Chapter 3 - Claire’s POV

The car ride home was thick with tension. Savannah sat up front with Derek, chatting about old times. I almost wished I was as deaf as my daughter, so I wouldn’t have to listen to them giggle and whisper together.

Emma sat with me in the back seat, looking out the window. Her world was silent without her hearing aid. 

Savannah twisted in the passenger seat to smile at her. “Hi, sweetheart,” she said. “You must be Emma. You’re so pretty. How old are you now?”

Emma didn’t respond. She couldn’t see Savannah’s lips move.

Savannah’s smile faltered. “I guess she’s shy,” she said, turning to Derek. “Or maybe she doesn’t like me.” 

I touched Emma’s shoulder gently. When she looked up, I signed, “Your aunt is talking to you, sweetie.” 

Emma turned to Savannah. “Sorry, I can’t hear you,” she said. “My hearing aid is broken.”

“Oh,” Savannah said. “I thought…” 

Her voice trailed off, and I knew what she was thinking—that Emma had been ignoring her on purpose.

Derek’s hands tightened around the steering wheel. “Claire,” he said. “You could have told her about Emma’s hearing problem.”

I frowned. “I didn’t think I needed to. It’s not something I announce to everyone.”

Savannah gave a small, dismissive laugh. “Of course not. But it’s important, right? Especially if it leads people to misunderstand her behavior.”

Derek kept his eyes on the road, his voice cold. “She ignored Savannah completely. You could have told her to be polite. I know you don’t like Savannah, but at least try to be friendly about her coming back. And I hope you won’t pass your hate onto my child.” 

My stomach turned. “Derek,” I said, struggling to keep my voice steady, “she didn’t ignore Savannah. She couldn’t hear her.”

He didn’t respond. The silence stretched, heavy and accusing. Finally, he muttered, “This is your fault anyway. You should have taken better care of her.”

I felt like he’d slapped me.

Emma had been three when it happened. She’d had a fever. I was at work and hadn’t realized that my phone had died, so I didn’t hear it when the nanny called. She’d given Emma some medicine and everything seemed fine… at first. We thought it was just a cold, or maybe a mild flu. 

It was much more serious than that. 

By the time I got home, my daughter was burning up again. I rushed her to the hospital, but those few hours had cost her hearing. 

I’d quit my job the next day. I felt it was the least I could do. But no amount of love or sacrifice could get rid of the guilt that twisted inside me.

And now Derek, who hadn’t been there at all, dared to accuse me of neglect.

My hands clenched into fists. “Where were you, Derek, when she had that fever? Do you even remember? You said you were working late.”

He didn’t answer.

“I know exactly where you were,” I said, the words spilling out before I could stop them. “You were at the office. With her.”

Savannah whipped around in her seat, eyes wide. “Claire, that’s not fair. Derek and I—”

I let out a bitter laugh. “Don’t bother denying it, Savannah. I’d suspected it for a long time, but today I saw you together.” 

Derek slapped the dashboard. “That’s enough, Claire.” 

“Oh, is it?” I shot back. “You’re angry because I finally said it out loud?”

He pulled over abruptly, tires screeching. He turned to me, his face hard. “You want the truth? Fine. Yes, Savannah and I are together, as we always should have been before you ruined things.”

For a moment, I couldn’t breathe. My heart was pounding so hard it hurt.

All these years, I had been nothing more than a replacement. A shadow filling the space she’d left behind.

Something inside me broke.

“I want a divorce,” I said quietly.

“You’re being dramatic,” he sneered.

“No,” I whispered. “I’m finally being honest.”

“Claire,” Savannah said. “You’re upset. Don’t make decisions in anger.”

“Upset?” I snapped. “You’re sitting there, holding his hand, smiling in my face and pretending you’re the reasonable one. You think I don’t see what you’re doing?”

“Enough,” Derek snarled. “You’re making a scene.”

“No, Derek. You made this scene. And now you can live in it.” The coldness in my voice surprised even me.

He opened his mouth to reply… And then everything happened at once.

A horn blared. There was the sound of screaming tires, and the car jolted violently. 

Emma screamed. The car spun; the world turned upside down. 

And then there was silence.

***

When I opened my eyes, everything hurt and I could taste blood. I tried to move and pain shot up my leg. It was trapped in the crumpled frame of the car. 

“Emma!” I croaked. “Emma!”

I twisted around and saw her crumpled on the seat beside. I put a trembling hand against her chest. Still breathing, thank God. 

Savannah was slumped forward, her hair matted with blood and her arm twisted at an odd angle.

Derek was gone.

Someone screamed outside. “Get back! The fuel tank’s ruptured! The car could explode!”

I tried to shout for help, but my voice was gone. I pounded on the window, but my strength was failing.

Then I saw Derek running towards us. 

For a heartbeat, relief flooded through me. He was coming to save us! 

But then he ran towards Savannah. He yanked her door open and pulled her out of the car.

I couldn’t believe it. He’d run straight past me and Emma, his wife and daughter, to save her.

Something inside me shattered completely.

My vision started going dark around the edges. I put my arms around Emma as best I could. “This is it,” I thought. “This is how it ends.” 

“Claire?” 

It was Adrian.

“Hold on, Claire!” He ripped my door open, ignoring the flames that were licking up the sides of the car. 

“My leg,” I gasped. “Emma—”

He nodded sharply. “I’ve got you both.”

He reached in, unbuckling Emma and gently lifting her in his arms. Then he came back for me. The pain was excruciating as he freed my leg and pulled me out. He lifted me in a fireman’s carry and ran to the side of the road.

Behind us, a surge of heat bloomed as the car exploded. 

We fell to the ground, Adrian shielding me from flying debris. My ears rang and the world blurred into smoke and chaos and distant sirens.

When I opened my eyes again, Derek was kneeling a few yards away, holding Savannah, gazing tenderly into her eyes.

I stared at him and suddenly everything became crystal clear. 

There was nothing there to save. Never had been.

And now I could accept it. 

I would divorce him. For myself and for Emma. 

Somehow, I would find a way to move forward.