Chapter 3

I thought for sure Edward wouldn't come home tonight, not after Nina got hurt.

But to my surprise, he came back just before I went to bed.

Edward crept into the room, his cold hand slipping under my shirt, caressing my waist like nothing had happened.

His voice was gentle again, just like before. "Why were you so childish at the hospital today? Acting all jealous like a teenage girl. Nina and I are just friends."

I didn't care anymore what was going on between him and Nina. All I wanted was to keep my babies.

Edward leaned in and kissed my forehead. I swallowed my disgust and tentatively placed his hand on my belly.

"Honey, the babies moved today," I said. "They kicked me with their little feet. They're already..."

"Enough!" he snapped, yanking his hand back like he'd touched something filthy.

"I know you don't want to lose the babies, but are you really going to let Nina just disappear from my life?" he said.

But as a mom, my babies mattered more to me than whatever happened to Nina.

Four months now, they'd been growing inside me.

And I'd waited five whole years for them.

For my babies' sake, I gave in again. "Honey, I can give Nina my kidney, but can we wait until after the babies are born? Let me give birth first, then I'll do whatever you want."

Edward frowned at me, hesitated for a second, then said coldly, "Nina can't wait any longer. Her illness is eating away at her, body and soul. She's living in constant fear every day."

"Just get some rest. It's not a big deal," he added. "You can have another kid in the future."

Edward got out of bed and walked out. The moment the door slammed shut, tears of disappointment streamed down my face.

I didn't know how long I cried for, but when I finally stopped and picked up my phone, I saw something that made me feel even more hopeless.

Edward had actually returned all the baby and maternity stuff he'd bought online.

Every single return note said the same thing: [Miscarried. Don't need these anymore.]

Seeing those pink baby socks he'd loved so much being returned, I realized all over again just how determined he was to make me abort the babies.

Back when we were shopping for baby things, Edward's eyes sparkled the moment he spotted those pink socks.

"These are so cute. I have to buy them for our little girls," he'd said.

But now, he couldn't care less about the babies I was carrying.

I wiped away my tears, sprang to my feet, and started packing.

There wasn't much to take anyway. After years of fertility treatments, I hadn't bought any pretty new clothes in ages.

Once I'd packed the basics, I began hunting through the house for anything valuable.

I was leaving with my babies, and I knew I'd need money for whatever came next.

Bank cards, cash, jewelry—anything worth taking, I stuffed into my bag.

With my small suitcase in tow, I took one last look at the home I'd shared with Edward for five years.

I felt a little sad leaving, but honestly, I was way more worried about what was coming next.

Still, I wasn't about to let anyone hurt my babies.

I got on a plane and flew to a city I'd never been to before.

*****

I thought there was no way Edward would track me down so fast, but to my shock, he found me on the third day after I left.

It was early morning, and I was still sound asleep in bed.

The babies had been kicking up a storm these past few days, making it impossible for me to get any sleep at night.

A sudden, urgent knock at the door jolted me awake.

I figured it was just the hotel staff bringing breakfast, so I got up to open the door.

But the moment I opened the door, the last face I ever wanted to see was staring right back at me.

Edward was fuming, his glare sharp as knives. "So you think you're smart now, Allison? Stealing my money and running off?"

He pulled out his bank cards and a wad of cash from his pocket, then tossed them right in my face.

"You love money, right? Take it. Is this enough for your kidney, or do you want even more?" he yelled furiously.

Once again, my eyes filled with tears.

After I left, the man I'd loved for five years didn't even care. No sadness, no regret—just my kidney on his mind.

Before I could even process what was happening, Edward stormed over and hauled me up.

"Allison, you can run wherever you want, but I'll always find you," he spat. "Giving your kidney to Nina is the only choice you've got."