Chapter 4

Duncan's face darkened. "What's funny? Did I say something wrong?"

"Every man in our circle has mistresses and kids on the side. I've only got Brooklyn."

"Marianne, don't be so ungrateful. I've loved you plenty."

The rims of my eyes went red, and all at once I thought of the Duncan who'd confessed to me at eighteen, so sure of himself.

"Marianne, you're the only one I'll ever have in this life. I will never betray you."

Now, from that same mouth, only eight years later, I'd become "ungrateful."

Disappointment washed over everything. I looked at him without flinching.

"Duncan, is that really what you think I am?"

His expression froze, and he looked away.

"Even if you didn't do it, it started with you."

Exhausted, I braced a hand on my belly and stood. "The baby's been moving all day. I'm tired. I don't want to fight with you."

He frowned. "Does it hurt that much? Should we get you to the hospital?"

"No need." I walked into the bedroom without looking back.

I'd slept until the middle of the night when a sharp pain tore at my scalp.

I jerked awake and dropped to the floor, and when I looked up I saw Duncan's face twisted with rage.

"Did you expose Brooklyn online?"

My lower belly cramped hard. I forced out three words. "I didn't."

"You didn't? Then who did?"

He smashed the water glass on the nightstand and rounded on me.

"The whole internet's calling her a homewrecker. Do you know she was so humiliated she wanted to jump off a building?"

"If I hadn't been on the phone calming her down while I called the police, she'd be a corpse right now!"

I stared blankly at the man in front of me, out of control, and my heart felt like it was being sawed back and forth with a dull blade.

Back when we were starting out, living in that run-down inner-city district, a drunk once blocked my way and said filthy things to me.

Duncan grabbed a brick off the ground and charged at him, got pinned down and beaten until his nose bled, and still clung to the man's leg.

"Anyone who talks to her like that again, I'll fight them to the death."

The man who'd once fought for me with red-rimmed eyes was now the one throwing dirt on me.

I couldn't help asking, "Duncan, why have you become like this?"

His face grew even uglier. "Don't change the subject. Post a clarification right now and apologize to her."

I held my belly, clenching my jaw. "I did nothing. Why should I apologize?"

He looked at me coldly. "You don't want those coworkers suspended, do you?"

I stared at him in disbelief.

"They've been with us since the startup days. Without them, you'd never have made it this far."

He gave a cold snort. "Seniority doesn't excuse workplace bullying."

"Do it, now. Don't make me say it twice."

I closed my eyes, took out my phone, typed a message, and posted it.

Duncan opened the app, checked it carefully line by line, and reposted it from his own public account.

【Rumors end at the truth. I have retained a lawyer to gather evidence and will pursue whoever spread these lies.】

Cold sweat slid down from my temple. I was shaking all over from the pain. "Is that enough? My stomach hurts. I need to go to the hospital."

He took my phone and looked down at me.

"Don't play the victim. You went way too far this time. Sit here and think about what you did."

"I'm going to check on Brooklyn. You'd better pray she's fine, or tonight's debt, I'll charge to you with interest."

The door locked from the outside.

I dragged myself up and pounded on it with everything I had.

"Duncan, let me out. My stomach really hurts. Take me to the hospital, now!"

The footsteps at the door paused.

His voice was low. "I'll call a doctor to the house. You can stay confined for two days."

The footsteps faded.

I broke down, screaming, "Duncan, come back! You can't leave our baby like this..."

Nothing stirred at the door.

A warm rush spilled out beneath me.

Stiffly, I lowered my head, and saw with despair the red trailing across the floor.

I felt clearly that something was draining out of my body, and my heart died completely.

...

After spending the whole day with Brooklyn, Duncan felt inexplicably uneasy.

He dropped her home and turned to go.

"Where are you going?" Brooklyn called after him.

He didn't stop walking. "I'm going home for a bit."

Her voice took on a hurt edge. "Didn't you say you'd stay with me for two days?"

He pulled open the car door. "Be good. I'll come see you tomorrow."

He hurried home, only to find the lock had been pried open.

The front door hung wide open, the apartment dead silent.

"Marianne? Doctor?"

No one answered.

He walked step by step to the bedroom, his legs going weak for reasons he couldn't name.

The light came on.

The dark red stain soaking the carpet stabbed at his eyes.