All Chapters of The Broken Candle: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

Gasping for air, my chest crushed against the cold porcelain of the bathtub, I pleaded with Sean Charlton–my husband–to spare me for the love we once shared. However, Sean merely towered over me and eyed me with contempt, unmoved."May, I've put up with you for far too long. Flaunting your fancy job, dictating 'you're in charge of the world outside, I handle home affairs.' I'm the man! I'm no slave of yours!"Rowena is different. She loves me, treats me like I'm her world, and gives me the dignity of a man."Rowena, the neighbor I had always looked out for, stood smirking behind him. "Thanks a million for handing over such a catch, May. Oh, and those healthy kids, too. Without you, I'd be at a loss with my own dead baby."I tried to fight back but was mercilessly pushed under the water.In my final moments, I saw my real daughter, the one they had switched, screaming to stop those monsters, only to be struck until she bled from her mouth and nose...In a blink, I was back to the

Of course, I was one step ahead. I was already on the floor when Rowena made her move, and I called for the doctor and nurse.Bennett rushed out at the commotion to find me cradling my belly, wailing."Sean sent me the fruit. He said you loved cherries! You can't just push me because you don't want them!"Bennett was the epitome of an old-school guy, tough on the outside and even tougher on the rules he set for his wife, Rowena. He was hardly ever home, but he expected her to be the picture of virtue–no other men allowed. When I mentioned Sean knew Rowena's fondness for cherries, Bennett snapped back, "And how would Sean know that, huh?"I played it cool, all wide-eyed innocence. "Well, with you gone, Rowena leans on Sean for help. They're close, grab meals together, and hang out. They're bound to pick up on what the other likes. Is that so weird?" Bennett's glare could have cut through steel. Rowena, in a total flap, tried to shut me up. "Cut it out, May! You're the one who's

Nancy's hand rested on the belly, her face contorting with disgust."There's no heartbeat! What the hell is going on inside there?"Rowena's face drained of color, her eyes wide with terror as she stared at Nancy. "Mom... please, just hear me out! I fell because someone pushed me, and that was when the baby stopped moving!"However, Nancy was beyond reason. Her hands trembled as she delivered two sharp slaps to Rowena's face. "You tramp! You've betrayed my son!"The dead child had been in Rowena's womb for too long, and the blows brought on a pain so intense that it felt like a tidal wave crashing inside her.Nancy blocked anyone from intervening, her feet brutally kicking Rowena's swollen belly. "You and that monstrosity inside you should both be dead!" Rowena was on the verge of passing out when the police finally stepped in to save her. Nancy, however, was adamant. "She betrayed my son. She deserves to die!" Bennett had been silently shocked the whole time, but then his bod

I twisted the knife. "No wonder he's more concerned about our baby. You're just the girl next door, but this baby is the fruit of our love. Sean is bound to care more about his own flesh and blood!"My words hit Rowena hard, and she passed out cold.The maternity ward erupted into chaos, and I slipped away in the confusion. Evelyn tried to block me, but I shot back at her, "How are you going to handle the fallout when everyone saw her deliver a stillborn?"Evelyn clammed up fast. As I walked away, I caught her reflection in the wall, sneakily making a call.That was probably to Sean.However, Sean had just taken a nasty fall down the stairs. He was sprawled out, unable to move, nursing what had to be a broken arm or leg.That wimp, too scared to even deal with a little pain, would not be picking up the phone.Bennett and his mom gave me suspicious looks as I walked out of the operating room, still pregnant."Weren't you supposed to be giving birth? What happened?"I gave them

Rowena produced all the evidence of her affair with Sean.The story of their secret rendezvous and their conspiracy to take my child was all laid bare.Sean, of course, could not own up to it, adamantly claiming that it was all a pack of lies from Rowena.However, the evidence was staring him in the face. There was no way he could deny it.Nancy seized the moment to alert the authorities, and with the police as witnesses, a paternity test was done for Sean and the lifeless infant.The results were undeniable: the baby was Sean's.Sean was cornered, with no way out.Once the results were in, he pleaded with me, "Rowena was the one who lured me in! Honey, you have to believe me!"Who'd be interested in a widow who lost her husband? I would never have given in if she hadn't drugged me and forced herself on me!"And this child, too! She got pregnant with it behind my back!"Sean showed his true colors, not hesitating for a second to throw Rowena under the bus.Rowena, in utter d