Chapter 10

Leah's POV

Scott was admitted to the city hospital's intensive care unit.

The bullet tore through his abdomen. It took the surgeons five hours to pull him back from the brink of death.

I did not go to the hospital.

My attorney told me what had happened.

He cautiously asked whether I wanted to visit. I shook my head.

"Forget it."

Three days later, Scott appeared outside my gate in a wheelchair.

When he saw me step outside, relief softened his face, and one corner of his mouth lifted.

"Leah..."

I stood in the doorway and did not let him in.

"I came... to beg you one more time. I know... I owe you more than I can ever repay." He looked up at me.

The eyes I had once loved were now bloodshot and filled with regret.

He took my hand. "After everything you suffered, ten thousand apologies would never be enough. Curse me. Hit me. I'll take it. I only ask... please let me stay beside you. Let me spend the rest of my life making it up to you..."

I cut him off. "Do you remember the first time I miscarried?"

He froze and looked up at me in panic.

I closed my hand on the door handle.

"The doctor asked if I wanted to see the tissue I had passed. I couldn't bear to look. Later, I dreamed of a tiny, faceless child standing far away and calling me Mommy."

Scott's face went another shade paler.

"The second time I miscarried, my blood stained the carpet so badly it would not come clean. Elena threw it away."

Scott's eyes reddened further. His hands shook as he covered his face.

"The third time, I was ten weeks pregnant when I had an ultrasound. I could see our baby's arms. I knew he was kicking inside me.

"When Elena threw me, I landed on my stomach. The doctor said the fetus absorbed some of the force that would otherwise have struck my body. In other words... in his final moment, our third child gave his life to save mine."

Scott broke down completely.

"Please stop..." His hoarse voice sounded crushed. "I'm begging you. Please stop..."

My tears splashed onto the back of my hand.

"Scott, three children. I became a mother three times, and each time, I watched one of them vanish from my body before my eyes.

"So heaven is punishing me too. Since I could not protect them, I will never be able to have another child."

I took out my infertility report and held it out to him.

He braced his hands on the wheelchair arms and tried to stand before taking the report with trembling fingers.

"No... Leah, that can't be true." He reached for my hand but could not reach it. "There has to be a way. Even if there isn't, it doesn't matter. We can adopt. You are the only person I have ever wanted! I love you!"

"No, Scott." As I watched his tears, my emotions slowly went still. "Don't you understand? I cannot forgive you. Forgiving you would mean betraying my children."

I wiped the tears from my face.

"You once saved my life. Over these three years, I have repaid that debt.

"Thank you for taking that bullet for me. But if you had not enabled Elena and let things go this far, she would never have had the chance to pull the trigger.

"From now on, you live your life, and I'll live mine. Don't come back."

I went back inside and closed the door behind me.

Six months later.

Spring came late to the small town.

I carried a chair outside and sat beneath the tree with a kitten, basking in the sun.

My neighbor brought me a plate of freshly baked apple pie.

"Leah, the house across the street is for sale. Did you see?"

I looked up and followed her pointing finger.

"Really? I wonder what kind of new neighbor will move in."