I dragged my exhausted body to pay the hospital bill with thest bit of money I had on me.
When I got back to the room, Gabriel was sitting by the bed ying on his phone. He looked up and frowned.
“You just gave birth and you’re already running around? Are you trying to kill yourself?<b>” </b>
That irritated look was nothing like the gentle man I’d just seen in the hallway.
It reminded me of when I first found out I was pregnant – he’d stared at the ultrasound and sneered.
“Get rid of it. Kids are too expensive right now.”
Back then I was stupid enough to think things would get better once his business picked up.
So I worked as a waitress during the day, washed dishes at restaurants at night, juggling multiple jobs. I even squeezed prenatal checkups into my lunch breaks.
Now I finally got it. He wasn’t worried about affording a kid – he was worried my baby would take away what belonged to Vera and her child.
I covered the needle marks on my hand and gave him a fake smile.
“Have you thought of a name for the baby?”
Gabriel’s fingers paused on his phone screen, not even bothering to look up.
“Haven’t thought about it. Just pick whatever.”
I stared at the ceiling andughed.
Last week I’d seen his notebook in the car with over thirty names circled in red pen, with notes like “Vera says this one
has good meaning.”
He remembered every single thought that woman had.
But for the baby I’d nearly died giving birth to, he said just pick whatever.
My fingers typed “divorce <i>papers</i>” into my phone and sent it to thewyer I’d already contacted.
Late that night, I went to get hot water from the utility room and heard sticky breathing sounds from the fire exit.
“There are cameras everywhere here. If we get caught…”
Gabriel’s voice was full of suppressed excitement.
19 206
Vera giggled, her fingernail tracing his throat.
“So what? She’s stuck in bed and can’t move. Even if she saw us, what could she <i>do</i>?”
“Tell me, between her and me, who understands you better?”
Gabriel’s voice was sweet as honey. “You<b>, </b><b>of </b>course. She doesn’t have half your
charm.”
My hands shook as I held the hot water, steam fogging up my sses and burning the corners of my eyes.
So all thosete nights when he came home smelling like strange perfume – that was evidence of their affair!
When I got back to the room, I saw a dark figure hunched over my baby’s crib. I rushed over and pulled him away–it
was Vera’s son.
“What are you doing!”
He shook off my hand, his eyes full of hate.
“It’s all your fault, you sick freak, and this little bastard too! You stole my daddy! I want you both dead!”
He lunged at me, biting and scratching my arm. Before I could push him away, he crashed into the bed frame with a loud thud, then clutched his forehead and started wailing.
When Gabriel burst in, he saw the kid crying and me protecting the baby’s crib.
The p across my face was so hard I could hear my teeth chattering.
“Elena! You can’t even deal with a little kid? What’s wrong with you!”
I held my burning cheek and looked at him.
“Is this really what you think of me?”
Panic shed in Gabriel’s eyes and his lips moved slightly.
Then Vera ran in with her clothes disheveled, the red marks on her neck especially obvious under the harsh hospital
lights.
“It’s all my fault for bringing Lucas here.” She hugged her crying child while wiping away tears. “He just wanted to see his little brother. How could this happen?”
The boy immediately screamed “She called me an unwanted bastard and pushed me!”
I grabbed Gabriel’s arm desperately. “I swear I didn’t do anything!” My nails dug into his skin.
Gabriel jerked his hand away, his face cold as ice.
“Enough! He’s only four years old – you think he’d lie?”