Bride of Retribution

Finn then dropped his cutlery in front of so many people and left in a hurry, leaving behind a table full of awkward guests, including my parents.

Another unforgettable incident was after my miscarriage. I was suffering from unbearable abdominal pain due to complications from the miscarriage, and I pressed the nurse call bell. All the while, he was in another hospital room, carefully cradling his child and humming a clumsy yet so tender off-key lullaby—a tenderness I had never seen before.

He had even named the child Dylan Yeaton, a name I had chosen for my own unborn child that carried all my hopes and love.

That name was instead given to his illegitimate son, while my child did not even have a tombstone erected. It vanished from this world without a trace, as though it never existed.

Then, on the day that I was discharged, the Yeatons held a small homecoming gathering at the old residence without my knowledge.

Beaming with joy, they gathered around the baby, checking him out from all angles.

Finn had stayed by Louise and the baby’s side throughout the entire time. With a gentle gaze, he offered her water and tucked the baby in.

He would occasionally glance at me, but nothing more than to just urge me to blend into the harmonious atmosphere silently.

Though my heart had long gone numb, seeing the scene in front of me still hurt beyond words.

I turned to leave and pack my things.

While holding her baby, Louise stopped me. Gone was her soft timidity, and in its stead was the sneer belonging to the victor.

“I know you hate me and this child, but did you know?

“Dylan wasn’t conceived through IVF at all.”

At that, my steps came to a halt. My blood seemed to have frozen in that instant.

She leaned closer to me and said in a lowered voice, “It was raining cats and dogs that night. We were both drunk.

“You know how things just… happen. We were skin-to-skin, sharing a passionate night.

“There was never any artificial insemination. That was just a lie Finn made up to keep you calm and accept this accident because he was afraid of you making a scene and tarnishing the Yeatons’ reputation.”

So, that was it.

All that talk about repaying a debt of gratitude and the complex IVF procedures—they were nothing but lies!

A wave of revulsion and fury at being deceived instantly swallowed me whole. My body was trembling with rage.

Louise suddenly grabbed my hand and slapped herself hard across her face.

A crisp smack echoed in the air.

She then dropped to her knees with a loud thud right before me and instantly began wailing in a shrill and pitiful voice.

“Annalise! I’m sorry! Everything was my fault! Please, please spare me and the child!

“Take it out on me if you want to hit or scold someone—the child is innocent! This is my only child. If something happens to him, I won’t be able to go on living either…”

I was still too stunned to respond as I stared at her clumsy little performance. Finn’s furious roar came right then.

“Annalise Wright! What are you doing!”

He hauled Louise up to her feet and shielded her behind him. His glare directed at me was full of shock, disappointment, and indescribable fury.

I stared right back at him calmly. “I didn’t. It was she who…”

Smack!

My words were abruptly cut off.

A vicious slap cut me off mid-sentence, striking my face with full force.

The world went dead silent.

I looked at the man who once swore he loved me. That hideous expression on his face suddenly left me feeling utterly exhausted.

I wasn’t even sad anymore, and only a bone-deep hatred and an icy resolve remained.

“Finn Yeaton,” my voice was unnaturally calm, so calm it was unnerving.

“Let’s get a divorce.”

Finn roared in panic, “You’re threatening me with divorce again! Do you really think I can’t live without you!”