Chapter 2 · Betrayal in Nine Months Pregnant

My cheek pressed against the cold floor, tears and cold sweat dripping onto the back of my hand.

I looked away from the camera, gritting my teeth as I crawled toward the door.

Shards of glass dug into my palm, but I didn't feel the pain.

Escape was the only thing on my mind.

When I reached the entryway, I raised the shard of glass and smashed it hard against the lock.

The glass shattered instantly, leaving a deep, bloody gash in my hand.

But the lock didn't budge.

Edward's voice rang out again, laced with barely contained fury. "Stella, what do you think you're doing? If you dare mess with that door, you're dead when I get back."

With my bloody hand, I rummaged through the shoe cabinet.

I remembered I once left a spare key in here.

If I could find the key, I might make it out alive.

Frantically, I pulled everything out of the cabinet and scattered it across the floor.

Finally, my fingers closed around the cold metal key hidden in the box at the very bottom.

Leaning against the wall, I stood up, my hand trembling as I tried to slide the key into the lock.

But it wouldn't go in.

I leaned in closer, squinting at the keyhole.

It was filled with dried glue.

I stared blankly at the blocked keyhole.

Edward's voice came through, dripping with smug satisfaction. "Don't waste your energy. I know how stubborn you are. I was worried you'd sneak out and give Emmy a hard time, so I sealed the keyhole with super glue before I left.

"Stella, as long as you behave, admit you were wrong, and promise not to give Emmy any trouble, I'll come back to you as soon as she's had the baby."

My back slid down the door, my body slowly sinking to the floor.

He'd already blocked my last way out. He made sure I had no hope of escaping.

He wasn't afraid I'd go after Emily Grant. He wanted to make sure I had no way to survive.

I lifted my head and looked right at the surveillance camera.

"Edward, let's get a divorce," I said.

There was a moment of silence from the speaker.

Then his voice exploded, full of rage. "Stella, are you threatening me again? You think bringing up divorce will make me give in? Is that all you ever do? Cry, make a scene, and threaten to end it all?"

I closed my eyes and didn't respond.

The pain in my belly was one endless wave now.

Something inside me was starting to slip down.

"Edward, I don't want you anymore," I said.

Then, I threw the metal key at the camera as hard as I could.

The camera lens cracked, and the red light blinked off.

The living room was swallowed by absolute silence.

Sprawled in a pool of blood, I sucked in ragged, desperate breaths.

Edward used his phone to remotely shut down the smart system in the house.

The living room lights blinked off.

The AC, the fridge, everything powered down at the exact same moment.

The whole place was plunged into darkness.

Edward's cold warning came through the speaker. "Stella, since you don't know how to appreciate kindness, you can sit in the dark and reflect on your actions.

"When you finally admit you messed up, I'll turn the lights back on.

"Don't expect any sympathy from me. You did this to yourself."

I curled up on the floor, biting down hard on my lip so that I wouldn't cry out.

I could feel the blood pouring out of me.

Each wave of pain in my belly hit harder than the last.

My mind kept urging me to stay awake.

I crawled toward the bathroom, feeling my way across the floor with both hands.

I knew there were scissors and towels in there.

If nobody showed up to save me, I'd have to have the baby all by myself.

As I reached the bathroom door, the speaker lit up again.

This time, the video call suddenly appeared on the living room TV.

The TV screen's blue glow lit up my pale face.

On the screen, Emily was lying in a hospital bed, her cheeks rosy.

She was nestled in Edward's arms, holding my maternity bag.

Emily's voice was all soft and sweet, sounding a little pitiful. "Edward, is Stella mad at me? I didn't mean to take her hospital bag. I went into labor all of a sudden.

"Why don't you go check on her? I'll be fine here on my own."

Edward gently wiped away her tears, his expression soft and full of concern. "Don't worry about her. She can't stand seeing me treat you well.

"She smashed the security camera at home. God knows where she is now, probably throwing another fit."

He turned to face the camera, his eyes turning cold and sharp.

"Stella, look at how sensible Emmy is," he said. "And then look at yourself. Throwing tantrums, breaking things, and ghosting everyone like some drama queen.

"I'm warning you. If you dare stir up any more drama and upset Emmy, I'll cut off your brother's hospital bills tomorrow."

My heart sank like a stone.

