Chapter 4

Ruby’s POV

A gasp tore out of my throat, and my hands flew to my mouth as the tears started flowing all over again. But this time, they weren't tears of grief. They were tears of shock.

Emily let out a loud squeal next to me, her fingers squeezing mine so hard she was practically cutting off my circulation. "Oh my god, Ruby! Did you hear that? The baby is still there!"

"I hear it," I whispered, my eyes glued to that tiny, flickering light on the monitor. It was a miracle. A tiny, fragile miracle fighting for its life inside me.

The doctor cleared his throat, his expression softening as he watched us, but his tone quickly turned serious again. "Please understand, Mrs. Sinclair, the baby is extremely fragile right now. Your body has been through massive physical trauma, and losing one twin puts the other at a severe disadvantage. You must rest properly. No lifting, no exertion, and most importantly, you need to avoid stress or anger. Your emotional state directly impacts the pregnancy."

"I'll do whatever it takes," I promised him, nodding frantically. "Whatever you need me to do."

After we left the examination room and started walking down the quiet hallway, Emily leaned close to me, her voice dropping to a sharp whisper. "So, what's the plan? Are you going to call Ethan and tell him?"

I hesitated, my boots dragging against the linoleum floor as a heavy weight settled over my chest. I looked down at my stomach, a sudden, protective instinct flaring up deep inside me. "I don't know, Em. He just told me he wants a divorce. I don't want to use a child to keep a man tied to me if he doesn't want to be there."

Emily stopped dead in her tracks, turning to face me with outrage written all over her face. "Are you crazy, Ruby? So you're just going to let that bitch take what she wants? They've treated you terribly. Both of them! You have to tell him. He should know you're carrying his child. He'll come back and take care of you and the baby, be a good husband and a proper father. It's his responsibility!"

"I don't want him out of responsibility, Emily," I murmured, my voice heavy with exhaustion. "I want him to want me."

As we stepped out of the elevator and into the main lobby downstairs, any lingering warmth from the doctor's office evaporated instantly. Standing right by the exit doors, looking perfectly fine and holding a designer handbag, was Vivian.

Since Ethan wasn't anywhere in sight, she didn't bother wasting her energy on the innocent, helpless act. The second her eyes landed on my bandage and my crumpled appearance, a cruel, mocking smile spread across her face.

"Well, well, look who finally crawled out of her hole," Vivian sneered, stepping directly into our path so we couldn't pass. "You need to hurry up and sign those divorce papers, Ruby. Stop humiliating yourself by clinging to Ethan. He doesn't want you. He never did. Just wrap it up and leave with whatever dignity you have left."

Emily instantly stepped in front of me, her chest puffed out as she glared at my stepsister. "Shut your mouth, you vulture! Ruby is his wife. You're just a home-wrecking piece of trash who only showed up the second he got a title. Go back to whatever sewer you crawled out of!"

Vivian didn't even blink. She just let out a low, arrogant laugh, tossing her hair over her shoulder. "Think whatever you want, but it doesn't change reality. Did you know I found out yesterday that I'm pregnant? It's Ethan's baby. A true pack heir. Once the divorce goes through, he'll definitely marry me."

The ground felt like it was shifting beneath my feet. I stared at her, the words echoing in my head like a death sentence. Pregnant. It wasn't just that he loved her. He had been sleeping with her while we were married. He really cheated on me. Every single promise, every quiet moment I thought we shared over the last three years, was a complete and utter lie.

Emily’s jaw dropped in shock, and I could see the moment she opened her mouth to scream that I was pregnant too.

"Don't," I snapped, grabbing Emily’s arm tightly, cutting her off before she could say a single syllable. I stepped around my friend, looking Vivian dead in the eye. I didn't cry. I didn't scream. The grief in my heart hardened into ice.

"You're just like your mother, Vivian," I said, my voice completely smooth and calm. "Both of you only know how to use children to trap men. I feel sorry for your baby, honestly. Growing up with a mother like you must be a curse."

Vivian’s face flushed a violent, angry red, her perfect composure shattering in an instant. "What did you say to me? You pathetic little—"

"As long as I'm still Luna, you don't get to speak here," I interrupted, my voice dropping into a commanding tone that made her freeze.

I didn't have time for her drama. The doctor said I needed to avoid stress, and I wasn't going to let this girl endanger the only piece of joy I had left. I turned my head and caught the eye of a large, burly hospital security guard standing near the front desk.

"Excuse me," I called out, keeping my posture straight and dignified. "I'm the Luna, Ruby Sinclair. This woman is trespassing on pack-affiliated property and has been harassing my friend and me. Could you please escort her out of the building immediately?"

The guard’s eyes went wide when he recognized my face, and he didn't hesitate for a fraction of a second. He marched right over and grabbed Vivian firmly by the upper arm.

Vivian began to thrash violently, her high heels scuffing against the polished floor as she screamed at the top of her lungs. "Let go of me! Do you know who I am? Get your filthy hands off me! I'm the future Luna! Ethan will have your head for this! Let me go!"

The entire lobby turned to stare as the guard calmly and ruthlessly dragged her straight through the sliding glass doors, tossing her out onto the sidewalk like a piece of garbage. Her muffled shouting faded into the distance as the doors slid shut behind her.

Emily stood there for a second, her mouth open, before a huge grin broke across her face. "Okay, that was iconic. But seriously, Ruby, what are we doing now?"

We walked out to her car, and the silence inside the vehicle felt heavy as Emily started the engine but kept her foot on the brake. "What do you intend to do about Ethan?"

I looked out the passenger window, watching the city streets pass by. My mind was completely made up. "Divorce him. I'm going to take my child, leave this pack, and keep the secret. No one will ever know about this baby."

"But, Ruby—" Emily started, her face twisted in worry.

"No buts, Em," I said, turning to look at her, my voice firmer than it had ever been in my life. "Ethan cheated on me. He spent the night with her while I was bleeding. And when I told him about our child yesterday, he literally said it was for the best that the baby was gone. He said he didn't want our child. Now that my baby has been given a second chance at life, I am not giving him another chance to hurt us. He doesn't deserve to be a father."

Emily swallowed hard, nodding slowly as she finally put the car in drive. "Where do you plan to go? You can't just vanish into thin air without a plan."

"I'll start over," I said, a cold feeling washed over me. "I'm going to take every single cent of the alimony he offered. He wanted to buy my silence and a quick divorce? Fine. I'm going to make him pay for it, and I'll use his own money to build a perfect life for my baby far away from here."

I pulled my phone out of my pocket. My fingers were steady as I opened the text thread with my husband. I typed out a short message, making sure there was no room for negotiation.

"I agree to the divorce. Let's meet in your office tomorrow morning to sign."