The Man Who Abandoned Her Love

" I said, my

ing the change.

m in the dark. "Do

without a moment's hesitati

tand. He picked it up. I could hear a wom

cried. "Please don't get marr

. "Karis, calm down.

he wed

urgent and soft. He hung up and looked a

he warned. "She's ju

going to

be a good girl and take care of yourself. And the baby." He paused at the door, as if

he wa

he still chose her. I was just the convenient incubator, th

last picture of just the two of us was from three years ago. Everything since then, every h

f a beautiful, handmade wooden birdhouse. The caption read: "He sti

things, expensive things, but he never gave me his time, his effort. I was

an "understanding" woman

A sharp edge of a glossy print sliced my finger. I watched a drop of blood we

the engagement decorations. The si

he front door turned. It w

as poison. "Chase is worried about you.

s just like them to stage

essary," I said

id, stepping closer. "We need to talk." She looked me up and down, her eyes lingerin

uld be home soon, re

cured nails poking my stomach. "Is th

ands instinctively mo

and threw herself backward, deliberately cracking h

ad, and blood started to tr

yes wide with panic. He didn't even look at me. H

ened? Are

r fault, Chase. She's just emotional becaus

creating a dramatic, tragic pict

the hell is wrong with you, Clare? First my career,

had committed an

e, don't blame her. It was a

Fine? She hurt you! How dare you compare yourself t