Chapter 7

Whitney could not stand another word and walked out to the backyard pool.

The night air was refreshingly cool. She had just settled by the poolside when Janice came up behind her.

"Mrs. Jones," she said, stroking her swollen belly with a sweet smile, "Mr. Jones promised to buy me a villa in Springfield after the baby's born.

"And did you know," she whispered conspiratorially to Whitney, "why Mr. Jones couldn't control himself that night after he got drugged? At the party, I wore a white dress, just like your favorite one. He thought I was you. So, in a way, I have you to thank for my good fortune..."

Whitney was about to respond when,

Splash!

Janice toppled headlong into the pool, water spraying everywhere.

"Help! My baby……" Her desperate cries rang out as she thrashed in the water.

By the time everyone rushed over, they were met with this sight:

Janice flailing in the water, Whitney standing by the pool, her face a mask of indifference.

The whole Jones family was in an uproar.

Colton dove in to rescue Janice, but not before Tessa's slap struck Whitney across the face. "You wretch! Apologize now!"

Whitney's head snapped to the side, blood trickling from her lip. She turned back slowly, a smile playing on her lips. "Fine, I apologize."

With that, she seized Janice, who had just been pulled out of the water, and shoved her back in!

A scream pierced the air. It was Tessa's.

Whitney slid the bracelet off her wrist, a precious heirloom of the Jones family that Tessa had clasped on her the day she became one of them.

With a flick of her wrist, she sent it crashing to the floor. The sound echoed sharply in the silence. Bracelet skittered across the tiles, its sparkle pale and lifeless in the moonlight. She did not look back, even as Colton's voice, filled with disbelief, called out to her.

She had barely set foot inside her house when the door slammed open. Colton stormed in, his suit soaked, his hair dripping, a clear sign he had come after her without a second thought. He was out of breath, his eyes a whirlpool of anger and fear.

"I did nothing wrong," Whitney said, her voice icy. "If you need an apology that badly, then maybe we should just get a divorce."

The word divorce hit him like a physical blow, draining the color from his face.

"Don't you dare say that!" he blurted out, desperation edging his voice. He closed the distance between them and pulled her close. "You know that would kill me!"

She could not help but laugh bitterly at the look in his eyes. "And what about me?" she whispered. "Did you ever think about my life, Colton?" He froze, the words catching in his throat. "I get it, you're torn about Janice and the baby, with grandma's ultimatum and owing Janice for saving your life. However, where do I fit into this, Colton? Can't you see my side?"

He opened his mouth, maybe to argue, maybe to explain, but nothing came out. Instead, he just wrapped his arms around her, holding on as if she were his lifeline.

"Everything's going to be okay," he whispered, his hand softly patting her back like he was soothing a fussy child. "We'll get past this. I'll talk to Grandma. Once the baby's here, things will go back to the way they were..."

She nestled into his arms, inhaling the cool pine scent that was so distinctly him, and felt a wave of weariness wash over her.

His arms were still a haven of warmth, his heartbeat a steady drum, but her heart was icing over, bit by bit.

There was no turning back.

Never again.

'Colton, I'm going to start a new life, one that doesn't include you,' she vowed silently.