Chapter 5

As the flight-booking page loaded, the doorknob turned. Jim walked in.

He was holding a glass of warm milk, and his gaze swept across my laptop screen. "What are you doing up so late?"

I quickly switched to another page. "Nothing. I was just searching for some music for the baby."

He walked up to me from behind and rested a hand on my shoulder. "Honey, Lucy's only staying at our house for a few days. You're about to give birth. Don't overthink it."

I switched off the laptop and stood up. "I'm tired. I'm going to bed."

He stood there looking like he wanted to say something. In the end, he only sighed before turning around and leaving.

I switched on the laptop again and booked a flight to Baronica.

The glow of the screen illuminated my face. I gently touched my protruding belly and felt completely at peace.

This time, I was really leaving.

Early the next morning, I opened my wardrobe and started packing.

In the corner sat a faded red velvet jewelry box. Its edges were worn white with age.

I gently opened it. Inside was a silver necklace with a tiny bell pendant engraved with the words 'safe and sound.' It was the only keepsake my mother had left me.

Just as I placed the jewelry box into my suitcase, Lucy suddenly pushed open the door.

Her gaze immediately locked onto the necklace. A flicker of greed appeared in her eyes. "Isn't this the necklace Jim gave me?"

I looked at her coldly. "It belonged to my late mother."

"You're lying!" She ran over and grabbed the jewelry box. "Jim told me he was going to give me a bell necklace. It has to be this one!"

I held tightly onto the other end of the box. "Lucy, are you deaf? I already told you this belonged to my mother!"

"Stop pretending to be some poor victim!" she shrieked. "Jim already told me. Your mother killed herself because your father cheated on her. Someone from a family like yours doesn't deserve to wear a necklace this nice!"

My entire body trembled. My grip loosened involuntarily. She seized the opportunity and yanked the box from my hands.

It hit the floor with a sharp thud, and the necklace rolled out. "Jim's a piece of trash, and you're the only one who thinks he's a knight in shining armor. If you want him, then keep him. I don't care!"

I bent down to pick up the necklace. My voice was cold and firm. "But this belonged to my mother. Don't you dare touch it."

"Why are you acting so high and mighty?" She sneered. "Do you really think Jim loves you? He just didn't want me to go through childbirth, so he borrowed your belly."

"Shut up!" I slapped her across the face and snatched the necklace back.

Enraged, she shoved me with all her strength.

I lost my balance and crashed to the floor. My belly slammed hard against the corner of the bed.

I felt a wave of excruciating pain throughout my body. I curled into a ball, and sweat trickled down my forehead.

Lucy froze. Her face turned pale. "C-Christine, don't try to pin this on me. I-I didn't mean to."

She backed away two steps before turning around and running out.

I lay on the floor as amniotic fluid and blood soaked into the carpet.

The pain felt like a blunt knife twisting against my abdomen repeatedly.

"H-Help me."

I struggled to crawl forward, and my fingernails left several bloody marks across the floor.

The necklace was still in my hand. It was now stained with blood.

At last, I reached my phone. With trembling fingers, I dialed 911. My voice was hoarse. "I-I'm 35 weeks pregnant. I fell, and my water broke–"

The voice on the other end immediately became anxious. "Your address! Tell me your address!"

I gave them the address. My vision began to go black.

The pain came crashing over me like a wave. I bit down hard on my lip, refusing to let myself pass out.

"Hang in there! The ambulance is on its way!"

I lay on the floor and stared at the chandelier above as my vision grew increasingly blurry.