Library
Search
Short
The Broken Candle

The Broken Candle

Short Story · Emotional Realism
By:  Perfect TimingCompleted
Language: English
goodnovel4goodnovel
10Chapters
0views
Read
Add to library

Share:  

Report
Overview
Catalog
SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP

Synopsis

Reborn

Revenge

Bias

Cheating

Plot Twists

Feel-Good Story

Hypocrisy

Ruthless

Karma

I went into labor at the same time as the woman next door. My husband took me to the hospital, but I delivered a stillborn child. Instead of comforting me, he lashed out, "Did you mess around while you were pregnant? Is that why you gave birth to such a monster?" I lost my baby, my name was dragged through the mud, and I was forced to divorce him and leave with nothing. One day, I happened to overhear my husband speaking to the neighbor: "Good thing we swapped your stillborn baby with May's healthy one. If your in‑laws had looked closely, they would have realized the dead baby was actually ours." That was when I finally understood the truth. They had been involved long before. He pushed me on purpose, causing premature labor, just so they could take my healthy baby and give me her dead one. When I confronted them, they held me down in the bathtub and drowned me. Yet when I opened my eyes again, I found myself back on the day I went into early labor. This time, I'll make sure she gives birth to that stillborn child. This time, I will expose them both for their affair and for what they did to me.

View More

Latest chapter

More Chapters

You may also like

Related Novels

New Release Novels

To Readers

Welcome to GoodNovel world of fiction. If you like this novel, or you are an idealist hoping to explore a perfect world, and also want to become an original novel author online to increase income, you can join our family to read or create various types of books, such as romance novel, epic reading, werewolf novel, fantasy novel, history novel and so on. If you are a reader, high quality novels can be selected here. If you are an author, you can obtain more inspiration from others to create more brilliant works, what's more, your works on our platform will catch more attention and win more admiration from readers.

