Chapter 2

I didn't reply to Vera.

By the time I was discharged the next day and made it back to the estate, it was already evening.

The moment I pushed the door open, I saw Damian and Vera.

Vera was in a wine-red gown, her arm hooked naturally through Damian's.

Her head was held high like a proud peacock.

When she saw me, she smiled warmly.

"Seraphina, discharged already?"

"I figured you'd be laid up in the hospital at least a few more days."

I didn't answer.

The reason I'd rushed back was to pack my bags.

I was sick of the neon and the noise of Las Vegas, and sick of the people here.

I was going to leave this place and start over somewhere new.

Vera paid no mind to my silence and turned to Damian.

"Remember what I said on the plane? Seraphina's best trick is using her health to scare people."

"You just wouldn't listen. You were in such a hurry to get back that you bailed on my birthday party halfway through. Such a buzzkill."

Damian's brow furrowed slightly.

He looked down at me, disappointment in his eyes.

My fingers slowly curled tight.

Explanations were for people who understood you. And clearly, Damian wasn't that anymore.

"It was just a little rear-end collision, and you made a huge fuss over it."

Vera clung tighter to Damian's arm.

"Dozens of calls in one night. I didn't even get to sleep well."

"We're both women. I get it. You just didn't want Damian seeing me, so you made something up."

Damian didn't argue.

He just looked at me in silence, eyes full of reproach, yet helpless.

"Never mind that. Why were you in such a hurry to check out?"

He reached up and tucked my shawl in for me. "If you don't care about yourself, at least care about the baby."

I bit down hard on my lower lip.

He'd already decided I was lying.

The words I hadn't had the chance to say yesterday didn't need saying today.

I took a step back and said flatly, "I'm going away for a while."

Damian's hand froze midair.

His voice went cold. "You're still pregnant. You should be staying home and resting."

Vera covered her mouth and laughed. "The day before yesterday you said you were at risk of a miscarriage, and today you want to go on vacation."

"I mean, Seraphina, there's a limit to being this willful. Don't make Damian worry about you."

I lifted my eyes.

My voice wasn't loud, but it cut straight through her laugh.

"Vera, don't get fresh with me. And watch your mouth. You'll address me as Donna."

Vera froze. Her eyes welled up fast.

She collapsed into Damian's arms, her voice choked.

"Damian, did you see how she treats me?"

"She called you dozens of times in one night to drag you back, and my head is still pounding..."

Damian pulled her close and looked at me coldly.

"You're out of line. Apologize to Vera."

I met his gaze without flinching. "I didn't do anything wrong. Why should I apologize?"

"You lied! And you harassed Vera with dozens of calls..."

"So you're sure I did it?" I asked, looking straight into his eyes.

Damian went silent. Then, slowly, he spoke.

"Stop this. You're pregnant. I'm not going to fight with you."

In that moment, I smiled, like something had finally let go inside me.

He pulled a schedule out of his inner suit pocket and shoved it into my hand.

"This is your schedule. Follow it, and stop acting out!"

I glanced at it. Every entry was timed down to the minute.

Wake-up time, breakfast time, prenatal checkup time.

From the moment I opened my eyes to the moment I closed them, Monday through Sunday, all laid out neat and clear.

Too bad I was no longer a wind-up toy he could set however he liked.

Vera took his arm and said softly:

"Damian, the congressman's going to be at tonight's banquet. We'd better not be late."

Damian nodded, then gritted out at me:

"I don't have time for your tantrums. Think about what you've done, and when I get back, we're going to have a serious talk."

With that, he left with Vera.

I went upstairs, packed my bags, and booked a flight out.

Then a text popped up on my phone.

[Booking failed. Your bank account has been locked.]