Chapter 5

Colton took the report, his eyes widening.

For a split second, I saw pure joy on his face.

He had always wanted a child even more than I did. Back when I couldn't get pregnant, he'd put his work on hold and personally taken me to one doctor after another.

But every doctor gave us the same answer. There was nothing they could do.

Beth stared at my stomach. "That's impossible! How could you be pregnant? That miscarriage left you unable to have children. Monica, don't joke about this."

Her words seemed to snap Colton back to reality.

His eyes narrowed, and his voice hardened. "Why would you test me like this? You know how badly I want a child.

"Monica, how can you lie about this?!"

I let out a cold laugh.

I'd spent countless days at the hospital. Miles had come with me to every appointment. Colton had been too busy with Beth to notice any of it.

If he'd paid even the slightest attention to me, he would've known I was pregnant.

I'd taken countless pills and endured countless injections just to conceive. Some nights, the side effects were so painful I couldn't even sleep.

But none of that mattered anymore.

Beth walked over and took my hand. "Let it go. Don't be mad, Monica. I know you can't have children. After I have the baby, I'll leave the country and never come back."

As she held my hand, something brushed against my fingers. Something hard.

I looked down. A diamond ring gleamed on her finger.

The moment I got a good look at it, my heart sank.

It was my wedding ring. I'd commissioned a top designer to make it six months ago for my wedding to Colton.

I'd even had the Turner family's vine pattern carved into the band.

The ring I'd designed for myself was now sitting on my sister's finger.

I gave a cold smile. "So the ring I asked you to pick up is already on her finger."

Colton's expression darkened, but his answer was casual. "She's only trying it on for you. She'll give it back later. Why are you getting so upset over a ring?"

Beth pressed her lips together, her eyes filling with tears.

"I'm sorry, Monica. If I'd known such a small thing would upset you this much, I'd never have worn it. I'll give it back right now."

She started pulling it off.

Colton's face hardened. "That ring is mine too. I'll put it on whoever I want. Keep it on."

Then he glanced at me and added casually, "You'll get it back later anyway."

I took a breath. I felt sick.

I'd designed that ring myself. I'd personally overseen every detail.

But apparently, our wedding meant as little to him as the ring did.

I walked over, grabbed Beth by the wrist, and yanked the ring off her finger. Then I turned to leave.

Beth shrieked behind me.

"What are you doing?! You're insane!"

Colton looked ready to explode as he stormed after me.

At the door, I hurled the ring toward the lake with all my strength. "That is my ring. I'd rather throw it away than let her have it."

Beth panicked the moment she saw it fly.

She rushed after it, shoving past me on her way out. I lost my balance and tumbled down the steps. Then Beth's foot slipped, and she fell after me.

"Monica!"

Colton shouted my name on instinct. A second later, he realized Beth had fallen too.

Beth clutched her stomach, her face twisted in pain. "Whatever your problem is, take it out on me. Why humiliate me like this?"

I'd hit the ground hard. Blood was already running down both my legs.

Beth grabbed Colton's arm. "My stomach hurts."

I tried to get up, but my body wouldn't move. I was about to speak when my mother rushed outside. She took one look at us and ran straight to Beth. "Take Beth to the hospital first. She's pregnant. Don't let anything happen to the baby. I'll handle things here."

Colton looked at me. For a moment, he hesitated. Then whatever doubt he'd had disappeared.

"Monica, wait here for me. I'll send a doctor. I'm taking Beth to the hospital first."

With that, he picked Beth up and left.

I bit down hard on my lip. The pain was so intense I could barely breathe.

And just like always, Colton never looked back.

My mother stood at the top of the steps. For a moment, she stared down at me without a trace of emotion. Once Colton's car disappeared from sight, she turned around without a word and shut the door in my face.

I called Miles. He arrived as quickly as he could.

"I'll take you to the hospital," he said.

"Take me back to the estate. I don't need to go to the hospital."

I knew my own body. And more than anything, I didn't want to see any of them again.

Before we left, I looked back at the house one last time.

"Sell it."

"Yes."

Back at the estate, I took some painkillers.

Miles helped me pack while I rested. When I woke a little later, I checked my phone. Not a single call. Not a single message.

I blocked Colton's number.

Then Miles drove me to the airport.

As the plane prepared for takeoff, I looked out at the city one last time.

I thought I would never see any of them again.