Chapter 4

Jesse's brow twitched, and he finally lost what little patience he had left.

He said coolly, "This ends here. Don't ever bring it up again, and don't cry over that baby anymore. Once Nicki's baby is born, you can raise it. I'm sure your mom will be happy, too."

He had once promised Mom over and over that he would have a child with me and fulfill her final wish. Now, he had turned that promise into a weapon that he gripped tightly in his hand against me.

Something inside me finally gave way. I no longer had the strength to fight or scream.

Jesse reached out to bandage my wound like he always used to, but I quietly pulled my hand away.

He froze for a moment. Then, his voice took on an icy edge.

He warned, "My patience is limited. Don't make things hard for me."

After they left, I bought Mom's favorite jelly dessert and went to see her in the hospital.

When I pushed open the door, I saw Nicki sitting beside Mom's bed. Mom glared at Nicki, still unable to let go of what had happened five years ago.

Mom mocked, "I suppose what goes around comes around. You ruined Raven's marriage back then. Now, another woman has taken your husband away from you. You got what you deserved."

Instead of getting angry, Nicki laughed and turned to look at me.

She said to Mom, "It's been years, Rebecca, but you still hate me just as much. Then again, I can't blame you. No one respects a mistress."

My nerves instantly tensed, and I grabbed Nicki's arm. "Get out right now."

She shook me off and turned back to Mom with a sly glint flashing in her eyes. "What if I told you the woman who stole my husband was your own daughter?"

Mom's face went pale.

The next second, Nicki pulled out two marriage certificates from her purse. Their wedding photo was right there on the certificates.

I hurried forward to snatch them, but Nicki dodged me and held them out to Mom.

She sneered, "You said I deserved what happened to me. So tell me, what kind of retribution should befall your daughter for stealing my husband now?"

Mom stared at the photos on the marriage certificates, pounding her fists against the bed in helpless fury.

I nearly collapsed to my knees in front of her. "Mom, it's all a misunderstanding. It's not what you think..."

Before I could finish, Mom passed out. Tears slipped from the corners of her eyes.

Nicki, on the other hand, became even more excited. "Rebecca, Raven's retribution got to you, don't you think? You were kicked out of your own home back then. Just like your daughter, you're both unwanted trash!"

I'd had enough.

I grabbed Nicki by the throat and shouted, "Shut up!"

Just then, Jesse rushed in after hearing the commotion and happened to see us.

He immediately pulled us apart and roared, "Raven, she's pregnant! Are you crazy?"

I screamed at the top of my lungs, "She said things that made my mom pass out!"

Jesse was about to look toward the hospital bed when Nicki purposely leaned backward and slammed her stomach against the corner of the table.

"Ah... My baby..."

The moment Jesse saw the smear of blood on the floor, panic flashed across his face. He immediately called for a doctor and had Nicki rushed into surgery.

The doctor said helplessly, "Whether we can save the baby is up to fate now."

The operating room doors closed.

I was about to go back and call a doctor for Mom when Jesse grabbed me roughly by the wrist. His eyes were bloodshot.

Jesse yelled, "You're going to the chapel right now to pray for Nicki's baby. Go and pray that the baby comes through this safely!"

I was sobbing so hard I could barely breathe. "Please, save my mom. I think she's dying..."

Jesse cut me off, "Stop making up lies to avoid responsibility. Do you think I'll believe you? I told you I'd treat you the same as I always have. Why were you so desperate to hurt her baby?"

He dragged me all the way out of the hospital.

I looked back toward Mom's room, my heart breaking into tiny little pieces.

"Let me go!"

I fought with everything I had and finally tore myself free. Without hesitating for even a moment, I sprinted across the street.

Just as I was about to reach the other side, a speeding car came barreling toward me. I froze in shock.

Across the street, Jesse's eyes widened in horror as he ran toward me. "Raven! No!"