Chapter 2

Ronald's voice shook uncontrollably, but he still tried his best to justify himself.

He said, "Kyla, how dare you even mention our baby? He died because he couldn't bear having a toxic mother like you. Listen, Timmy's just starting to get better. If you ever try to mess with Hattie or Timmy again, you'll have me to answer to!"

With that, he bolted out of the room, looking every bit the guilty man.

For the next two weeks, Ronald didn't show up at all.

The scar from my C-section was getting better, but every night, I would dream about the baby that I'd never even met.

I blamed myself. My own weakness and cowardice hurt my baby. I hadn't protected him.

I felt I didn't deserve to dream about him, and I was even afraid to see him in my dreams.

Elsie watched as I grew thinner and more worn out with each passing day.

In the end, Elsie's heart finally melted, and she gave in to my request.

"Kyla, if I'd known things would end up like this, I never would've tried to push you two together. It's my fault. I let you down as your mother-in-law," Elsie said, her voice trembling.

She took my hand, her face wet with tears.

"You're still weak. Once you're back on your feet after your confinement, it's best if you move out," Elsie said softly.

The very next day after Elsie agreed, she arranged for me to be discharged from the hospital and sent me back to the villa where Ronald and I had lived as newlyweds.

It was clear to me what Elsie was up to.

Elsie wanted me to spend these final two weeks with Ronald, hoping maybe I would reconsider.

I really did love Ronald.

Even though I knew his heart belonged to his irreplaceable first love, I still wanted to risk it all for him.

When I first got pregnant, Ronald treated me like a queen. He'd make me meals himself and never missed a single doctor's appointment.

After I got pregnant, Elsie and Ronald put all their attention on the baby. So I quit my job and focused on taking care of myself and the baby at home.

Ronald was worried I'd feel lonely or bored, so every day after work, he'd bring me little gifts. If things weren't too busy at the office, he'd take me out for a stroll or some shopping.

I was so naive, thinking he actually loved me, that I meant something to him.

I thought that once the baby was born, we'd be a happy family of three.

But when I realized it was all just a lie, that my baby was just a tool to save his and Hattie's kid, it felt like my whole world had crashed down.

It turned out that I was fooling myself. Everything he did was only for the baby I was carrying, so it could help save their child.

It was such a shame. The guy I'd been crazy about all through my youth never even glanced my way, and he knew just how to break my heart.

For the sake of my baby, I couldn't afford to be careless. Feeling helpless, I had to tell Elsie.

So I stayed with Elsie at Olson Manor.

Just when I finally thought my baby would arrive safely, Elsie went away on a business trip.

And then Ronald showed up.

Just thinking about it made my heart twist with pain. That ache washed over me, reaching every part of my body.

It felt like knives were twisting inside my chest. Whenever I thought about the baby I'd never even gotten to meet, the tears just kept streaming down my face.

That night, Ronald stumbled in, reeking of booze, and ripped the covers right off me.

I shot up in bed, meeting Ronald's furious glare.

"Why are you back?" I blurted out.

He hadn't come back once since I moved out to keep the baby safe.

I never expected him to show up that night.

Ronald let out a cold snort. "Kyla, quit faking it. If you hadn't been trying to drive a wedge between my mom and me, would she really threaten to disown me if I didn't come home?"

He stepped forward, unbuttoned his shirt, and then suddenly pinned me down on the bed.

"Ronald, what are you doing? Let me go!" I cried out, my voice trembling with fear.

Ronald grabbed both my wrists and held them above my head with one hand, while the other yanked off my flimsy nightgown.

"You got my mom to drag me back here just so I'd end up in your bed, didn't you? This is exactly what you wanted, isn't it?" he sneered.

I fought back with everything I had, my face burning red with anger, so different from the pale, weak mess I'd been lately.

"Ronald, you're a damn beast! Didn't Hattie keep you satisfied enough?" I shot back, my voice trembling with fury.

That only pissed Ronald off more, and he squeezed my wrists even harder.

His grip was so tight that I thought my wrists would break. The pain made me gasp for air.

"You really think you measure up to Hattie? And anyway, you're my wife. It's your job to have sex with me," Ronald sneered.

As soon as he said that, a jolt of pain shot through me as he yanked the bandages off my stomach.

Ronald froze the instant he saw the wound on my belly.

He scrambled off me with panic all over his face. "Kyla, I'm sorry. I forgot you..."

I swung my hand and slapped him, hard, right across the face.

Hugging my shredded nightgown to my chest, I couldn't stop the tears from streaming down my face, no matter how hard I tried.

"Did you forget I'm still supposed to be recovering after childbirth? Or did you forget I gave birth to your child? Or maybe you just don't care how my baby died?" I shot back, my voice trembling with fury.

"It was your selfishness that killed my child!" I screamed, my voice cracking with grief and rage.