Chapter 3

Ethan froze, completely stunned, and shook his head. "What? Impossible. How could you be pregnant?"

I held his gaze as shock and disbelief flashed over his features. My gaze turned to ice.

The same man who wanted a baby with me this morning acted like this was the worst news he could hear.

"Why wouldn't I be pregnant? Didn't you say you wanted a baby?" I shot back.

"When did you get tested?" he asked.

I wasn't about to say I heard it from a chorus of houseplants. I tipped my chin at Sophie, playing dumb. "And who's she?"

Ethan immediately stepped in front of her, shielding her. "Just a coworker. Don't read into it."

His tone turned tender, so unlike the way he'd just barked at me.

I didn't have time for their drama. "I'm taking my mother out of here."

Ethan snapped, "Are you insane? Your mom's mentally unstable. Where would she even go?"

He frowned at me like I was talking crazy.

"You never used to be like this. Guess I spoiled you too much. Drop it. You're coming with me."

[Ethan's freaking out because he knows if Charlotte looks too closely, she'll figure out Sophie's uncle is in that operating room too. Eww. Gross.]

[Sophie's totally gonna fake a fall and blame Charlotte!]

[It's wrong, but I'm totally here for it.]

"Maybe she's just jealous of me, Ethan. I'm so sorry," Sophie murmured as tears suddenly streamed down her face.

Ethan had always told me he hated tears, but he pulled Sophie into his arms now, cooing softly. "Hey. It's not your fault. Don't cry."

"Please, don't take your mother away," Sophie pleaded.

She looked at me with a tremble. "Ethan promised my uncle would get her kidney. Without it, he'll die."

Ethan cleared his throat, sliding an arm around Sophie's shoulders. "I was going to tell you all this at home. Sophie's uncle is the only family she has left. Your mom won't die with one kidney. Stop making a scene."

I stared at him, my eyes widening. I was so angry I could have laughed.

Just as I was about to retort, Ethan's parents came rushing down the stairs.

They blew past me as if I were invisible, heading straight for Sophie.

"Sophie, are you okay? How's the baby? Are you feeling alright?" Margaret said.

Margaret, who'd spent years pelting me with nasty comments, was suddenly all maternal warmth for Sophie.

Richard, who'd never so much as smiled at me, beamed at Sophie. "Just focus on taking care of yourself and that baby, okay?"

"Thank you," Sophie said with a shy smile. "But Charlotte is pregnant, too."

Only then did Ethan's parents seem to notice me, but they made no effort to hide their disdain.

Margaret looked me up and down. "Her mother's a lunatic, and she's got asthma. Who knows if the baby will be a drooling idiot?"

She scowled. "Charlotte, what are you doing here making a scene in public?

"You can't even run a household properly. I have no idea what Ethan ever saw in you!"

Sophie whispered, "She only came to take her mom home."

She dipped her gaze and sniffled. "I'm begging her to give my uncle a chance to live."

Then she dropped to her knees and clutched my legs. "Please. My uncle is dying! Are you really going to just let him die?"

"Let go," I snapped.

But just like the comments had predicted, Sophie suddenly threw herself backward onto the floor, clutching her stomach and wailing, "Ah! It hurts. My stomach! Why would you hurt my baby?"

Her acting was laughably bad, but Ethan and his parents completely bought it. Margaret stormed over and slapped me hard across the face. "Charlotte, if anything happens to Sophie, you'll pay with your life! You'll be buried alongside my grandchild!"

Not satisfied, she shoved me to the ground and kicked me square in the belly.

"Every ounce of pain Sophie feels, you'll pay back a thousandfold!" she shouted.

"This is exactly what you deserve," Ethan said coldly. He scooped Sophie up, shot me an icy stare, and turned away.

Something inside me twisted and tore. Sharp pain radiated through my belly. I broke out in a cold sweat.

Suddenly, the front door burst open, and a flood of cops rushed in.