Chapter 4

That night, Lucas developed a high fever.

He curled up in Emily's arms, his little face flushed red as he cried and mumbled in his sleep. "Don't take me away... I want my mommy."

My mom rushed to get a wet towel. My dad was in the living room calling the doctor. David picked Lucas up and headed for the door, with Emily following behind him in tears.

Everyone gathered around Lucas.

I stood there frozen, my cheek still aching from the slap, my lower abdomen tightening with dull cramps.

My first instinct was to follow them.

He was my son. Of course, I worried about him.

But my mom glanced back at me, her eyes filled with blame. "Don't come. He gets more scared when he sees you."

My throat tightened. I tried to explain. "It's not my fault. I didn't mean to scare him. I only want my son back."

My dad was already at the door. He looked at me coldly. "Get out."

I froze. "What did you say?"

He avoided my gaze and repeated himself, his voice low and firm. "You're not welcome in this house right now."

David carried Lucas out without slowing down. He heard every word, but he didn't stop.

Emily followed beside him. My mom grabbed her purse and left with them.

My dad stood in the doorway, blocking my way. "Stop causing us trouble."

I glanced down at myself. I was still wearing thin pajamas. I had no phone and no money.

But I walked out anyway.

The door clicked shut behind me.

It was a quiet sound, but it cut me off from everything.

I sat outside the hospital all night.

The cold wind slipped through my sleeves, and now and then, a dull pain tightened in my lower abdomen.

I wanted to go inside and check on Lucas, but I was afraid they would throw me out in front of him.

So I stayed there from the middle of the night until dawn.

When morning came, I held onto the wall and slowly got to my feet. I asked for Lucas's room number and made my way over.

Before I reached the door, I heard his voice.

He was awake, but his voice was still weak and hoarse. "Mommy, if I stay sick, does that mean I don't have to go with Aunt Sarah?"

I stopped in my tracks.

Inside the room, Emily gently comforted him. "As long as you stay on Mommy's side, nobody can take you away."

Lucas asked again, "So pretending I was sick yesterday worked?"

There was a brief silence. Then Emily let out a soft laugh. "Of course it worked.

"Look how worried Daddy, Grandma, and Grandpa are about you now. If you cry or act scared, they'll always be on our side."

I stood outside the door, my hands slowly curling into fists, my nails digging into my palms.

Lucas was only five years old. And they had turned him into this.

I shoved the door open.

Everyone in the room turned toward me.

I walked straight to the bed and stared at Emily. "How could you teach him that? He's a child, not a way for you to keep your place in this family."

Lucas immediately shrank back under the blanket before throwing himself into Emily's arms. "Please don't yell at my mommy. Please."

I felt a lump in my throat.

I was trying to look out for him, but in his eyes, I was the person trying to hurt the mother he loved.

Emily hugged him tightly, tears streaming down her face, her voice shaking. "Sarah, if you really can't stand having me here, then I'll leave. I'll end everything. Is that what you want?"

Before I could react, she reached for a small knife on the nightstand.

I rushed forward and grabbed her hand. "Emily, have you lost your mind? Don't do this in front of Lucas!"

But she twisted her wrist, and the blade cut across her palm. Blood immediately spilled.

Lucas screamed.

The commotion brought nurses rushing into the room, and the hallway quickly descended into chaos.

That was when David arrived.

He stepped inside and saw Emily's bleeding hand, Lucas trembling and crying, and me standing beside the bed with my hand still raised.

He didn't ask what happened. He rushed over and shoved me away. "Sarah, how could you be so cruel?"

I hadn't slept all night. The cold had drained whatever strength I had left. The force of his shove sent me stumbling into the edge of the bed.

A sharp pain tore through my abdomen. Then I felt something warm spreading down my legs.

I looked down and saw blood between my legs.

The room erupted into chaos.

Someone rushed to help me, while others shouted for a doctor.

David stood frozen. The anger faded from his face as he understood what was happening.

I was rushed into the emergency room. I saw him try to follow, but the doctors stopped him.

I closed my eyes. Only one thought remained. He made his choice.

He had chosen Emily from the very beginning.

*****

By the time I woke up again, hours had passed.

The hospital room was empty. No one was there.

It was flat, and the sight filled me with panic.

I pulled the IV out of my hand, put on my jacket, and slowly walked out of the room, using the wall to steady myself.

When I reached the end of the hallway, I heard the doctor call out to David. "I'm sorry, Mr. Reed. We did everything we could. The baby didn't make it..."