His Terminal Lie, Her New Life

saw Chloe, she

ringing her over for a bit. He said the doctor wanted her on bed rest, and her own apartment was too chaotic with the oth

her eyes held a glint of triumph. As Ethan settled her on our guest room

in one of my silk robes. She found me i

over to the large, ornate jewelry box on my dresser.

racing the intricate carvings. She didn' t look at me

. The box, like me, w

to give her the satisfaction of a reac

s been in my family for generations. A s

cedarwood filling the air. I picked

o her. "A gift. Maybe it will bri

my face, searching for a crack in my composure. Sh

fingers brushing against

o mean?" she asked, her

ink it means," I replied soft

m the guest room. Ethan, who had been on

s wrong?

f the bed, clutching her stomach. Tears were streaming down he

admiring Ava' s bracelet, and I think she misunderstood. She said some things... she said I would need l

n was so blatant, so absurd, tha

rned to me, his eyes blazing

d. "She is a pregnant woman. Our guest. How could y

I said, my voice shaking with su

s erupting. "Why would I lie? I' m scared.

me. He believed her. Of course, he believed her. She was the vulnerable, pregn

to her,"

dulous. "I will not.

ng at me, but at the corner of the room where a tall, decorative vase stood. I

. she has a thing about vases. She broke one once

A vase had fallen and shattered, cutting my hand badly. The sight of broken porcelain had made me

appening, Chloe got up, wobbled a

ith a strange, taunting panic. She held the vase out

throat. The sight of the heavy ceramic object, held so pre

it," I said,

ieked, her eyes wild. She thrust th

it off, to push it away. My fingers br

all she

didn' t shatter. It landed with a soft thud o

ward, clutching her arm

he screamed. "Et

t I was trying to defend mysel

ck on Chloe, but to grab me. His

snarled, his face inches from mi

towards the va

said, his voice a low, menacing growl. "

was going to hit me with it. Instead, he walked over to the

th a sudden, violent motion, he

xplo

e floor like shrapnel. The noise wa

attered pieces, the jagged edges gleaming under the lights, made my st

ttering mess. His eyes were cold,

. With your bare hands. You will stay here on this

bedroom doorway, a faint, triumph