Chapter 4
Their eyes locked, sparks flying.
child instinctively protect
In that moment, I watched the husband who once adored me transform into a complete stranger. While I crouched in the shadows like a cockroach, watching someone else’s happiness. Pathetically watching the father of my another woman.[]
Casey beside me started to rush forward, but I held him back with everything I had.[]
After a long pause, I dialed Leonel’s number.[]
From my distance, I watched his phone light up.[]
He glanced at it. The ringtone played once, then again.[]
He just stared at it. Never answered.[]
Amari saw “Wifey” on the caller ID and pouted.[]
“You promised today was all about me. No distractions–not even her–or I’m never speaking to you again.“[]
Leonel chuckled and tossed his phone into a cup full of beer, raising an eyebrow:[]
“Happy now, princess?“]
When Amari finally nodded, Leonel swept her up and spun her around overhead.[]
Her delighted screams carried on the ocean breeze.[]
By the time I lowered my phone from recording, tears had soaked through my mask.[]
Fuck you, Leonel Hartman! So this is all I ever meant to you?!]
Hope you’re ready to fucking burn in hell![]
Eventually they got tired and sat around talking.]
Amari’s voice drifted over on the wind:
“Actually, on Leo’s wedding night, I got wasted and said I wanted to marry some random guy just to get it over with. He freaked out, grabbed Kendall’s wedding dress, and came to find me.“]
“Isn’t that crazy? We played house like when we were kids, exchanging vows under the stars.“]]
My heart seized.
I remembered that custom wedding dress I’d searched forever to find. Leonel said it got stained and lost at the dry cleaner’s.[]
Amari kept going with a laugh: “I joked that since we’d exchanged vows, it was real. Said I’d never get married, but I wanted
Chapter 4
kids without ruining my body. Guess what this idiot did?“]]
Leonel kept drinking and smiling, not stopping her.
The crowd egged Amari on until she raised her chin proudly:[]
‘He actually took it seriously! Dragged me to get IVF done!“[]
She winked at Leonel to take over.
‘So Leo, what happened to that baby?“]
Leonel drained his drink, eyes dark and distant.[]
‘The baby in Kendall’s belly right now? That’s mine and Amari’s IVF baby.“]
BOOM-*
Something exploded in my skull. Everything went white.[]
Casey was cursing “MOTHERFUCKER” beside me while Leonel looked completely unbothered.[]
I clutched my stomach. Like it could sense my agony, the baby started kicking frantically.[]
All I felt was the bitter irony.[]
From the moment we started trying, Leonel told me his sperm count was low and IVF would give us better odds.[]
Countless days and nights, I took pills until I was nauseous, my belly covered in purple needle marks.[]
The day it took, he pressed his face to my stomach and whispered:[]
“Hey baby, Daddy’s gonna make sure you and Mommy are the happiest people in the world.“[]
Turns out he was never talking to me.]]
Amari’s voice floated over again, dripping with smugness:]
“Good thing Leo was smart about it. Look at Kendall now–all bloated and gross from pregnancy. I’d rather die than let my body get wrecked like that.“[]
I couldn’t listen anymore. Started to leave.]]
Suddenly a massive wave hit, rocking the yacht violently.[]
Amari had been standing at the edge, too caught up in her story.
She screamed as she was thrown overboard.[]
Leonel didn’t hesitate for a second–grabbed a life ring and dove in, swimming hard toward her.[]
