Chapter 4
After leaving the Burnett Group, I headed straight to the hospital where I usually went for check–ups and scheduled an abortion.
The doctor kept double–checking with me, reminding me the baby was already six months old and healthy, and asked if I was sure about going through with it.
It felt like something was pricking my heart over and over.
I gripped my hands so tightly that my knuckles turned pale.
I truly didn’t want to let this baby go, but I couldn’t bring a child into the world just to be used.
It’s better to end the pain now than suffer for years–so I signed the consent form.
***
The next day, I went alone to the hospital for the procedure.
That’s when I bumped into Fred and Nelly, who was carefully cradling her flat stomach.
Fred looked slightly uncomfortable when he saw me, but quickly acted like nothing had happened.
He looked at me and said calmly, “Go home right after your check–up. Don’t wander around too much with that big belly.”
Then he turned away, putting his hand around Nelly and getting ready to leave.
But Nelly, in her usual soft tone, said, “Honey, I left my vitamins in the car. Can you grab them for me?”
Fred didn’t suspect a thing. He reached out, gently ran his fingers through her hair, and walked away.
As soon as he was gone, she smirked and came closer. “Wow, what a coincidence. You’re here for a check–up too?”
The way she said “too” stung like a slap.
No wonder Fred agreed to the divorce so quickly–it was to make the other woman official.
But I no longer cared, so I didn’t respond or even look at her.
Still, she wouldn’t quit. She blocked my path and kept going. “Seeing the baby stuff you got at home, is it a girl in your belly?
“I’ve already done a blood test. It’s a boy.
“Oh–and Fred said our son will be using the kid’s room you designed at home. Hope that’s not a problem.
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“And those baby girl dresses you bought? They were just taking up space at home. I couldn’t stand seeing them, so I burned them all yesterday. You probably won’t be needing them anyway-”
Her sly smile stabbed at me like a sharp pain in my eyes.
Before she even finished speaking, I slapped her hard across her carefully make–up face.
She stumbled back, catching herself on the wall, her eyes instantly filling with tears.
Then-
“Are you out of your mind?!” Fred stormed over and yanked my wrist away.
The force sent me backward, slamming into a fire hydrant. The cold, sharp edge hit my spine, making my whole body go numb.
Pain shot through me like lightning, and I collapsed, clutching my stomach.
But Fred didn’t even glance at me. He hurried to check on Nelly and glared at me with fury.
“You’re the one who wanted this divorce, Tania! So why are you acting jealous now?
“Nelly’s pregnant. If anything happens to her, your family’s going down with her!”
I leaned against the wall, struggling to stay upright, my head spinning.
“Fred, look after your woman—”
Suddenly, Nelly started coughing like crazy and reached for his sleeve. “Fred, I was only trying to be nice to her…”
“I’m sorry you had to deal with that,” he said gently, scooping her up like she was made of glass.
“Tania, you’re free now. Be at the courthouse by 10 a.m. tomorrow to finish the paperwork.”
His voice was ice cold. He didn’t even glance back as I sat crumpled in the corner.
Right then, the hospital’s intercom screeched through the hall.
“Tania, Operating Room 2 is ready. Please proceed immediately.”
Fred obviously heard the announcement too. He glanced at the names on the screen, swallowed hard, and then in- stinctively looked at me.
But in the end, he just held Nelly tighter and walked away.
I slowly got to my feet and headed into the operating room, barely able to stand. I signed the last form before the pro- cedure.
Lying there under the cold lights, the doctor asked one more time, “Ms. Dawson, the baby’s at 24 weeks. If delivered now, there’s a good chance of survival. Are you sure you want to go through with this?”
The baby kicked hard inside me like it was fighting to stay.
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My chest tightened, and tears spilled down my cheeks, falling onto the icy surface beneath me.
“I’m sure.”
Just as the nurse was about to inject the anesthetic, I heard quick footsteps rushing down the hallway…
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