Chapter 10

Taylor lounged on the chair in her balcony at the estate, her phone pressed to her ear, a smug smile playing on her lips as she spoke to her mother, Helen.

“Mom, you should have seen his face when I told him. He looked genuinely happy.” She said, laughing softly.

“Now that I’m pregnant with his child, everything changes. This baby is my trump card and Roderick can’t ignore me anymore. Camille can do whatever she wants, either cry, nag or threaten to leave but I’m the one carrying his child. I basically own him now.”

“Just be smart, darling. Don’t push too hard.” Helen said, sounding equally happy.

Taylor smirked, running a hand over her still-flat stomach.

“I don’t need to push further anymore, mom. This little one is going to do all the work for me. Camille will finally understand her place. She was never the real woman in his life anyway.”

The sound of the front door opening made her drop the phone onto the couch. Roderick walked in, looking tired but composed. Taylor’s face lit up as she ran straight into his arms.

“Baby!” She squealed.

Roderick caught her easily and lifted her in a bridal-style. Taylor giggled, wrapping her arms around his neck.

“You shouldn’t be moving around so much, It’s still early” He said smoothly as he carried her toward the bedroom.

Taylor rolled her eyes playfully. “It’s only the first month, Roderick. I’m perfectly fine.”

He set her gently on the bed and brushed hair from her face.

“Of course I’m overprotective. This is my child we’re talking about.” He gave her a genuine smile.

Taylor beamed up at him, cupping his jaw. “You’re going to be such a good father, Roderick. The best dad even, and I’m going to be an amazing mother to our baby. We’re going to be perfect together.”

“Prepare to move into the villa. I want you close, where I can keep an eye on both you and the baby. I’ll send people over tomorrow to help you pack and move your things.” Roderick rubbed her chin affectionately with his thumb.

Taylor’s eyes sparkled with triumph. She pulled him into a tight hug, burying her face in his neck so he wouldn’t see the satisfactory, victorious smirk on her face.

Just you wait, Camille, she thought smugly. Let’s see who the real woman in Roderick’s life is.

----

It was a little after 6pm when Roderick’s car pulled into the villa driveway. He had spent the entire afternoon with Taylor before heading to the office. He told the driver to go pick her up later that evening, then made his way inside, loosening his tie as he climbed the stairs.

“Camille?” He called out, stepping into their bedroom.

Silence.

The room was empty with no sight of her. He glanced toward the bathroom, then the walk-in closet. Nothing.

“Camille?” He called again, louder this time.

Maybe she had gone to the east wing again to sulk. He bit his lip, remembering how angry she had been that morning when she told him she was pregnant.

"She shouldn’t have pissed me off." He mumbled to himself, already unbuttoning his shirt. "I’ll talk to her later and smooth things over."

He headed toward the bathroom to shower when something on the dresser caught his eye.

Her wedding ring sat neatly on top of a folded piece of brown paper.

Roderick’s steps slowed. He picked up the ring first, turning it between his fingers, then unfolded the letter with a strange tightness in his chest.

---

Roderick,

I stayed. I waited. I even let myself believe you when you touched me like I mattered and whispered all that sweet bullshit about changing. God, I really am pathetic, aren’t I?

But hearing how excited you sounded about Taylor’s pregnancy — the way your voice actually warmed up for her in a way it never has for me? That was the final nail. You sounded happy, genuinely happy for her. While I stood there like an idiot holding a positive test, hoping you’d look at me the same way.

You said Taylor would move into this villa with us. Just like that, with no discussion and no care for how I would feel. You chose her comfort over my dignity again, without even thinking twice. You selfish, heartless bastard. You made it crystal clear once more that I’m nothing but a pretty possession you keep around when it’s convenient.

I’m carrying your child too, you know. But I refuse! I fucking refuse to raise my baby in this toxic house while another woman plays wife under the same roof. I won’t let my child grow up watching its mother being treated as second best, invisible, and disposable. I won’t let you turn my son or daughter into what you turned me into.

Don’t look for me. Don’t try to find me. I will protect this child from the same golden cage you trapped me in. I won’t let you treat my baby the way you treated me, like an accessory you can ignore until you feel like showing fake affection to again.

You wanted Taylor so badly? Congratulations. Now you have her.

Camille

---

Roderick’s hand began to shake as he finished reading. The paper crinkled under his tightening grip.

She left?

No, she couldn’t have. This was just another attempt to get his attention, right? She was probably hiding somewhere in the villa, waiting for him to come find her and apologize.

But the ring… the ring was sitting right there.

That heavy, piercing feeling in his chest grew sharper. It wasn’t even anger. It was something much worse, deeper, more painful. Regret? Fear?

He stumbled back until his back hit the wall, eyes still glued to the letter.

“She really left…” He whispered.

The realization hit him like a punch to the gut. He had allowed her to move freely these past three weeks. He had let his guard down and this morning, when he told her “Then leave” in anger… she had actually done it.

“No…” His voice cracked. “I didn’t… I didn’t really mean for her to leave.”

He slid down the wall slowly until he was sitting on the floor, the letter still clutched tightly in his trembling hands. The silence in the bedroom felt suffocating.

For the first time in his life, Roderick King felt truly, terrifyingly empty.

And somewhere deep inside, a small, terrifying voice whispered that this time… she might never come back.