Life, cut short

The cool night air on the poolside offered little relief from the suffocating tension inside. Kim walked toward the edge of the water, taking deep, steadying breaths as she gripped the sapphire ring tightly in her palm.

Behind her, the click of sharp heels announced she wasn't alone.

"You really think you belong here, don't you?" Denise’s voice cut through the quiet night, dripping with arrogance as she stopped right behind Kim.

Kim didn't turn around. "Leave me alone, Denise."

Denise moved closer, stepping into Kim’s space. Her eyes locked greedily onto the sparkling sapphire in Kim’s finger. "That Jordan family heirloom belongs to the mother of the future Jordan heir. Give it to me.."

Kim turned, her expression unyielding. "You stole my promotion, Denise. You took my husband. But you will not take this."

"You penniless lab rat!" Denise hissed, her composure snapping.

She lunged forward, her hands clawing forcefully at Kim’s fingers to snatch the ring. Kim pulled back sharply, trying to break free from her grip. In the frantic scuffle, Denise’s high heel caught on the slick, wet tile edge of the pool.

Her leg slipped out from under her. Panicking, Denise reached out and snagged the hem of Kim’s gown, yanking her down as she lost her balance.

Splash!

The freezing water swallowed them both whole.

When she broke through, gasping, Denise was already on her, clawing at her shoulders, forcing her back under. Then the kicks came,right into Kim's stomach, again and again.

Each blow stole what little air she had. Kim doubled over in the water, retching, unable to cry out. Her hands grasped uselessly at Denise's arms, but the woman was relentless. Another kick. Kim's vision blurred at the edges.

Denise surfaced almost instantly near the shallow edge, thrashing frantically and screaming at the top of her lungs. "Help! Help! Somebody help me! She pushed me! Kim pushed me!"

The doors to the ballroom burst open as Lucas rushed out onto the patio.

"Kim!" Lucas yelled, running out to the edge. Without hesitation, he kicked off his shoes and prepared to dive straight toward Kim’s sinking figure.

"Lucas!" Denise shrieked hysterically, clutching her stomach in the shallow end. "Lucas, save the baby! My stomach hurts, please save our baby!"

Lucas froze mid-motion. He looked at Kim, struggling beneath the dark water, and then at Denise, crying out in terror.

His choice was made in a split second. Lucas turned away from Kim and dove into the shallow end, pulling Denise securely into his arms and lifting her out.

Denise clung to him, trembling against his chest. "She attacked me, Lucas. I don't know why…”

"I've got you," he said firmly.

Is this how I'm going to die? Kim thought, her vision blurring into blackness as the cold water filled her nose and mouth. Abandoned... with no one left to save me?

She slipped below the surface one final time and the world went black.

Suddenly, a powerful splash rippled through the deep end. A pair of strong arms wrapped firmly around her waist, pulling her upward against a broad chest.

Saul broke through the surface of the water, holding Kim securely against him as he hauled her safely onto the poolside marble.

Kim stared at the white ceiling for a long time before she understood where she was, the hospital. Her body felt heavy and numb. Her stomach felt empty. She turned her head slowly. 

She tried to speak but her throat was dry. The door opened.

A doctor walked in, middle-aged, kind eyes. He checked her chart, then looked at her.

"Mrs. Jordan. You're awake."

"How long?" Her voice was low.

"Two days." He pulled a chair to the bedside and sat down heavily.

“You sustained significant trauma to your abdomen. There was internal bleeding. We operated the night you were brought in."

Kim's hand moved instinctively to her stomach. The doctor watched her hand. Then he met her eyes.

"I'm sorry."

The word hung in the room like smoke.

"The pregnancy could not be saved."

Kim had known. Somewhere in the dark water, beneath Denise's kicking feet, she had known. But knowing and hearing it spoken aloud felt different. A heartbeat she had been keeping, gone.

The doctor said more things. Recovery time. Follow-up. Counselors. His voice was gentle and procedural and meant nothing. Kim continued staring at the ceiling. Eventually, he stood. Squeezed her shoulder and left.

The door had barely closed when it opened again.

Lucas Jordan walked in. Behind him, Denise sat in a wheelchair, her ankle wrapped, her hair freshly styled, a cashmere throw across her lap. She looked up at Kim with red-rimmed eyes and trembling lips.

Lucas positioned the wheelchair at the foot of the bed. Denise pressed a tissue to her cheek.

"Kim." Lucas's voice was measured. "Denise hasn't slept. She's been terrified since that night. She can barely eat."

‎"The ring," he said flatly. "Give it to Denise."

‎

‎Kim's breath stopped.

‎

‎"You gave me that ring on our wedding day." Kim's voice rose. “You put it on my finger and you said forever. Does the vows mean nothing to you?"

‎‎

‎Then Denise spoke, barely audible from behind her tissue.

‎

‎"Lucas...Kim is your wife. She should have the ring."

‎

‎She said it like a plea..

‎

‎Lucas looked down at Denise and squeezed her shoulder.

‎

‎"You're too good," he murmured.

‎

‎Then he turned back to Kim.

‎

‎"Give me the ring."

‎

‎"No."

‎

‎He stepped to the bedside, pried her fingers open and slid the ring off her finger.

‎

‎Lucas stepped back. Turned to Denise. Took her hand and slid the ring onto her finger gently..

‎

‎Denise looked up at him, lip trembling. "Are you sure? I don't want to.."

‎

‎"It's where it belongs," Lucas said quietly.

"Also Denise's frightened," Lucas continued, "that you might try to hurt her again. So I'm going to ask you to apologize."

"I'm not apologizing.”

Kim's voice was low and steady.

Lucas tilted his head. "Kim.."

"She kicked me. Repeatedly. In the stomach." Kim's hand pressed flat against the gauze. "She dragged me into that pool. And I lost…" Her voice cracked. She swallowed hard. "I am not apologizing for something I didn't do."

Denise let out a small, wounded sound and buried her face in her tissue. Lucas placed a protective hand on Denise's shoulder, his eyes never leaving Kim.

He leaned forward. His voice dropped to a commanding tone.

"Then don't blame me for what I'm about to do."

He wheeled Denise out of the room.

Somewhere down the hall, a phone rang. Lucas Jordan answered it on the second ring.

"Yes. Start the procedure."