Chapter 2
Daniel snapped, "All I asked you to do this afternoon was go bungee jumping a few times to cheer Susan up, and you had to fake a faint to scare everyone!
"I even invited some of Susan's friends over for a party to cheer her up, and she was finally starting to feel better."
As soon as Daniel finished speaking, the atmosphere shifted.
Susan, nestled in his arms, pouted teasingly and nuzzled her head against him. She said, "Daniel, you worry too much!
"It's just a little severe depression and anxiety, nothing major. The doctor said that as long as someone who really loves me is with me, I'll be fine!"
Daniel felt a wave of tenderness and worry wash over him at her words.
He softly caressed the top of her head and said, "You little fool, didn't I tell you? As long as I'm here, you never have to put on a brave face."
After saying that, he shot me a look.
He snapped, "Why are you just standing there? Hurry up and clean this up!"
After almost twenty hours of non-stop chaos, I was running on fumes.
Looking at the disaster zone around me, I rubbed my throbbing temples.
I said, "Get someone else to clean this mess. I'm beat."
Daniel snapped, "Always tired, huh? What do you even do all day that's so exhausting? Ever since you got pregnant, it's just 'I'm tired' nonstop!"
His brows were furrowed, his eyes full of disgust.
He said, "Every woman goes through pregnancy. Why are you the only one acting so fragile?"
"Have you even seen yourself lately? You've packed on so much weight, even a pig would look skinnier than you on its feet.
"Just clean up the house, it's exercise! Think of it as losing weight, alright?"
Susan propped her chin up, feigning innocence. She said, "Whitney, I heard pregnant women can't be too lazy, or the baby will end up super lazy too."
She added, "If your kid gets your dumb and ugly genes, and then turns out lazy on top of that, they'll totally get tossed aside as a loser in life."
Right at that moment, I honestly wanted to storm into the kitchen, turn on the gas, and blow this whole place up with those two scumbags inside.
But I was just too exhausted.
I could only muster the last of my strength to straighten my back.
I said, "Whoever made this mess can clean it up. It's not my problem."
With that, I just walked out.
As I shut the door, I heard Daniel start cursing inside.
He yelled, "Whatever! Go wherever you want! Hell, with that big belly of yours, not even selling yourself will get you anywhere!!"
I hadn't even made it to the gate of the neighborhood when my phone started blowing up with notifications.
Daniel had cut off all the secondary cards and shared payment limits he'd set up for me.
These past few years of trying for a baby, my savings were pretty much gone.
I knew what Daniel was up to.
He was cutting me off, trying to force my hand.
The night wind was getting colder and harsher.
I didn't even have time to feel sorry for myself.
Clutching my flimsy coat tighter, I pushed on through the freezing wind and rain.
Finally, before sunrise, I found a rundown motel for thirty dollars a night and holed up there.
Exhausted, I collapsed onto the moldy-smelling bed and passed out.
*****
The next day, by the time I finally woke up, it was already afternoon.
I checked my phone.
Just as I thought, not a single missed call.
There was just one update from Susan on her social feed, posted eight hours ago.
She wrote: [If the place sucks, just upgrade! What does it feel like to be spoiled rotten?]
The pic showed her and Daniel taking a romantic bath together in the luxury tub of a five-star hotel.
Deep inside, that stabbing pain hit me all over again.
But honestly, what I felt even more was this sickening disgust I couldn't even describe.
I took a screenshot of that steamy photo.
Then I sent it to one of my contacts who never stopped spamming lawyer ads.
I asked her, as a pro, to help me draft a divorce agreement and a formal lawyer's letter.
I was taking Daniel to court for a divorce. I was done waiting.
While I was preparing for the divorce, Daniel didn't reach out to me at all.
He completely ignored me the whole time.
Three days went by with nothing from Daniel.
Out of the blue, I got a call from one of Daniel's buddies.
He told me Daniel had a heart attack and passed out at his regular bar.
I was afraid his illness would delay my divorce case, so I didn't hesitate for a second.
I rushed straight to the address his friend gave me.
When I rushed into the bar's private room, I was hit with a burst of mean laughter.
Daniel was the loudest, practically howling.
He had Susan tucked under one arm, smacking his thigh as he laughed.
Daniel said, "See? Told you that dumb woman would never let me die! Pay up, losers!"
Inside the private room, the whole scene was so revolting that I could barely stand it.
Just a few more days and I'd be facing Daniel in court.
I didn't want to stay another second.
Without another word, I turned and headed for the door.
Suddenly, a strong hand grabbed my wrist and yanked me back.
Daniel snapped, "Whitney, I'm warning you! Don't make me regret giving you a chance!"
"You've been out there, messing around with that pregnant belly for days! I'm giving you a chance to walk away with some dignity, so just take it and leave!"