My brother was the only family I had left, and he was still in the ICU, clinging to life on machines.

All his affection went to Emmy, the one who always called me Stella with that fake sweetness.

Watching those two act all lovey-dovey on the screen, I suddenly wanted to throw up.

Chapter 2

My cheek pressed against the cold floor, tears and cold sweat dripping onto the back of my hand.

I looked away from the camera, gritting my teeth as I crawled toward the door.

Shards of glass dug into my palm, but I didn't feel the pain.

Escape was the only thing on my mind.

When I reached the entryway, I raised the shard of glass and smashed it hard against the lock.

The glass shattered instantly, leaving a deep, bloody gash in my hand.

But the lock didn't budge.

Edward's voice rang out again, laced with barely contained fury. "Stella, what do you think you're doing? If you dare mess with that door, you're dead when I get back."

With my bloody hand, I rummaged through the shoe cabinet.

I remembered I once left a spare key in here.

If I could find the key, I might make it out alive.

Frantically, I pulled everything out of the cabinet and scattered it across the floor.

Finally, my fingers closed around the cold metal key hidden in the box at the very bottom.

Leaning against the wall, I stood up, my hand trembling as I tried to slide the key into the lock.

But it wouldn't go in.

I leaned in closer, squinting at the keyhole.

It was filled with dried glue.

I stared blankly at the blocked keyhole.

"Stella, as long as you behave, admit you were wrong, and promise not to give Emmy any trouble, I'll come back to you as soon as she's had the baby."

My back slid down the door, my body slowly sinking to the floor.

He'd already blocked my last way out. He made sure I had no hope of escaping.

He wasn't afraid I'd go after Emily Grant. He wanted to make sure I had no way to survive.

I lifted my head and looked right at the surveillance camera.

"Edward, let's get a divorce," I said.

There was a moment of silence from the speaker.

I closed my eyes and didn't respond.

The pain in my belly was one endless wave now.

Something inside me was starting to slip down.

"Edward, I don't want you anymore," I said.

Then, I threw the metal key at the camera as hard as I could.

The camera lens cracked, and the red light blinked off.

The living room was swallowed by absolute silence.

Sprawled in a pool of blood, I sucked in ragged, desperate breaths.

Edward used his phone to remotely shut down the smart system in the house.

The living room lights blinked off.

The AC, the fridge, everything powered down at the exact same moment.

The whole place was plunged into darkness.

Edward's cold warning came through the speaker. "Stella, since you don't know how to appreciate kindness, you can sit in the dark and reflect on your actions.

"When you finally admit you messed up, I'll turn the lights back on.

"Don't expect any sympathy from me. You did this to yourself."

I curled up on the floor, biting down hard on my lip so that I wouldn't cry out.

I could feel the blood pouring out of me.

Each wave of pain in my belly hit harder than the last.

My mind kept urging me to stay awake.

I crawled toward the bathroom, feeling my way across the floor with both hands.

I knew there were scissors and towels in there.

If nobody showed up to save me, I'd have to have the baby all by myself.

As I reached the bathroom door, the speaker lit up again.

This time, the video call suddenly appeared on the living room TV.

The TV screen's blue glow lit up my pale face.

On the screen, Emily was lying in a hospital bed, her cheeks rosy.

She was nestled in Edward's arms, holding my maternity bag.

Emily's voice was all soft and sweet, sounding a little pitiful. "Edward, is Stella mad at me? I didn't mean to take her hospital bag. I went into labor all of a sudden.

"Why don't you go check on her? I'll be fine here on my own."

Edward gently wiped away her tears, his expression soft and full of concern. "Don't worry about her. She can't stand seeing me treat you well.

"She smashed the security camera at home. God knows where she is now, probably throwing another fit."

He turned to face the camera, his eyes turning cold and sharp.

"Stella, look at how sensible Emmy is," he said. "And then look at yourself. Throwing tantrums, breaking things, and ghosting everyone like some drama queen.

"I'm warning you. If you dare stir up any more drama and upset Emmy, I'll cut off your brother's hospital bills tomorrow."

My heart sank like a stone.

My brother was the only family I had left, and he was still in the ICU, clinging to life on machines.

All his affection went to Emmy, the one who always called me Stella with that fake sweetness.

Watching those two act all lovey-dovey on the screen, I suddenly wanted to throw up.