No Comments
10 Chapters
Chapter 1
Gasping for air, my chest crushed against the cold porcelain of the bathtub, I pleaded with Sean Charlton–my husband–to spare me for the love we once shared. However, Sean merely towered over me and eyed me with contempt, unmoved."May, I've put up with you for far too long. Flaunting your fancy job, dictating 'you're in charge of the world outside, I handle home affairs.' I'm the man! I'm no slave of yours!"Rowena is different. She loves me, treats me like I'm her world, and gives me the dignity of a man."Rowena, the neighbor I had always looked out for, stood smirking behind him. "Thanks a million for handing over such a catch, May. Oh, and those healthy kids, too. Without you, I'd be at a loss with my own dead baby."I tried to fight back but was mercilessly pushed under the water.In my final moments, I saw my real daughter, the one they had switched, screaming to stop those monsters, only to be struck until she bled from her mouth and nose...In a blink, I was back to the
Read more
Chapter 2
"I just came out of the restroom. I didn't see you and thought maybe you'd gone to start the car. Who's this, someone we know?" I managed a smile, glancing at the nurse. Sean did not pick up on my panic, and I let out a silent sigh of relief."No, not really. I just had a question about health insurance. Come on, honey, I've got our room all set up. It's C-section time this afternoon!"Oh, and guess what? Our neighbor Rowena is right next door. You two might end up having your babies together!"Back in the room, Sean approached with a tray of fruit, and my hands were clammy with dread."Honey, we've got more fruit than we can eat. Would you mind taking some over to Rowena? It's good to share with the neighbors!"It felt all too familiar. In my previous life, Sean sent me to Rowena's with fruit, and that's when I bumped into her husband.Rowena's husband, Bennett Walker, was a sailor and was rarely home.Sean had his little fling with Rowena while Bennett was away. Bennett only r
Read more
Chapter 3
Of course, I was one step ahead. I was already on the floor when Rowena made her move, and I called for the doctor and nurse.Bennett rushed out at the commotion to find me cradling my belly, wailing."Sean sent me the fruit. He said you loved cherries! You can't just push me because you don't want them!"Bennett was the epitome of an old-school guy, tough on the outside and even tougher on the rules he set for his wife, Rowena. He was hardly ever home, but he expected her to be the picture of virtue–no other men allowed. When I mentioned Sean knew Rowena's fondness for cherries, Bennett snapped back, "And how would Sean know that, huh?"I played it cool, all wide-eyed innocence. "Well, with you gone, Rowena leans on Sean for help. They're close, grab meals together, and hang out. They're bound to pick up on what the other likes. Is that so weird?" Bennett's glare could have cut through steel. Rowena, in a total flap, tried to shut me up. "Cut it out, May! You're the one who's
Read more
Chapter 4
Even as Sean and Evelyn were helping me to the operating room, I kept an eye on Rowena. She saw me being held back and started her own little act, clutching her belly, claiming she needed the operating room too."Bennett, it's time! The baby's too big, and I can't do this naturally. I need a C-section!"Hearing that, I turned to the doctor beside me. "The operating room is a one-patient show, right? She can't come in!"Rowena was beside herself, bowing deeply to me in a panic."May, please, stop making this so hard for me! Being pregnant isn't easy! Just let me be!" she sobbed, her plea filled with raw emotion as she doubled over.Her display tugged at the heartstrings of the neighbors, who cast doubtful glances my way."She's bowing to you! How can you be so cold-hearted, you jealous thing?!" they muttered.Hidden from their view, Rowena shot me a smug grin, sure she had played her cards right to get into the operating room with me.I fought back with everything I had, screami
Read more
Chapter 5
Nancy's hand rested on the belly, her face contorting with disgust."There's no heartbeat! What the hell is going on inside there?"Rowena's face drained of color, her eyes wide with terror as she stared at Nancy. "Mom... please, just hear me out! I fell because someone pushed me, and that was when the baby stopped moving!"However, Nancy was beyond reason. Her hands trembled as she delivered two sharp slaps to Rowena's face. "You tramp! You've betrayed my son!"The dead child had been in Rowena's womb for too long, and the blows brought on a pain so intense that it felt like a tidal wave crashing inside her.Nancy blocked anyone from intervening, her feet brutally kicking Rowena's swollen belly. "You and that monstrosity inside you should both be dead!" Rowena was on the verge of passing out when the police finally stepped in to save her. Nancy, however, was adamant. "She betrayed my son. She deserves to die!" Bennett had been silently shocked the whole time, but then his bod
Read more
Chapter 6
The truth was, my due date had not even arrived. I was not anywhere close to needing a C-section.With a crowd of onlookers, the doctor would not bend the rules, and he gently turned down Sean's request.Rowena was already in labor. If I did not go through with the C-section, the truth about her stillborn would come to light.When that happened, Bennett and his mom would surely hold us accountable. With Bennett's fiery temper, Sean could end up worse than just beaten.Sean could not risk it. His face darkened with a terrible gravity.In a heartbeat, Sean blurted, "Honey, Mom's spiritual advisor said you should light a candle on the quiet rooftop before the baby comes, to pray for a safe birth!"A rooftop? The only way up was the stairs. It looked like Sean had a plan to send me tumbling down.I did not argue. I just followed him up the stairwell."Babe, I'll lead. Watch your step, okay?" said Sean, his concern as thin as ice.Still, what kind of husband leads the way when his
Read more
Chapter 7
I twisted the knife. "No wonder he's more concerned about our baby. You're just the girl next door, but this baby is the fruit of our love. Sean is bound to care more about his own flesh and blood!"My words hit Rowena hard, and she passed out cold.The maternity ward erupted into chaos, and I slipped away in the confusion. Evelyn tried to block me, but I shot back at her, "How are you going to handle the fallout when everyone saw her deliver a stillborn?"Evelyn clammed up fast. As I walked away, I caught her reflection in the wall, sneakily making a call.That was probably to Sean.However, Sean had just taken a nasty fall down the stairs. He was sprawled out, unable to move, nursing what had to be a broken arm or leg.That wimp, too scared to even deal with a little pain, would not be picking up the phone.Bennett and his mom gave me suspicious looks as I walked out of the operating room, still pregnant."Weren't you supposed to be giving birth? What happened?"I gave them
Read more
Chapter 8
Tears streamed down my face as I pleaded, "Nancy, I'm a victim, too. My husband cheated with your daughter-in-law, and they had a child... I'm truly the innocent one here!"I tried to reach Nancy's heart and then laid out the facts. "The baby's gone, but what if Sean won't own up to it? If Rowena sticks to her story that Sean forced himself on her, you and Mr. Walker will have to suck it up and keep supporting her, the harlot!"I kept at it, "Let me be straight with you. The house and car? My parents bought those; Sean's got nothing to do with them. The guy hasn't worked in years, no savings to speak of. You could bleed a stone and get more than what he can pay up!"We've got to get Sean to fess up to what he had with Rowena–that's what matters now!"Nancy was sharp as a tack, and it did not take her long to catch on.She rallied the troops, a whole bunch of kin, and they laid into Rowena with everything they had.Rowena, fresh from childbirth, was in no shape for that kind of as
Read more
Chapter 9
Rowena produced all the evidence of her affair with Sean.The story of their secret rendezvous and their conspiracy to take my child was all laid bare.Sean, of course, could not own up to it, adamantly claiming that it was all a pack of lies from Rowena.However, the evidence was staring him in the face. There was no way he could deny it.Nancy seized the moment to alert the authorities, and with the police as witnesses, a paternity test was done for Sean and the lifeless infant.The results were undeniable: the baby was Sean's.Sean was cornered, with no way out.Once the results were in, he pleaded with me, "Rowena was the one who lured me in! Honey, you have to believe me!"Who'd be interested in a widow who lost her husband? I would never have given in if she hadn't drugged me and forced herself on me!"And this child, too! She got pregnant with it behind my back!"Sean showed his true colors, not hesitating for a second to throw Rowena under the bus.Rowena, in utter d
Read more
Chapter 10
The divorce from Sean went off without a hitch.Rowena got the boot and did not get a dime.After Bennett gave her a piece of his mind and everyone else gave her the cold shoulder, she had no choice but to crawl back to Sean.However, Sean was practically broke, barely getting by himself. Supporting her? Not a chance.Rowena's kick had left Sean with a bum leg that twisted as it healed. Due to that, he hobbled around, nearly as good as crippled.Resentment simmered between them: Sean with his grudges, Rowena with her cold shoulder.Nancy confided in me that the pair, though housemates, were at each other's throats daily, stirring up a racket that could wake the dead.The stillborn they brought home did not last long before it decayed, swarming with maggots, filling the house with a stench worse than a sewer.Rowena's grip on sanity started to slip, her days filled with wild outbursts. A video of one such episode, self-recorded, went viral and, bizarrely, turned a profit.That'
Read more
View More
Explore and read good novels for free
Free access to a vast number of good novels on GoodNovel app. Download the books you like and read anywhere & anytime.
Read books for free on the app
SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP
DMCA.com Protection Status