Chapter 5: Claire’s POV

I have never seen this face on my husband - nonetheless directed at me. I begin rambling in an attempt to explain what happened and absolve myself of being accountable for any wrongdoings. It was an accident, and I was still trying to figure out exactly what happened myself.

“This is not what it seems, Charlotte’s wheelchair got stuck at the top of the hill so I kneeled down to inspect it and felt a push. I tried to run after her, but I wasn’t fast enough.” I was hoping he would trust me or believe me. I would never do this.

I was mistaken.

Leonardo pushed me aside, causing me to fall onto the ground without a single glance to see if I was okay and rushed to Charlottes’ side.

I covered my stomach and twisted in pain as I felt an intensifying pain. My baby! I look up to as Leo picks up Charlotte and begins to walk away. I struggled yo hastily rise yo my feet to go after him.

I listened as he called his family’s private doctor to meet him at his family’s home. In just minutes, the doctor pulled into the driveway, assessed Charlotte and was able to stop her mild bleedin g. I watched from the foyer as Leonardo stayed glued to Charlotte’s side even holding hand as the doctor touched her wound and yet, he hadn’t even spared me a glance. I was ashamed of the stigma that he was choosing her over me.

“Claire, come here! We need to have a word.” Leo’s voice was stern. He genuinely thought the worst of me at this moment even after I proclaimed my innocence. He didn’t believe me.

Everyone turned their attention to me including Charlotte who looked more than amused by my uncomfortable disposition. I shrunk my shoulders trying to make myself as small as possible. They all blamed me, and they hated me.

I follow Leo into the same library where I planned on sharing our growing family with him. I turn to close the door and before I could even turn to face Leo, I’m bombarded with questions.

“Have you no morals? Why would you do this? Why would you hurt her?” I’ll never forget him looking at me in the moment. He was looking at me like I had gone mad.

“I would never intentionally hurt anyone. I can’t believe you would accuse me of doing such a thing.” My voice began to sound shaky. I know Leo has always been protective and had felt guilty for what happened to Charlotte, but I was not to blame. If anything, I had always tried to help. I even took on the challenge of reading countless medical studies that would help Charlotte but turned up fruitless. Not that I could’ve shared them if I wanted to. The first time I accompanied Leo to Charlotte’s home, Leo asked that I return home because Charlotte made it very clear that she did not want “strangers” in her home. What she meant was - she didn’t want me in her home. I left and haven’t made an attempt to be near her since. Not that Charlotte would’ve accepted my help anyway. She wanted Leo.

“I saw her cowering from you on the floor as you tried to grab her!” He hissed at me.

“I was trying to get her back into her wheelchair so I could get her help.” I was desperate for Leo to believe me.

“You let her roll down that hill and crash!” He pointed at me like a guilty verdict.

“I fell and lost my grip on the handles of her chair. I even tried to stop her from getting hurt.” I put my hands up in defeat.

“I told you not to make me choose. Is this what you do when you don’t get enough attention?” He looks disgusted as if the thought of me was rancid. The thought of his wife for five years who unbeknownst to him is pregnant with his child.

“I didn’t do this on purpose. It was an accident, and it has nothing to do with being overlooked.” I begin tearing up. This day was important to me, and it was ruined. Not only that but my husband couldn’t even stand to look at me.

Leo notices my tears and simply makes for the door, leaving it and me behind him.

I leave the room only to Leo carrying Charlotte to his car. The doctor mentions that he suggested Leo take her to the hospital for an X-ray just in case. I look around the room feeling the presence of all eyes on me. Looks of pity, disgust and anger were all pointed at me. I walked out without a word. I didn’t expect them to say goodbye to me as they never did.

I waited at the end of the block as I called for an Uber or Lyft but there were none available. Just my luck. I make my way back to the house. Hoping that groveling would offer me some help. It was my only option.

Just as I’m two homes away, I see Leo’s car. I begin yelling out to him just he doesn’t stop. He drives right past me without hesitation.

I had used the little energy I had left and at this point, had lost hope. I start to feel an intense pain in my stomach again and feel myself losing my strength as if it’s been drained out of me. Just as I am about to fall, I find a pair of arms wrapped around my waist in an effort to catch me.

Did Leo come back? That was the last thought I pondered as it all went black.