The thunder got louder and louder, and she felt pain shooting through her bones, spreading all over her body.


    Holding her stomach, she curled into herself on the bed, her teeth sinking into her pale lips.


    It felt like she was back in that night again.


    “The baby,” she whispered in agony, her body shaking. “Save the baby!”


    “Wesley, save the baby!”


    “My baby!”


    Her voice broke into sobs, each one steeped in despair.


    ***


    “Wake up, Prisci.


    “You’re having a bad dream.”


    A worried voice cut through the thunder.


    Prisci’s eyes flew open, and she saw Wesley’s familiar, handsome face.


    He held her close, calling her name anxiously. “Prisci.”


    Her mind was still all mixed up, and she could still feel that pain. Her fingers, fair and thin, instinctively grabbed Wesley’s shirt as she begged him, panic and pain written all over her face.


    “My stomach hurts like hell. Please, save the baby.”


    Wesley’s face showed how much it hurt him to see Prisci like this. He knew she was still caught in that nightmare. He hugged her even tighter, trying to make her feel better.


    “I’m right here.


    “Rx.”


    Another crack of thunder split the sky.


    Prisci froze. She was out of the nightmare now.


    Her face was still wet with tears. She grabbed the nket and turned over to lie on her side.


    Wesley moved in from behind, put his arm around her waist, and held her close.


    0.0%


    11:51


    “Go back to sleep. I’ll be here.”


    Prisci wriggled and slid to the side. She didn’t want to be this close to him.


    But the next second, he pulled her back.


    He firmly grabbed her wrist, not letting her go, and leaned in to kiss her.


    The kiss was soft and slow, clearly meant to soothe her.


    But Prisci wasn’t having it.


    She pushed back hard, tearsing to her eyes again.


    Wesley tasted her tears as he kissed her, and he felt a lump in his chest.


    In the end, he didn’t keep going.


    He gently touched her long hair and said in a rough, emotional voice, “I got those guys who kidnapped you. Do you wanna see them?”


    He figured that if she saw how bad they had it, maybe she’d feel a little better.


    But Prisci turned away and said tly, “No.”


    Wesley put his hand on her shoulder, turned her around, and made her look at him. “What happened to you… It was because Everett didn’t do his job right.


    “I took away half his bonus for the year.”


    Prisci didn’t say anything, her big, clear eyes quietly fixed on his face.


    She felt likeughing.


    Everett didn’t find out the truth about her miscarriage that stormy night, and all he got was a pay cut.


    What about the pain she went through?


    At the core of it all, it was because of Wesley.


    He didn’t care enough about her as his wife, so the people around him didn’t take her seriously.


    He didn’t understand. He couldn’t. And worst of all, he wouldn’t even admit he was wrong.


    Prisci looked down to hide her disappointment and bitterness, then turned her head to look out the window.


    Lightning still shed across the sky, casting fleeting bursts of light and shadow over the night.


    She said softly, “I wanna sleep now.”


    Wesley was silent for a few seconds before replying, his voice hoarse, “Okay.”


    He let go of her shoulder and let her turn away from him.


    38.9 %


    11:51


    His eyes looked kind of cold. He felt bad about what happened with the baby, but her attitude was making him feel


    uneasy.


    People had to move on, but she wouldn’t.


    The next day, Prisci woke upte. When she went downstairs, the maid brought her breakfast.


    “Mr. Carlton has gone to work. He told me to make the oatmeal that you love the most.”


    90.2 %


    11:52