Chapter 4

NICO

I didn’t even remember how fast I moved. One moment, Hannah was right beside me.

Next, her eyes went distant, and her knees started to give way.

She was losing consciousness.

I caught her before she hit the ground. Oh God, what do I do?

“Hannah,” I called out. I shook her gently. “Please look at me.”

She didn’t respond.

“Somebody help!” My voice came out hoarse as I shouted..

The maid screamed behind me. Johnson, one of our drivers, rushed over. “Sir, what happened?”

“She fainted,” I said. “Open the car. Now!”

“Should we call an ambulance?” someone asked.

I didn’t wait. I was already carrying her to the car.

Hannah’s head rested against my shoulder. I held her tight. She felt so light in my arms. So still.

Please, I prayed. Just let her be okay.

I’ll fix this. I’ll do anything.

I never meant for it to go this far. It was supposed to be nothing. Only a stupid mistake. 

I never planned on cheating. I didn’t love the other woman. I barely knew her.

It was after one of the worst fights Hannah and I had. When the test came back negative again, she locked herself in the bathroom for hours.

Hannah wouldn’t talk to me. I just wanted the pain to stop… You know, to feel like someone needed me.

But that night turned into a mess I could never take back.

I knew she was already suspicious. I saw it in her eyes last night.

I thought a special dinner would make things better, that it would ease whatever doubts she had.

But it didn’t.

Hannah only seemed more certain that something was off. 

I can’t let her find out. I had to keep this secret. 

If she knew… she’d leave. I couldn’t lose her. Not like this. 

She’s my precious in my whole life.

“Stay with me,” I whispered to her. “I need you more than anything.” 

**********************************

HANNAH

I woke to the bright lights above me. There was also a steady beeping noise somewhere.

Everything in my body ached. I blinked slowly. The first thing I see is white.

The second was him.

Nico.

He was sitting on my bedside. His hands were clasped. It looked like he had been praying.

For a moment, I should’ve been touched. He’d been here, waiting for me to wake up.

But no.

Everything that happened before I fainted came rushing back. I wasn’t overthinking. I wasn’t imagining things.

Nico slept with another woman. I just needed to hear it from him.

He looks relieved when he sees I’m awake. Something in him unclenched.

Too bad for him. All I felt was rage. Fuck, I wanted to slap him right now.

“Honey?” he called out. “Thank goodness. You’re awake.”

“You cheated on me,” I whispered.

His expression faltered. He caught it instantly.

“What are you talking about?” he asked. His eyebrows furrowed like he didn’t know what I was talking about.

Lying son of a bitch.

“I saw the photo,” I said, louder now. “Don’t pretend you don’t know what I’m talking about.”

He blinked. “I don’t… What photo?”

“Don’t fucking lie to me!” I shouted. “Give me my phone.”

He didn’t argue. Without a word, Nico reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out my phone.

He placed it carefully in my hand. I was filled with adrenaline as I grabbed it. I swiped through everything — messages, gallery, and deleted folders.

But nothing.

No image. No message. Just proof.

Someone had wiped the evidence clean. I feel cold all over.

I knew what I saw. 

“I didn’t delete it,” I said. “It was there. I didn’t even save it. H-how the hell—”

Nico reached for me. I jerked away the second he touched me.

“Hannah,” he said. “Listen. You’ve been through so much lately. Maybe it wasn’t real. Maybe your mind — ”

He even had the audacity to gaslight me. “Don’t. You do not get to say that to me,” I snapped.

“I’m not trying to upset you. I just think you need to rest. You've been under pressure for months now. The fertility treatments, my mom, and the stress… I know you’re just overwhelmed right now.”

“Overwhelmed?” I scoffed. “You really think I hallucinated a picture of you in bed with another woman?”

“I think you need time and space. You know what? Let’s go away. Just you and me. No phones. No appointments. We’ll reset.”

“You really think a silly vacation would fix this?” I laughed. “You must be joking.”

He walked slowly to my side. “I love you. I’ve never stopped loving you.”

“Then why wasn’t I enough?”

He flinched. “You are enough. You’ve always been enough.”

God, I wanted to believe him so badly. A part of me still yearned for him to tell me everything would be okay.

But I couldn’t. Not after what I’d seen.

For a second, I thought I might break right there. My tears were about to spill.

I blinked hard and looked away. I wouldn’t let him see me cry.

I knew he would use my vulnerability. I need to get the fuck out of here.

“I’m leaving,” I said coldly.

“You’re not going anywhere like this.”

“Try and stop me.”

He blocked the door. “Hannah, please. Just talk to me.”

“I am talking. I’m saying I’m done!”

I was about to leave but he kissed me passionately. 

It was the kind of kiss that once made my heart skip, back when I believed him. But now, all I feel is disgust.

The thought of him kissing me after fucking another woman made my skin crawl.

It felt dirty. I shoved him, wishing I could wipe the taste of his lips away.

He didn’t budge. He was still forcing himself into me.

I bit him for him to back off. His lip split beneath my teeth. He stumbled back with a curse.

“Shit!” he yelled. “Why did you do that for?”

I stared at the blood at the corner of his mouth.

I wiped my own lips. “Don’t ever touch me again.”

“Hannah — ” he said, trying to calm himself down. “I was shocked. I didn’t mean to…”

“I want a divorce!” I cut him off and shouted.

And this time, I meant it more than I’ve ever meant anything in my life.