جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 8

Valentine's Day was supposed to be the day Adrian Weldon proposed.The night before, he texted me, saying he wanted to give me the proposal I deserved.[Summer, you and our baby deserve a real family.]I held my phone and grinned like an idiot forever. I even picked out a loose white dress to hide my five-month bump.I thought it would be the happiest day of my life.Instead, I got to the mountain and learned the truth.There was no proposal.It was the soft opening for Celeste Vane's new campground.Adrian's big surprise was dragging me there while I was five months pregnant to help hype her grand opening.That night at dinner, Celeste brought out a pot of mushroom soup.She smiled sweetly. "Summer, I asked around. The women here all swear this is good for pregnant women."I hated mushrooms.Adrian sat beside me and filled my bowl. "Celeste spent all afternoon making it. Don't ruin the mood."So I ate it.Before I even got halfway through, my stomach caught fire.I ran

The next day, the foreclosure notice went public.Adrian blew up my phone all day.I blocked one number, and he called from another.Then Celeste popped up.[Summer, I know you're mad, but that apartment is everything to Adrian. Don't be so heartless.]I stared at the text and almost laughed.Jenna grabbed my phone."Can I wreck her?"I shook my head."Not worth it."A second later, Celeste sent a voice memo. Her voice was soft as cotton."Summer, I never meant to hurt you. I had the same mushroom soup, and I was fine. I had no idea you'd react that badly. Hate me if you want, but please don't ruin Adrian."I saved it and sent it straight to Mr. Carter.[Add this to the evidence.]Jenna gave me a thumbs-up."Now that's clear thinking."I forced a small smile.A sharp pain ripped through my lower stomach.I doubled over, a cold sweat breaking out across my skin.A nurse rushed in and wheeled me out for another exam.The doctor studied the results, his face going grim

After they took Celeste away, public opinion flipped.The campground shut down, and former guests started sharing their own stories.Some got food poisoning and were offered nothing but discount coupons. Others were injured on the property, but the security cameras had conveniently "stopped working."People also said Celeste loved playing the "divorced woman trying to run a business" card.My warning post, once blamed for the online pile-on, became proof that I'd tried to warn everyone.Brands reached out to Jenna, ready to talk partnerships again. I wasn't interested in working.My body felt empty. Everything hurt.The doctor said I needed a lot of rest after the procedure.Raul showed up at the hospital every day. Without fail.Homemade soup. Meds. One piece of candy.He didn't pry. Didn't bring up Adrian.He just handled everything.***On discharge day, Adrian was waiting outside.He looked wrecked. Thinner. Scruffy. Clutching an old box like it might save him.The s

I made my comeback in April.The brand launch was packed with reporters.Everyone wanted the drama.Jenna worried I couldn't handle it."Want to cancel the interviews?"I shook my head."No."Before I went onstage, Raul handed me a piece of candy."If you get nervous, keep this in your mouth."I took it."Why do you always have candy?"He looked at me."In case things get too bitter for you."My fingers froze around the candy.At the launch, I spoke honestly about the allergic reaction, the damage to my face, the loss of my baby, and the online hate.I didn't play victim.I didn't cry.I just said, "A woman's pain shouldn't get brushed off with, 'You're too sensitive.' Being pregnant doesn't give you a free pass, but it also doesn't give anyone the right to control you. If someone is hurting you, protect yourself first."The room went silent.Then one person clapped.Soon, the whole room followed.After the event, my account blew up.Women flooded my DMs.They to