Chapter 4

“Ma’am… have you decided where we are going yet?” Pete’s voice slices through the heavy fog of my thoughts.

I blink up at him from the backseat, his eyes catching mine in the rearview mirror, lined with worry. “No,” I respond, my voice barely a whisper. “Keep driving.”

We’ve been on the road for over an hour now, no destination, no plan, just the road stretching endlessly ahead like some cruel metaphor for my life.

The once-black sky now blushes with shades of gold and rose as the sun begins its ascent. I should be admiring it, the sunrise—it’s beautiful, serene—but I barely register it. The only thing I see clearly are the divorce papers in my hands.

The sharp edges of the paper dig into my skin as I grip them tighter. I squeeze them like I can will the truth away, crush it, destroy it—but the black ink remains.

I lean back into the plush leather seat, the coolness of it no match for the firestorm inside me. I press one hand against my forehead, trying to ground myself, but all I feel is… emptiness.

Just hours ago, I was on stage, lights flashing, cameras clicking, giving a speech about my triumph, legacy, everything I had fought for, and thanking my husband. I stood proud, holding my award. I had no idea that in just a few hours, that very moment would turn into dust.

“I wish I didn’t go to that office... I should have gone straight home.” The words tumble from my lips, fragile and full of regret.

It wasn’t supposed to end like this. Tonight was supposed to be a celebration. I was going to pop champagne with Harry, wrap my arms around him, tell him the good news—that we had won, and most importantly that we were having a baby. I glance down at my belly and gently rub it.

I’ve known for a few weeks now, but between work and trying to find the right moment, I have been pushing off telling Harry because I wanted the moment to be perfect. Maybe if I had told him earlier, he wouldn’t have..

“No.” I shake my head, a bitter laugh almost bubbling up. “He made his choice. He would have still chosen her.”

More tears stream down my face as I look down. “I’m sorry, baby…” I rub my belly gently, protectively. “I guess it’s just the two of us now.”

I look up and find Pete eyeing me through the mirror again. His eyes are soft with concern, but I can’t handle anyone’s pity right now, so I avert my gaze, press my head against the window, and close my eyes.

The memories come rushing in like a broken dam. Vivienne on top of my desk, topless, her skirt pulled up. Harry between her thighs and their smug faces.

I flinch, the memory piercing through my heart, hence I gasp for air, rolling down the window for relief.

Suddenly, I lurch back into the seat, the car accelerating violently. My eyes snap to the driver's seat.

“Pete,” I rasp, my voice hoarse. “What the hell is with the speed?”

He glances at the side mirror, his jaw tightening. I see the nervous twitch in his fingers as he clutches the wheel, his knuckles turning white.

“What is it? Is everything okay up there?”

He hesitates to respond, and I see him swallow something.

“I didn’t want to freak you out, ma’am… but I think we’re being followed.”

Ice floods my veins as I sit up, nervous. “What?”

He nods to the rearview mirror, sure of himself.

I twist to look and I see a black SUV looming behind us, headlights blinding, plate hidden by glare.

“Are you sure? Maybe you’re being paranoid.”

“I’m sure,” he says quickly. “I’ve taken multiple turns, even circled back once. They’re still behind us.”

My pulse quickens. “Okay.. okay, then lose them. Drive faster.” I motion wildly, panic rising.

He nods and slams on the accelerator, the engine roaring.

I glance back, and the SUV matches our speed, closing in. “What the fuck?” I whisper, heart hammering.

“Who could be following us at this hour? Harry? Vivienne? But No. That’s ridiculous. I left them in the building. They couldn’t have caught up with us this quickly.” I look again, and SUV is even closer now.

“Faster, Pete!” I yell.

He obeys, weaving through the highway, but the SUV stays right on our tail.

The tires screech as Pete makes a sharp turn down a service road. I press myself against the window, eyes wide, trying to see their plate—but all I catch is light.

“I have to call someone,” I mumble, my hands reaching for my phone and unlocking.

Colin. Officer Colin.

Just as I scroll down to his name, bang! The SUV slams into us from behind.

The phone flies from my hands and slips through my fingers. “Oh my God, Pete!” I scream, bracing against the seat.

He doesn’t answer. He’s focused on the road, his hands tight on the wheel before another slam, harder this time.

I’m thrown forward, my forehead crashing against the back of the front seat, and pain shoots through my skull. I groan, disoriented, vision spinning.

I reach down, scrambling for my phone, my knees digging into the carpeted floor.

The SUV hits us again, and this time, the entire car jolts sideways.

“Ivy, stay down!” Pete yells, gripping the wheel.

My breath is short now, my limbs trembling uncontrollably, and I feel like prey being hunted. My fingers close around the phone as I sit back up, wiping blood from my forehead.

I glance through the rear windshield, and the SUV is inches away. And that’s when I see the plates.

“What the fuck?” My other hand flies to my mouth.

I try dialing again, but the car hits us—and this time, Pete loses control, the wheel spinning wildly.

“Pete!” I scream.

The road disappears beneath us as the car swerves off the edge. Time seems to slow as everything begins to drop. We are rolling. Fast.

Gravity grips the car and drags us down into the dark as metal groans and glass shatters.

My body if flung side to side held only by the seatbelt. Pete yells something, but I can’t hear him over the sound of destruction. The world around me is spinning, I scream, I cry, I beg, and it's useless. It’s too late.

A tree smashes into the passenger side, and a glass slices through the air, a sharp edge grazing my arm.

A suffocating silence follows, and I see smoke coiling through the broken windshield. “We are going to blow up.” I think out loud.

My body is slumped, my vision blurs, and worst of all, I feel blood dripping down my face. I move my hand and I rest it on my belly whispering a prayer or something and just like that, the car starts rolling down again. The last thing I hear is a voice, not sure where it’s coming from and then darkness.