His Fake Death, Her Real Power

ng and eating, and a persistent, dull ache settled low in my abdomen. I told myself it w

r, stealing my breath. I collapsed onto the sofa in my room, my hands flying to my be

umbled for it, my fingers shaking, and dialed the only

his voice impatient. "What is

pain making me see stars. "The baby... I'm ha

having Braxton Hicks? Olivia gets the

woman he had chosen over me and our

y voice tight with panic. "It's bad, D

's voice, high-pitched and frantic. "Mark, darling, my heart is r

eaths." He came back on the line with me, his voice rushed. "Look, Sarah, I have to go. Oliv

ut

ne wen

I was in agony, possibly losing our child

t was absolute. I was com

g for a siren that seemed to take an eternity to arrive. The paramedics rushed in, their faces grim. They got me

l abruption, a serious condition where the placenta separates from the uterus. It was likely caused by severe stress. They ma

belly, feeling the faint, reassuring movements of my child. I

id walked in, still in his "Mark" persona,

orry. I came as soon as I could. Olivia's panic attack was worse than I

cold weight in my chest. The flowers

most lost the baby,"

it was fleeting. His own comfort, and

side my bed. He leaned in, lowering his voice. "There's somethi

ng nothing but

is voice. "We just found out. It's still very early, but... that's

supposed to be my fiancé, while he was supposed to be dead. He had faked his death,

hed in that moment. It wasn't even hatred anymore. It was a vast, empty nothingnes

d. My voice wa

eptance, or perhaps resignation. He

before he could touch me. "But this doesn't change anything for you and our baby.

h that I wanted to die without it. Now, I felt nothing

get out of this hospital, I would get out of his life, and I would make

er. The war was