Chapter 3

Beth got into the passenger seat and turned around to comfort me. "It's all right. Don't worry. Nothing's going to happen to you."

The car sped off. He kept glancing at me in the rearview mirror, looking worried.

I was thrown around in the back seat, shaking, blood running down my thighs.

He headed for the nearest hospital.

We were nearly there. I kept my teeth clenched.

At the traffic light, Beth grabbed his wrist. "Go to the other hospital! The one on the north side. There's a top specialist there. He can save the baby."

"No..." My voice was growing weaker.

I wouldn't last that long. The hospital on the north side was an hour's drive away.

Beth went on. "I'll call the doctor now and make sure she gets treated as soon as we arrive."

Then she turned back to me. "Don't worry. He's going to save your baby!"

I struggled to speak through the pain.

Colton paused for a few seconds and glanced back at me. "How are you doing?"

Beth urged him on. "Hurry up! It's the only way to save her baby! Don't waste time!"

Colton hesitated, then hit the gas and turned the wheel. The words I had been trying to say died in my throat.

The pain in my lower belly was unbearable, and the bleeding kept getting worse.

My eyelids grew heavy, and I passed out.

When I woke up, I was in a hospital bed.

The room smelled like disinfectant.

Colton sat beside my bed with his head bowed, exhaustion written on his face. His eyes lit up when he saw I was awake.

"You're awake, Monica.

"Does anything hurt? Thank God you're all right."

His eyes reddened as he spoke.

Before he could finish, Beth dropped to her knees beside my bed, took my hand, and pleaded through her tears. "I'm sorry, Monica. Please don't blame Colton.

"We were only trying to do right by you. We wanted to save your baby.

"It all happened so fast. The baby couldn't be saved, but you're all right, and the two of you can have another one."

My heart seized up.

I opened my mouth. "The baby's gone?"

Colton lowered his head. "I'm sorry. It was my fault. Don't blame Beth."

She stepped in front of him and cried harder.

"No! It was my fault! Blame me!

"Hitting your car was an accident. Neither of us meant for it to happen."

Watching the two of them cover for each other, I could have laughed.

"You two killed my baby!" The words scraped out of my throat. "I saw what you were doing. Don't stand here pretending to cry for me. My baby is gone. You're happy now, aren't you, Beth?!"

I yanked my hand out of hers.

"Who do you think you're fooling?

"I'm telling you both right now, I will make you pay for this!"

Colton's face darkened. "I know you're grieving. So am I. But it was an accident."

"Get out!" I threw a pillow at them. "I'll bury you two cheating bastards with my child!"

He turned aside, and the pillow hit Beth in the face. She yelped and covered her forehead. "Please don't be angry."

His voice turned cold. "I've told you it was an accident. Why does everything you say have to be so ugly?

"It's not as if you can't get pregnant again. Why do you have to attack everyone? Why are you so vicious?!"

I closed my eyes in despair.

Beth was sobbing too hard to speak. Colton led her out of the room, worried only about her.

Later, a doctor came in to change my dressings. A nurse shook her head regretfully. "Feeling any better? If you'd come in sooner, we could have saved the baby.

"Stay positive so your body can heal. Don't get worked up."

Then she went out.

My bones ached, and every breath brought back the scene of the crash.

I took out my phone and contacted Daniel.

The divorce papers were ready and clearly spelled out my share of the family property.

When I finished, I found that my hospital room door was locked.

Colton had stationed guards outside my room.

He knew me. He knew my threats weren't empty. Afraid I would hurt Beth, he had posted guards to watch me.

He'd turned my hospital room into a prison.

I tried the handle. Someone unlocked the door from the other side.

Beth stood in the doorway, smirking.