Chapter 9 Chapter 9 Perish together

When I came to, the first thing I heard was Summer crying beside me. I was lying in a hospital bed, my belly flat-completely empty.

I forced myself to sit up, grabbed Summer's trembling hand, and asked about my baby. But she just cried harder, not saying a word.

Then Grandma spoke up instead. "That kid wasn't meant to live. Couldn't keep it. You want a child? Remember that Mr. William King I mentioned? He's got a son already, you could just walk in and be a mom."

I just lost my baby, and she was already bringing up that old guy? Seriously?

In her eyes, my baby's life wasn't even worth 50 thousand!

I lost it. Snatched the water cup next to me and chucked it straight at her. "Who the hell are you calling a kid?"

She dodged it, clutching her waist in fury, yelling, "Are you trying to die? You're just like your mom! No discipline at all, getting knocked up before marriage, what a joke!"

That moment, I was drowning in anger and grief. I couldn't hear a thing she said after that, not even when she mentioned Mom.

Right when we were about to go at it again, a doctor pushed the door open. "Miss Johnson, I told you before that your pregnancy was high-risk. You were supposed to take it easy. Why did you go and mess around with things that could trigger a miscarriage?"

I froze right there-like someone pressed pause on me. No tears, no movement.

After a long silence, I slowly clenched my fists, nails digging into my palms, and asked in a hoarse voice, "What did you just say?"

The doctor let out a sigh. "Your blood work showed unknown substances mixed in, which sped up circulation and caused the miscarriage."

I clutched Summer's hand. "Did we eat something weird lately? Anything off?"

Summer looked just as shocked. "No way. We've been super careful. We always double-check if something's safe before you eat it."

Then it must've been something I overlooked.

The guilt hit me like a truck. I let go of her hand, collapsed back onto the bed, and stared up at the sterile white ceiling, tears rolling down silently.

The last connection I had to Henry Smith. gone.

At some point, I cried myself into a daze. Half-asleep, half-awake-I could've sworn I heard the door creak open.It felt like someone walked up to me and gently touched my forehead with a warm hand, letting out a quiet sigh.

That warmth. it felt just like Henry Smith.

But why would he show up here?

When I woke up, I asked the nurse if anyone had come to see me while I was asleep.

She shook her head and said no.

I laughed bitterly. Of course-figured it was just a dream.

The next day, it was actually Xander Lewis who showed up. Summer must've told him I lost the baby. After a few awkward attempts to comfort me, he quickly switched topics, asking if I had any career plans now that graduation was only a month away.

I hadn't even gotten a word out when my phone rang.

It was the police. My dad had been arrested for breaking into Lena Carter's house and starting a fight. They suggested I settle privately with the complainant to get a lighter sentence for my dad.

That's when it hit me - I hadn't seen my dad at all since I woke up yesterday. Why would he go to the Carter's place?

I yanked out the IV and bolted out of the hospital in my gown. Xander tried to stop me, but I didn't even slow down.

As soon as I got out of the cab and walked a few steps, I heard shouting by the Carter house.

"Lena, that's your own father you're talking about! Are you outta your mind? Get your butt to the station and drop the damn charges!" My grandma's voice was full of rage.

Lena shot back, sounding calm, "I was at home with my mom, just minding our business. He barged in, completely out of control. My mom's in the hospital now! You want me to let it go? That'd mean I don't care about my mom's safety!"

Grandma snapped, totally losing it now. "Don't forget! You're the one who told me to spike the massage oil with that essential oil crap to make Sophie lose the baby early! Her dad only came to your house to get justice. If you don't drop those charges, don't think you'll get away with what you did!"

Lena actually laughed. "Oh please. Don't pin this on me. You did it for the fifty grand and wanted to marry Sophie off to that William King, even if it meant sacrificing a fully developed baby. That's on you, not me."

Boom-

It was like a lightning bolt exploded in my head.

I'd never, not even in my nightmares, imagined my own family would plan something so cruel. They'd actually schemed to make me deliver early-just to sell me off.

My chest tightened, breathing got harder, and my whole body went cold with fury. At that moment, I wanted to tear them apart. These two monsters killed my child-how could I ever forgive that?