Chapter 4

Julian didn't expect me to bring up the divorce. He froze for a second, then just snapped.

I hung up before he could say anything else. I didn't even have time to block his number before my phone blew up with messages from him.

"You're the one who tried to grab the wheel and crash the car. I haven't even gone off on you for that yet, and now you're talking divorce? You're a killer!

"The fact that I haven't called the police yet is me being merciful! You should be thanking me! Stop embarrassing yourself and take those lies down online! Don't make me expose the real you!"

I stopped reading his texts and deleted all of them. Then, I blocked his number.

A couple of nurses came in to change my bandages. They didn't seem to notice my face and just kept talking like nothing was wrong.

"Did you see the news online? It looks like Dr. Sutton's wife is causing trouble again! It's wild. Two women with the same name, but their lives are nothing alike. None of this would have happened if Mrs. Sutton were even half as nice as Ms. Brooks."

"Seriously, though. Dr. Sutton and his friend have been close for over ten years. Why would she be jealous? Maybe she's just messed up in the head. That could explain why she caused the crash on purpose."

"Poor Dr. Sutton and his friend. They have to be stuck dealing with someone like that."

I zoned out, nodding here and there.

As the online drama blew up, the hospital eventually figured out who I really was.

The hospital director stopped by a few times, hinting that I should step up and explain what happened. He told me that Julian was on leave and couldn't be reached.

I turned his request down. After a while, they stopped asking for my side of the story and started blaming me for getting them into this situation.

Then, they posted a video online, faulting me for the crash. To cover their butts, they completely ignored the fact that I was hurt and had lost my baby.

They said that I staged the crash to go after Julian's friend out of jealousy. They accused me of wasting medical resources and dragging their best doctors into a mess of online hate.

The people who'd backed me at first turned on me once they heard that I was simply jealous of Vera, calling me crazy. Those who'd gone after the hospital's ER team were now gunning for me, making sure I was completely thrashed.

A group of people even started calling themselves "Vile Witches Hunters" online. They showed up outside my ward every few days to harass me.

I didn't bother trying to explain myself. Instead, I just waited, wondering how people would react when Julian's relationship with that "friend" came to light.

When the doctor finally told me that I could leave, I unblocked Julian's number and texted him. "Let's finalize the divorce at the courthouse tomorrow."

I was about to block him again when his call came through.

"You've got some nerve texting me! What, now that everyone's tearing you apart online, you're finally regretting what you did? It's too late for that!

"Fine. Let's go ahead with the divorce. I'm done with you. You're insane! You're totally messed up! And don't even think about seeing our kid after it's born! You're not fit to be a mom!"

He hung up before I could say anything.

I called the repair shop and asked them to pull the dashcam footage from my car.

…

I arrived at the courthouse first thing the next morning, right on time. Just as I was about to cross the intersection, I ran into Vera.

Her eyes immediately went to my belly, and she put on a dramatic expression. "Oh no, you lost the baby? What a shame. Then again, with a mom who can't hold onto a man, that kid never stood a chance. Even if it had been born, it would've just been a fatherless orphan—"

I slapped her before I even had a chance to think about what she'd said. I barely put any force into it, but she collapsed like a ragdoll, tears immediately streaming down her face.

"Vera!" Julian yelled, rushing up behind me and shoving me hard.

I lost my balance and ended up stumbling into the street. A car sped by, missing my head by inches.

Julian cradled Vera in his arms, then turned to look at me, like something had just hit him. When he saw my flat stomach, his face went pale. "Where's the baby?"