Chapter 4

"Ian, don't let that wretch fool you! She already took the death compensation your firm gave and used it to get an abortion. Now that she's back with that baby in her womb, who knows which random guy knocked her up? She just sees you're still alive and wants you to play daddy to someone else's kid!" Molly's voice rang out shrilly.

Ian stared fixedly at the screen, his already scrambled memories thrown into complete chaos. He clutched his head in agony, cold sweat trickling down his face in big drops.

"Captain Goldman, deep breaths." Jessica's gentle voice slithered into his ears like a venomous snake. "This is your mother talking. She wouldn't lie to you. The woman you see now is no longer the wife you remember. Forget her. Don't let her trigger you…"

I couldn't hold back anymore and kicked the evaluation room door open. "What the hell is wrong with you, Jessica? You call this therapy when you're using some cherry-picked garbage to provoke him?"

My eyes burned red as I stormed in and grabbed the digital tablet off the table, hurling it straight to the floor. The screen shattered into a spray of glass.

"Ms. Jewell, you're out of line!" Jessica shot to her feet, righteously throwing herself in front of Ian like a human shield. "This is real evidence provided by Captain Goldman's family! For his safety, I went behind Mr. Jackson's back and requested a special security detail.

"If you can't prove the child's paternity, then I need you to immediately sign this 'No-Contact Agreement' and leave the care center!"

The medical personnel and security guards outside had heard the commotion and rushed over. Their eyes landed on me, now tinged with suspicion and gossip. After all, a "personal accusation" from Molly was lethal.

I ignored everyone else and just locked my gaze on Ian, who was slumped in his chair. The second he saw me, the pain in his eyes deepened. Molly's lies, Jessica's insinuations, and the real me standing right in front of him were tearing his mind apart.

He hurt so badly that he toppled off his chair, his whole body slick with cold sweat. He tried desperately to reach for me, but the more frantic he became, the less he could form actual words.

He mustered all his strength, but only a few broken syllables made it out. "No… not… Sof… stop…"

"Did you all hear that?" Jessica instantly raised her voice, cutting him off, looking at me triumphantly. "Even in his subconscious, Captain Goldman is saying that you're 'not' his wife. He's telling you to 'stop' forcing him!"

The whispers around us grew louder. Under a barrage of doubtful, judging stares, those fragmented words, twisted on purpose, became the most fatal blow to me.

"Fine. Fine!"

I let out a bitter laugh, the crushing humiliation burning out into cold despair. I snatched the "No-Contact Agreement" off the table, crumpled it into a ball, and hurled it straight at Jessica's face.

The very next second, a sharp, brutal pain stabbed through my lower abdomen without warning. My face drained of all color in an instant, and my knees buckled. My body went limp as I pitched toward the floor.

Instantly, my son's terrified, broken voice filled my mind. [Mommy! There's blood! I don't feel good… It hurts so much, Mommy… Help me… Dummy Daddy! If you still don't speak up, both Mommy and I are gonna die!]

A vivid streak of red slowly spread from under my dress and seeped across the floor. My consciousness began to fade…

"Sofia!"

That roar tore through every layer of pretense and confusion. It was no longer a shattered whisper or a tangled murmur.

Right before my body hit the ground, a pair of strong arms swept me up and pulled me tight against a solid chest. I felt hot tears splashing onto my face. A hoarse yet loud voice was the last thing I heard before everything went black.

"Doctor! Where's the doctor? Somebody save my wife!"