Chapter 4

I had no choice but to stay at their place. Thea made sure I had everything I needed, but she remained cold toward me. I tried to leave several times, but she refused to let me.

Every night, once Hayden was asleep, Thea would quietly sneak into my room. She would take my hand and place it on her increasingly growing stomach. "Do you feel Daddy's hand?"

In the past, I would have found this to be the most precious moment in the world, but now, I wanted her nowhere near me. I would growl and tell her to get lost every time she came near me.

I was just counting down the days, waiting for her to get bored of me so that I could finally be free.

Hayden would invite all kinds of people over whenever Thea wasn't around, sometimes making them stay from day until night.

I could hear them play cards loudly and smell the stench of smoke and booze throughout the place. I could feel my headache growing steadily worse, leaving me unable to sleep a wink.

Hayden would allow strangers to walk into my room. They would laugh and insult me, calling me a homewrecker.

"Who are you trying to fool here?"

"Did you think having that child would help you get ahead?"

"How repulsive!"

I wanted to defend myself, but I couldn't even muster the strength to stand.

Thea often spent hours on the phone with Hayden while she worked.

Suddenly, I recalled something from the past—Thea would always wrap up our calls after barely three lines.

I felt my headache getting worse at that thought. I realized then that I was never the one she cared about in the first place.

I locked myself inside my room and refused to set foot outside, sinking deeper into silence.

Thea had no choice but to set up a surveillance camera in my room.

She spoke in a voice that retained the gentle warmth I used to know so well. "You should behave yourself, William. You can't just smother yourself by hiding under the covers. If you stay home and behave yourself, I'll take you on a vacation to Marisol soon. How does that sound, William?"

I kept my back to her and remained silent.

Thea finally showed up after another hectic week. She aggressively hauled me out of my room, saying, "You can't just keep shutting yourself in like this forever. You should come out and spend some time with the baby, too, William."

I took a step back, my body tensing up.

Hayden put on a wounded, whiny expression. "I don't know what's gotten into William, Thea. He keeps taking his anger out on me whenever you're away. If I refuse to listen to him, he says you won't want me anymore after the baby is born."

Thea pulled him in, deeply pained by Hayden's distress. "I know you've been having a hard time, but don't worry, I'm here for you now, Hayden."

She looked down at me, her expression hardening. "Are you still going to throw a tantrum, William?"

I said nothing and turned around, intending to return to my room.

Calvin, who had been helping Hayden a moment ago, suddenly came over and kicked me. "Why are you being so unreasonable? Hayden has been willing to put up with you, so stop acting like some victim! You should just behave yourself and do what you're told!"

Thea hesitated for a moment but ultimately remained silent.

I stumbled forward, and Hayden shrieked, shoving Thea out of the way. "Watch out!"

Thea ended up knocked over, clutching her stomach tightly as she kneeled on the floor and groaned. She broke out in a cold sweat, instantly drenching her clothes.

Hayden's wailing completely drowned out my shouting. "I have no idea what got into William! He just lunged at you out of nowhere! I was only trying to protect you, Thea! Do you think he's trying to use me to make you miscarry?"

Thea's face fell completely. She instantly ordered someone to take her to the hospital.

Hayden and Calvin hurried after her.

Later on, I heard that Thea miscarried. Hayden blamed himself constantly, while Thea kept reassuring him despite not being in good shape herself.

I couldn't even stand up as my headache kept getting worse. I managed to call for an ambulance with my last bit of consciousness.

I was admitted to the hospital while Thea attended yet another banquet with Hayden by her side. They even ended up all over the headlines as everyone gushed over how well-matched they were. I looked down at the rough calluses covering my hands and just managed a faint smile.

I found out I had a brain tumor from the hospital examination, but I chose not to undergo treatment. I took a cab straight to the airport once I left the hospital. I sent Thea one final message before turning off my phone.

"You must be relieved since I'm about to die soon, Thea."