Chapter 2

Jennie stared at Daryl’s face and suddenly found the whole thing absurd.

How had she never noticed before?

Whenever Zara was involved, Daryl always lost his composure.

He never acted this way over any of his male friends.

“Yes. I called the police.”

The moment she admitted it, Daryl’s expression darkened. He grabbed her wrist hard.

“Just because she wouldn’t let me go home, you accused her of attempted murder?”

His grip was so tight it felt as though he might crush her bones.

Jennie frowned from the pain but didn’t immediately pull away.

“This is a hospital, Daryl. I’m lying here as a patient, but from the moment you walked through that door, all you’ve cared about is Zara. You haven’t even asked how I’m doing.”

Daryl seemed to notice her hospital gown for the first time.

“You only had a little bleeding. It’s not that serious. Medicine is so advanced these days. The doctors can find a way to save the baby. But Zara’s different. How could she possibly stay in a detention center? She...”

Jennie couldn’t stand another word.

She slapped him across the face.

His voice cut off abruptly.

Daryl stared at her in disbelief.

“You hit me?”

Jennie ripped her wrist from his grip and said without expression, “Daryl, I want a divorce.”

He froze for a moment.

Then he laughed, his face filled with undisguised mockery.

“A divorce? You love me so much. Do you really think you can go through with it? Don’t forget, you were the one who schemed your way into marrying me.”

Jennie gave a bitter smile and was about to respond when Zara walked into the hospital room.

“That’s right, Jennie. You’re crazy about Daryl. What happens if he actually divorces you? You’ll just end up swallowing your pride and begging him to take you back. Why bother?”

The moment Jennie saw her, her expression changed.

She raised a trembling hand and pointed at Zara.

“What is she doing here?”

Daryl released Jennie’s wrist, straightened up, and adjusted his clothes.

“I bailed her out.”

Jennie stared at him, wondering for a moment whether she had heard him correctly.

“You bailed her out?”

“That detention center is no place for anyone to live,” Daryl said dismissively. “Zara has been pampered her entire life. How could she stay somewhere like that?”

Jennie’s stomach churned.

The metallic taste of blood flooded her mouth.

Zara lowered her eyes and offered a fake apology.

“Jennie, I’m sorry. I know I shouldn’t have hung up on you. But I swear I wasn’t the one who poured oil by the stairs.”

Jennie threw back the covers and climbed out of bed.

She grabbed Daryl by the front of his shirt and pounded her fists against his chest.

“How could you bail her out? She nearly killed me. She killed our baby!”

Daryl caught her hands.

Before he could react, Zara rushed over and shoved Jennie away.

“What are you doing? I already apologized, but you just won’t let it go! Just because Daryl loves you doesn’t mean you can keep pushing your luck!”

She immediately turned to inspect Daryl.

“Are you okay? Honestly, Jennie, how could you hit him?”

“I’m fine,” Daryl said.

Zara scoffed.

“I told you women like her are nothing but trouble. All they know how to do is cry, make scenes, and threaten to hurt themselves. I warned you not to get married, but you refused to listen. Regretting it now?”

Jennie fell backward, slamming her lower abdomen against the edge of the bed frame.

A violent cramp tore through her.

“It hurts.”

Daryl’s expression shifted slightly.

He pushed Zara aside and hurried over.

“What’s wrong?”

Jennie grabbed his hand, sweat pouring down her pale face.

“My stomach hurts so badly. Call a doctor.”

“Hold on. I’ll get one right now.”

Her pain looked real, and panic flashed across Daryl’s face as he reached for the call button beside the bed.

Zara grabbed his arm.

“Daryl, have you forgotten how good she is at pretending to be weak just to get your sympathy? Don’t you remember why you married her in the first place?”

His hand froze.

She was right.

Throughout their three-year marriage, whenever he got too close to Zara, Jennie would cry, throw a fit, or threaten to hurt herself.

Three years ago, his stomach condition had flared up while he was out drinking with clients. Jennie had gone out in the rain in the middle of the night to buy him medicine.

His stomach had gotten better, but she had come down with a high fever.

Touched by what she had done, he had proposed to her.

If Zara hadn’t reminded him that Jennie could’ve simply ordered the medicine online instead of going to the pharmacy herself, he might never have realized Jennie had manipulated him.

She had fooled him again and again.

How had he nearly fallen for it this time too?

Daryl pulled his hand back.

“Zara’s right. Stop pretending, Jennie. The same trick stops working after you use it too many times.”

Jennie’s face had gone deathly pale.

Warm liquid trickled down the inside of her thigh.

“I’m not pretending. It really hurts.”

She forced herself upright and reached for the call button.

Her fingers had barely touched the red button when her arm dropped weakly to her side.

The pain in her abdomen grew worse.

She curled into a tight ball, as though it were the only way to ease the agony.

Daryl frowned.

She didn’t look like she was pretending.

Was she really in pain?

While he hesitated, Zara spotted the streaks of blood running down Jennie’s legs.

Afraid Daryl would see it too, she quickly pulled him aside and turned his back to Jennie.

“Daryl, let’s go. Jennie needs some time alone to calm down.”

Daryl nodded.

With his back still turned, he said, “Zara swore to me that she didn’t pour the oil on the stairs. It was just an accident. It’s over now, and you’re fine, so stop dragging this out. Stay here and focus on recovering. I’ll come see you when I have time.”

Zara looked at the trails of blood left on Jennie’s legs, a flash of satisfaction in her eyes.

“Jennie, we’re both women. Can’t you be a little more independent, like me? Stop revolving your whole life around a man. Daryl’s going to get sick of it. Get out more and you’ll realize there are plenty of things worth pursuing besides men.”

With that, she took Daryl by the arm and led him out of the room.

Jennie watched them leave as tears poured down her face.

Once again, Daryl had abandoned her for Zara.

He believed every word Zara said.

But whenever Jennie spoke, he assumed she had some hidden motive.

The door suddenly opened.

Chloe stepped inside and froze at the sight of Jennie curled up on the hospital bed, covered in blood.

The food container slipped from her hands.

She rushed over, slammed the call button, and screamed at the top of her lungs.

“Doctor! We need a doctor!”