Chapter 3

I never thought he'd snap like this. Tears streamed down my face. "Please, don't hurt my baby. Steven, I've never asked you for anything. Just this once—let me go. I won't even blame you for hitting me."

It had taken everything—years of treatments, doctor visits—to get pregnant. I couldn't lose this baby.

Steven sneered. "You cheated. You deserve every hit. Next stop? Your parents. Let's see what kinda trash raised a woman like you."

Then he hit me. Hard.

My whole body froze. Cold sweat soaked my skin. I was shaking so bad I could barely speak.

"Steven, please... I'll do anything. Just don't hurt my baby."

Peggy sneered from the side. "Cecilia, weren't you always so high and mighty? Now you'll do anything for your bastard kid. And what about Steven's pride?"

That did it. Steven lost it. He raised his hand again, ready to end me.

I curled up, arms wrapped around my stomach. "Steven, stop! You'll regret this."

Xander would destroy him if he found out. And he would find out.

Steven had Peggy recording the whole thing, planning to show it to my parents like some twisted proof.

Peggy cackled. "I'm posting it too. Let everyone see what kind of woman she really is."

Steven ripped my arms from my stomach and tossed me like I was nothing.

I slammed into a jagged rock. Pain exploded in my gut—I couldn't shield the baby.

Blood spilled fast, pooling under me. I screamed, broken.

"Steven Garrett. Peggy Shane. You're gonna pay for this," I sobbed.

I didn't even hate him when he cheated. But now? I wanted them both dead.

Peggy kept filming, smug as ever. "Look, Steven. She's still acting tough. Doesn't even know she's wrong."

Steven grabbed a stick and cracked it across my head. "Do you get it now?"

Everything spun. My vision blurred.

Then Steven froze. Saw the blood. Panic crept in.

"Peggy... she's bleeding bad. What if she dies?"

Peggy chuckled. "Relax. She's your wife. Worst case? They call it domestic violence. Her parents won't do a thing. She cheated—maybe they'll even thank you for 'teaching her a lesson.'"

She sounded so sure, like abuse was just a slap on the wrist.

Steven straightened up, feeding off her madness. "Yeah. They should be thanking me."

I could barely breathe, but I forced the words out. "You're gonna die a miserable death."

"She still doesn't get it," Peggy said, eyes gleaming. "She might cheat again."

Steven nodded.

"She needs to be taught for real. We'll strip her. Parade her through the streets. Let's see if she ever acts out again."

They tore at my clothes like animals.

Shaking, I screamed, "You monsters! You'll pay for this!"

I clung to my shirt, trying to hold onto something—anything. But they ripped my coat off, shredded through my top.

I'd never felt so exposed. So helpless.

If I had a knife, I would've ended them both.

The world blurred, then faded to black.