Chapter 4

In the ambulance on the way to the hospital.

The pain was unbearable, and my mind kept slipping in and out.

Faintly I heard a nurse say:

"We think the patient's pregnant. She's bleeding."

"Can't unlock her phone. The family contact she listed has hung up on us ten times in a row."

"God. A husband this useless, and she's carrying his child. What a waste."

I lined up to pay, only to be told out-of-state insurance couldn't be used here.

I looked at the bank card with a zero balance.

And the forty-some call records, every one of them cut off by Marcus.

It was August, but my heart was as cold as the dead of winter.

I dialed my mother's number, tears sliding down without stopping.

"Mom. I'm out of money. Can you lend me some?"

"Leila, why are you crying? Did that rotten Marcus do something to you?"

"No. He's in a meeting. I just can't reach him right now."

The call hadn't even ended before my mother's transfer came through.

Twenty-eight thousand four hundred thirty-three dollars and forty-five cents.

Down to the last cent.

It was everything she had.

The note read: "Come home for the Harvest Festival. I miss you."

I pushed down the ache in my chest.

When I reached the payment window, Marcus was there too, holding Norma, paying through the VIP line.

He looked me over a few times and sneered.

"What else would I expect from a mama's girl. Sick and needing money, and it doesn't even cross your mind to call your husband. Only your mommy."

"Marcus. Is it that I didn't think of you, or that you wouldn't pick up?"

"I didn't pick up because you're vicious. You hurt Norma."

His arm was around Norma's waist, and he tightened it as he spoke.

"Apologize to Norma, and I'll transfer you the money for your treatment right now."

The pain in my stomach hadn't eased. If anything it was worse, so bad I could barely speak.

"I don't need it."

The next second, everything went black and I passed out.

When I woke again, I was lying in a hospital bed.

I felt too weak to lift my hand, my stomach twisting with nausea.

But the young nurse looked delighted as she congratulated me.

"Congratulations, Ms. Pruitt!"

I was still confused.

She explained:

"You're a month pregnant! You nearly lost it just now, but you've got a strong constitution, so we saved it. This baby was meant to be yours!"

Something stirred in me.

I touched the warm curve of my belly.

The young nurse caught the sharp look Marcus was giving her from the side.

She backed out of the room at once.

He sat beside me, and for once the way he held both my hands was gentle.

"Leila. Your money. I've already transferred it back to your card."

I couldn't make sense of the change in him, still caught in the shock and joy of being pregnant.

Then his next words turned me cold all over.

"This baby. You can't keep it."

I couldn't believe my ears, and I asked back:

"Marcus, what did you say?"

"You've got that mama's-girl thing, and you're a little princess. You can't even take care of yourself. How are you going to raise a child?"

He wanted to use the labels Norma had stuck on me to strip me of the right to be a mother.

He handed me a prenatal report.

Already three months along.

"Norma's pregnant too. And it's a boy."

My lips trembled as I asked:

"So?"

"Norma's very generous. She doesn't mind just being the child's godmother. Leila, you're still my only wife."

In that moment, seven years of marriage collapsed in my chest.

Not a trace of it left.

I smiled and nodded.

"Fine."

Since the two of you already have another family, then I'll give it to you.

Marcus threw his arms around me, moved.

Norma's perfume stung my nose.

This time I didn't even feel sick. Just numb.

I took out the divorce agreement I'd put in my bag the night before.

On top of it lay Norma's live-in nanny contract.

"I've signed. You sign too."

Marcus couldn't hide the smile on his face.

But there was a flicker of hesitation at the edge of his brow.

"Mm. Guess it's true what they say, you become who you spend time with. Hang around Norma more and you learn to be gentle too."

I said nothing, only smiled.

Three nights later, deep in the night, I quietly packed all my things and left the house.

I boarded the flight home to the South.

The moon on Harvest Festival night was full and round.

On the plane I slept comfortably for five hours.

The moment we landed the next day.

Marcus's messages and missed calls suddenly burst out, popping up like mad.