The Breaking Point

It was quiet on the drive home from my father's house, but not a calm kind of quiet. Callum had insisted on going even though I hadn't wanted to. As his wife, he said, it was my responsibility to stop declining family dinners.

It had been painful to be there. Evangeline found every opportunity to talk down at me, and my father's cold gaze never left my face. For the majority of the evening, Callum remained silent, only speaking when my father questioned him about business. I tried to hold back my tears as I gazed out the window of the car. My hands were shaking uncontrollably in my lap, and my chest felt heavy.

Callum's grip on the steering wheel was tense, his jaw clenched as if he was biting something back.

When we got home, I didn't wait for him. I opened the door and got out quickly, then stepped in. My heels clicked on the floor, too loud in the silent house. My heart pounding with anger, fuming with every step.

By the time Callum closed the door, I was already waiting in the living room.

"Why did you force me to go?" My voice was gruff. "You know I didn't want to be there."

He set his keys on the table and regarded me with a chilly, heavy stare. "You're his daughter. It's your obligation to show up. Don't be immature."

My throat tightened. "A child? Are you even listening to yourself? You know what it's like for me there. You saw how they were treating me tonight. And you just sat there."

He rubbed the back of his neck and sighed. "Not right now, Zephyrine. I'm worn out."

"No," I said as I moved in closer, my voice trembling. "We are going to talk about this. Callum, I'm your wife. Tonight, I needed you to defend me, but you allowed Evangeline to make fun of me in front of everyone instead. You didn't do anything."

His expression darkened. "You think I'm unaware of what's happening? Do you believe I'm blind to the truth?

"What truth?" I demanded, my heart racing.

He gave me a direct look. "That you have been deceiving me. that you're barren and can't give me a child. Zephyrine, I saw the papers. I am aware of your infertility." The weight of his words hit me. For a moment, my lips parted but I didn't make any sound. "That's not true," I breathed. Before I could say another word, he turned and walked away.

"Where the hell are you going!" I screamed after him. He entered his office and threw a document at me.

It fell to the floor, and a paper caught my eye. It was a hospital report indicating I was barren. How could I be barren when I was pregnant.

"Who showed you these papers?"

His jaw clenched. "Does it? They were there. It all makes sense now. You've been lying the whole time."

My vision blurred with tears. "No. You don't understand. Those papers are forged. Please, Callum, you have to believe me."

He shook his head, his voice low and resentful. "Believe you? After all your silence, after all this? You hid this from me. Do you know what that's like?"

I stepped closer, my hands trembling. "I didn't lie to you. I wanted to tell you—I was waiting for the right moment. But you don't give me that chance. When I try, you push me away."

He laughed, but it had no meaning. "You'll say anything now. Always manipulating things."

I cringed at his words. "Twisting things? Callum, wake up! Evangeline is the one twisting everything. She wants you for herself, can't you see that? She'll say or do anything to make me look bad."

His eyes darkened. "Don't bring her into this. This is between us."

I shook my head, crying. "It's always her. She gets in the way of us every time, and you let her. You don't even try to shut her down. You turn your back on me for her time and time again."

His fist tightened. "You don't know what you're talking about."

"I do!" My voice cracked. "And you know it too. But maybe it's easier for you to think her, isn't it? Easy to assume I'm the one lying. Maybe you don't even want to fight for me."

"Enough!" His voice thundered through the room. He stepped into me and slammed me against the wall. The impact knocked the air out of me, and I fell onto the floor. A searing pain shot through my side.

I screamed and doubled over, arms wrapped around my stomach. Panic took over. "Callum…" My voice shook. "Please. Something's wrong."

He stared down at me, his chest rising rapidly, but his eyes were still cold.

"Please, get a doctor. I'm afraid something's wrong with the baby."

His face twisted. "What baby? Don't start this. You'll do anything for attention."

"No," I cried, my head shaking wildly. "This isn't for attention. I swear it. Please, Callum, I'm scared. Don't let anything happen to our baby."

He muttered under his breath, turning away. "You're pretending. You've always done this. You fall apart whenever I argue with you. I don't believe it this time."

Another wave of pain hit, more intensely. I screamed, doubling up. "I'm not pretending! Just hear me out, please! Please!"

But he didn't move. He grabbed his jacket instead, back still turned. "I cannot handle this now."

"Callum!" I screamed, reaching out a hand to him. "Don't leave like this. Please!"

He did not look back. The door slammed shut behind him, and its sound echoed through the room.

The air was silent, apart from my ragged breathing. My body shook as the pain grew worse. I tried sitting up, but the room started spinning around me.

My fingers dug tighter into my belly. I cried tears down my face. "Please hang on," I prayed beneath my breath. "My baby… please hang on."

Pain grew worse, my strength fading. My eyes blurred until all went dark.

The last thing I heard was my own broken whisper. "My baby… please…"

And then nothing.