Chapter 5
But I didn’t flinch, my gaze steady, cold.
“Now you finally see the truth,” I whispered, every word drenched with loathing. “This is who you really are, Adam. And one day, you‘ ll face the
consequences.
The last thing I saw was his horrified expression as I let myself close my eyes, surrendering to the darkness.
“Something happened to my mom!” I cut Adam off sharply, holding back the tears that threatened to spill over. “She had a chance to live, Adam. She had a chance, but it was stolen from her–all because of you and Louise!”
I ended the call and blocked his number, feeling an unusual clarity in the silence that followed. My vision blurred, my body weak from exhaustion and before I knew it, I was slipping into darkness.
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When I woke up, I was lying in a hospital bed, with Adam standing by my side, his expression tight with worry. “Claire, are you okay?” he asked, voice soft in a way I hadn’t heard in years. “How do you feel?”
Memories of everything that had happened came rushing back and I struggled to sit up, but he held me down, his tone turning impatient. “You‘ re in no condition to be moving around. You didn’t even know you were pregnant, did you? And your mom… You thought you could handle everything alone?”
Pregnant? The word stung, especially coming from him. I met his gaze with cold defiance. “Adam, is it because I didn’t tell you–or because you didn’t believe me in the first place?”
His face flickered with guilt. “Look, if you didn’t constantly pull these stunts, maybe I’d trust you more.” He tried to sound reasonable, though the frustration
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When I woke up, I was lying in a hospital bed, with Adam standing by my side, his expression tight with worry. “Claire, are you okay?” he asked, voice soft in a way hadn’t heard in years. “How do you feel?”
I
Memories of everything that had happened came rushing back and I struggled to sit up, but he held me down, his tone turning impatient. “You‘ re in no condition to be moving around. You didn’t even know you were pregnant, did you? And your mom… You thought you could handle everything alone?”
Pregnant? The word stung, especially coming from him. I met his gaze with cold defiance. “Adam, is it because I didn’t tell you–or because you didn’t believe me in the first place?”
His face flickered with guilt. “Look, if you didn’t constantly pull these stunts, maybe I’d trust you more.” He tried to sound reasonable, though the frustration
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lingered. “Just focus on recovering. I’ll handle your mom’s arrangements–you shouldn’t worry about it.”
His words rolled out casually, as if he hadn’t just destroyed the last person I had in this world. He poured me a glass of water, his tone softening as he handed it to me. “I know I made some mistakes, but it wasn’t all on me. If you hadn’t picked fights with Louise, she wouldn’t have tried to hurt herself. Apologize to her, Claire and I swear I’ll make it right. We can have a good life, just the two of us.
I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. Even now, he still thought I owed Louise–still wanted me to kneel and apologize to the person who’d caused all of this.
“Adam,” I said, voice as icy as I felt inside, “how can you ask me to live a good life with my mother’s murderer?”
Adam’s expression twisted and he threw the glass onto the floor, shattering it.
“What did you just say?”
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“My mother could have survived. But you and Louise robbed her of that chance. I will never, never forgive you.”
“Claire!” he barked, his voice full of anger. “I’m giving you a chance to resolve this. Don’t push me.”
At that moment, I felt like the world‘ s biggest fool, having spent three years fighting to make this marriage work. Not wanting to be in the same room with him a second longer, I pulled myself up, each step a painful reminder of my own physical weakness. I just wanted to get as far away from him as I could.
Adam, however, wouldn’t let me leave. He stepped forward and grabbed my arm, his expression hard. “You‘ re still recovering; you can’t just walk out! I told you I’d take care of everything for your mom. What else could you possibly have to say to me?”
My voice was a low hiss. “You smashed my mother’s urn, Adam. Do you really
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think I have anything left to say to you?”
“It was a misunderstanding!” he protested, clearly frustrated. “I thought
“You thought I was acting?” I cut him off with a hollow laugh. “Adam, I begged you for three months to believe me, but
nothing I said mattered next to Louise‘ s word. You’d be better off signing the divorce papers before it’s too late. Go play house with your precious Louise.”
Adam‘ s jaw tightened, his tone icy. “How many times do I have to tell you, Claire? Louise is like a sister to me! She’s always had health issues and I’ve looked out for her since we were kids. Why do you insist on twisting it into something else?”
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