Chapter 1
Splintered wood rained across the bathroom tiles as Ethan kicked the door off its brass hinges.
His face was flushed red with alcohol and raw, uncontrollable anger.
“Hand over the phone, Lena!” Ethan roared, stepping through the broken frame.
Vanessa stood right behind him in the hallway, sipping her scotch with a dark, cruel smirk on her lips.
“Look at her cowering on the floor like a wounded animal,” Vanessa sneered.
I pulled myself backward against the cold porcelain tub, shielding my eight-month belly with my good arm.
Another sharp, agonizing contraction ripped through my abdomen, making me gasp for air.
“Ethan, please,” I sobbed, tears cutting through the dust on my cheeks. “The baby is coming.”
Ethan scoffed, reaching down to grab my hair and yank my head back violently.
“Stop lying to get attention!” Ethan spat, prying the black smartphone out of my trembling fingers.
He looked at the call screen, which had already gone dark after my father hung up.
May you like
“Who were you calling?” Ethan demanded, glaring down at me. “The cops?”
“Because if you brought the police to my apartment, Lena, I swear I’ll break your other arm!”
