Chapter I: Betrayed

Cielle's POV

I felt my baby kick as the first gunshot went off. It sounded surreal but yet frightening.

The second flew straight through the car's windshield and straight into my driver's head.

"Moses!" I yelled at the top of my lungs as I glared with widened eyes, blood oozing out of his head.

Oh no…

Oh no…

"Wake up, Moses, I need you to drive, please…" I shrieked with disbelief, my hands dabbing the blood on his thighs as his head stayed glued to the steering wheel.

He was dead, they killed him.

They fucking killed him.

Who were they?

Some goons sent by my company's business rivals.

Rivals my husband made right after he took charge of the company.

They killed the driver.

I was next, me and my baby.

No!

I had to protect her, no matter what.

With trembling hands, I opened the door and jumped out, my protruding belly a drowning weight.

With staggering steps, I walked into the moonlight as I began to run, my hands gauging my heavy stomach, my soggy breath.

She kicked again, my child.

And again till I winced from the pain and contraction below my hips.

"Just a little longer, baby, I will get you safe."

The streets were empty, the clouds drizzling as I continued to run barefooted.

The shooters weren't behind me, but I didn't stop.

They wanted me dead, and I needed to be safe.

I needed to go home, to my husband.

With each step I took, I could feel my heart pounding, my waist and back aching from the weight of my eight-month pregnancy.

But I didn't stop, I continued to run.

I only did when I entered my courtyard.

The gate was wide open, with Ethan's car parked in a distance.

He was home, back from the office, then why didn't he come pick me up from the gynaecologist?

Why did he send Moses instead?

Where was everybody?

"Ethan! Ethan!" I called out as I dragged my feet into the mansion, my legs almost giving up.

"I need help, anybody…

Help me!"

With each word that escaped from my lips, I felt my heartbeat even slower.

My vision now foggy as the sweat that clouded my forehead dropped on my eyelids.

"Please, help me…"

I continued to move, to stagger until I heard his voice, calling her name.

No, moaning out her name.

My best friend's name.

It was when I heard him moaning that I realized I had gotten in front of the bedroom, our bedroom.

His moans grew louder and harder.

Her loud screaming even more daring.

What the heck?

With one push, the door went flying open, and I came face to face with them.

My best friend, naked and on top of my naked husband.

Her waist rolling and humping on him as they both moaned in ecstasy.

The sour sight kicked my slow-beating heart, and just like that, I could hear it beat with vigour, the sweat on my forehead disappearing as a chill sensation ran down my spine.

"Ethan…" I breathed out, but it was loud enough to catch their attention as the little miss come-girl flew down, grabbing the blanket to cover her pale, naked body.

"Elle, you… you're here," Ethan stuttered as he also covered his body.

I glared at them, unable to say another word, a piercing thorn intruding into my bleeding heart.

My lips trembled as I took steps back, my eyes teary, my head throbbing.

He tied the white duvet around his waist and jumped down, "It's not what you think, Elle, I… I can explain," he mumbled as he walked towards me.

My eyes ran to her.

She had a devious smile on her face, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction.

That bitch.

"What happened, Elle?

Why? You're covered in blood?" he said as his hands stretched out towards me.

"Don't!" I snapped, my voice louder than my pounding heart.

"Don't fucking touch me…" My breath was hitched as more tears flowed freely.

"You… Why?

Why?" I yelled as my back hit the wall, my feet cold against the marble floor.

Then I felt it, a warm fluid trickle down my thighs, my waist cracking, my back and abdomen tightening.

A wave of pressure descended on my hips as I stared at the puddle on the ground.

My baby!

Goodness…

"No… Ethan, my baby," I cried as I fell into his arms, my eyes finally losing light.

Just like that, everything went dark, but the pain remained.

***

The beeping sound that intruded my earlobes caused me to stir.

The surface beneath me was warm and soft.

I sank in deeper, but then my eyes flew open.

"My baby!" I cried out as I jerked up from the bed, my widened eyes scanning the large room.

I was in the hospital, and my gynecologist was right beside me.

"Monica…" I mumbled as her pitiful gaze made my hands drop to my stomach.

It felt empty, less protruding, and fragile.

My eyes returned to her. "My baby… How's my baby?

Tell me!" I demanded as her gaze was starting to tickle my nerves.

"Tell me!" I yelled, and she flinched, the nurses behind her having the same reaction.

"You have to calm down, Cielle, you… you're just waking up after two months."

Two months?

What the fuck was she saying?

And why the heck wasn't she answering me?

"Where's my baby, doctor?" I trembled as my heart tightened.

The walls closed up on me as I could feel my whole body sting.

"We lost her, Cielle.

You had a miscarriage."

She dropped the words that were more toxic than an atomic bomb.

It sank deep into my chest and hurt me in ways I never knew were really possible.

My hands returned to my stomach as I grabbed onto the loose, floppy flesh.

Even though my heart was bleeding, mourning, my eyes were dry as the images of Ethan and Ashley flashed in my mind.

They did this.

Their betrayal did this.

They made me lose my baby.

The bitter lump in my throat stung, but not more than the pain in my chest.

"Cielle, there's something else…

You, you're… the police," the doctor stuttered, her voice filled with fright.

Just then, loud marching filled the room accompanied by loud roars, "Ms. Cielle Coleman, you're under arrest."

My neck turned hesitantly, and my eyes rested on the policeman and on the handcuffs in his hand.