Chapter 6

"What the hell were you thinking?" Archie hissed, his voice a low snarl. "You could have hurt the baby!"

Faustina shrank into his arms, her body trembling. "I'm sorry... I just... I didn't want you to be sad if something happened to her."

Archie's expression softened. A flicker of something that looked like tenderness crossed his face.

He pulled her into a rough kiss, his anger melting into desire.

Karyme turned away, her heart completely numb. She walked back inside and went to her room.

Archie didn't come to bed that night.

The next morning, he stood in her doorway, staring at her. His eyes were full of cold disappointment.

"The chandelier," he said, his voice flat. "Someone loosened the bolts."

Karyme stared back at him, incredulous. "You think I did it?"

"First the allergies, now this," he said, listing her supposed crimes. "Faustina does nothing but try to please you, and you keep trying to hurt her."

He let out a heavy sigh. "Why can't you just accept her, Karyme? For me? For our child?"

A chilling coldness spread through Karyme's body.

He didn't believe her. He would never believe her.

Over the next few weeks, Archie's coldness turned into a silent, punishing neglect.

Faustina, meanwhile, played the role of the humble victim perfectly.

"Please, Mrs. Hatfield," she would whisper, her eyes downcast. "Please don't be angry with me. I know Archie loves you. He'll send me away as soon as the baby is born. I promise."

Karyme watched Archie's face as Faustina spoke. She saw the flicker of doubt, the surge of protective pity.

She knew Faustina was lying. The woman's ambition was a hungry fire in her eyes. Faustina didn't call him "Mr. Hatfield" anymore. When she thought Karyme wasn't listening, she called him "Archie."

But Karyme didn't care anymore.

Her escape was planned. In two days, she and Jalen would be gone.

But the day before she was set to leave, Faustina disappeared.

Archie was frantic. He turned the city upside down looking for her, his face a mask of panicked rage.

He smashed his phone against the wall, the sound echoing through the silent house.

His wild, desperate gaze landed on Karyme.

"Where is she?" he demanded, his eyes full of accusation. "What did you do with her?"

"I don't know," Karyme said, her voice steady.

"This is not the time for games, Karyme!" he roared.

The injustice of it was a physical blow, a hot, searing pain in her chest.

One of Archie's security men stepped forward, holding a phone.

"Sir, this is Ms. Edwards' phone. We found it in her room. The last call she made was to Mrs. Hatfield."

Archie's jaw tightened, a vein throbbing in his temple.

"Just admit it, Karyme. Why won't you just admit it?"

Karyme let out a cold, bitter laugh. "Admit what, Archie? That I kidnapped a pregnant woman? Is that what you think of me?"

She remembered Faustina's call. It was a taunt, a victory lap.