crash rushing back. I blinked, trying to clear my vision. That’s when I heard the doctor speaking softly to another nurse nearby.

“…her abdomen was pierced during the crash. The baby didn’t survive. We’re prepping for surgery to remove it…”

The words hit me like a freight train. My baby…

“No…” I whispered, tears spilling from my eyes. “No, no, no…”

The nurse was by my side instantly, holding my hand. “Ma’am, please try to stay calm. We’re doing everything we can.”

“My baby…” I muttered, my voice breaking.

Images of Jason flashed in my mind—his smile, his laugh, the man I thought I knew. This was all his fault. His betrayal had led me here. If he hadn’t cheated, if I hadn’t chased after him, none of this would’ve happened.

"Jason, you betrayed me, and now our baby is gone. You caused this."

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