Chapter 7 - THE MARRIAGE THAT ENDED IN A HOSPITAL ROOM
The contractions started at 2:13 in the morning.
I was sitting in a hospital examination room when a sharp pain tightened across my abdomen.
I froze.
Then another contraction came.
The nurse looked at the monitor.
“Serena?”
I swallowed.
“That's not supposed to happen yet.”
She nodded.
“We're going to evaluate you.”
At thirty-two weeks, every contraction frightened me.
I knew too much.
I had seen premature births.
Complications.
Families waiting beside incubators.
I had spent years reassuring patients.
Now I was the one lying on the bed, trying not to panic.
The obstetric team examined me.
They monitored my daughter.
Administered medication as appropriate.
And worked to determine whether I was entering premature labor.
Matthias arrived an hour later.
He looked exhausted.
“Serena.”
I turned away.
He stopped beside the bed.
“How's the baby?”
“Being monitored.”
He swallowed.
“Can I stay?”
I looked at him.
For nine years, I had imagined that if something frightening happened during pregnancy, my husband would be the person I wanted beside me.
Now I didn't know who he was.
I stared at the ceiling.
“No.”
He looked wounded.
“Serena.”
I turned.
“You brought another woman to your family's Christmas party.”
He closed his eyes.
“You lied about where you were.”
“I know.”
“You knew something dangerous was happening at the estate.”
He said nothing.
I swallowed.
“And you still let me walk into that house.”
His face crumpled.
“I didn't know—”
“You knew enough.”
He looked down.
I took a breath.
“I need you to leave.”
For a moment, he didn't move.
May you like
Then he nodded.
And walked out.
