Chapter 3
Linda reacted quicker than I did.
She snatched the phone and shoved it under the blanket.
"What are you eavesdropping on?" she snapped.
I walked in and set the receipt on the nightstand.
"Who was that?" I asked.
Claire closed her eyes.
"No one," she said.
Linda stepped in front of the bed.
"Adam, have you no shame? Claire just lost her baby, and you're already grilling her!" she snapped.
I looked at Claire.
Her lips were chapped, and her forehead was covered in cold sweat.
"I wasn't home last night, but the exam report found traces from another man. Just say one word, and I can clear my name," I said.
Claire opened her eyes, tears sliding from the corners and into her hair.
"Adam, the baby's gone. Are you really trying to destroy me?" she said, her voice trembling.
Her words hit me like a bucket of filthy water dumped over my head.
Linda jumped in right away.
"Did you hear that? You're still pushing her! Why haven't the cops thrown you in jail yet?" she snapped.
People started crowding around the door.
The lady in the next bed was peeking over, trying to see what was going on.
"Young man, your wife just had a miscarriage. Why don't you give it a rest?" she said.
I stood by the bed, the receipt crumpled in my hand.
"Claire, I'm only going to ask you this once. Who was in our house last night?" I demanded.
She turned her face toward the window.
"I don't know," she said.
Linda rushed over and pushed me.
"Get out! Haven't you done enough to hurt Claire already?" she yelled.
I didn't move.
She snatched the thermos from the nightstand and hurled it at me.
Boiling water splashed across the back of my hand, and my skin turned red right away.
The nurse rushed in.
"What's going on? You can't make a scene in the hospital room!" she snapped.
Linda dropped to the floor, pounding her legs and sobbing.
"Nurse, look at this! He's trying to hit me! How did my daughter end up with someone like him?" she wailed.
The nurse shot me a glare, her attitude shifting instantly.
I hid my red, scalded hand behind my back.
"I didn't," I said.
But nobody listened.
Claire gave a soft cough.
Everyone rushed to her side.
The whole world seemed to be protecting her, and I was left as the only culprit.
I stepped out of the room and leaned against the wall in the hallway.
Just then, my supervisor finally called back.
"Adam, I checked the access logs. You came in at 9:06 last night and left at 6:13 this morning," he said.
I closed my eyes.
"What about the security footage?" I asked.
"The footage shows you coming and going, but you'll have to wait until tomorrow to get the official report," he said.
Just as I started to relax, my supervisor added, "But your wife's family just called the front desk, accusing you of domestic violence. It's making the company look bad, so the higher-ups want you to take a leave of absence."
The burn on the back of my hand started to sting.
"Got it," I said.
Before I could hang up, Linda's voice rang out from the hospital room.
"Adam, get in here!" she shouted.
A man in a suit was standing next to the bed.
He held a folder and spoke politely.
"Mr. Reed, I'm Attorney Grant, representing Ms. Evans," he said.
I looked at Claire.
She didn't dare look at me.
Attorney handed me a divorce agreement.
"Ms. Evans is physically weak right now and can't handle any more stress. Since your marriage has clearly broken down, we suggest you both sign the divorce agreement," he said.
The agreement said:
Claire gets the house.
Claire gets the car.
Claire gets the savings.
I have to pay Claire 1,000 dollars a month for her care, for two years.
And I have to pay her about 167,000 dollars for emotional damages.
The last line read, "The husband admits his own fault led to the miscarriage."
I let out a laugh.
But my voice was rough, like sandpaper.
"Who wrote this?" I asked.
Linda raised her chin defiantly.
"I had someone put it together. Sign it, and we won't go after you for any criminal charges," she said.
Attorney cleared his throat.
"Linda, mind your words," he said.
I put the agreement back on the table.
"I'm not signing it," I said.
Linda slammed her hand on the edge of the bed.
"You killed the baby, and now you think you can just walk away without paying a single cent?" she snapped.
I looked at Claire.
"Is this really what you want?" I asked.
Claire clutched the blanket so tightly her knuckles turned white.
After a long silence, she finally said, "Adam, I don't want things to get any uglier."
I nodded."So you say you don't want things to get ugly, but you want me to admit I caused the baby's death, give up the house my parents gave me, and leave as the villain?" I asked.
She broke down in tears.
"I'm already hurting so much. Why do you have to spell it all out like this?" Claire sobbed.
Linda immediately pulled her into a hug.
"Claire, don't cry. I'll take care of everything for you," she said.
The hospital room door was pushed open.
A police officer stood in the doorway.
"Mr. Reed, the hospital just reported some new information. We need you to come with us again," he said.
Attorney's pen hovered over the agreement.
Linda stared at me, a victorious glint in her eyes.
"Sign it now, before it's too late," she said.
The officer glanced at the divorce agreement on the table.
"Mr. Reed, please come with us," he said.
Just as I was about to turn away, Claire suddenly grabbed my sleeve.
Her strength was gone, but she held on tight.
"Adam, please, just stop looking into this," she said.
I looked down at her hand.
Her ring finger was bare, her wedding ring was gone.