For Her, He Destroyed Me

Marriage? To him? The guy who hurt me like this for another woman? No way.

I met Charlie's gaze, steady. "We're done."

His expression twisted—panic, then denial. "You don't mean that. You're just upset. I won't take it seriously."

Yeah, well, he should have. Instead, he took my phone, grabbed his guys, and bolted—probably to check on Raine.

Dragging myself to the entrance, I found it blocked from the outside. He'd made sure I wouldn't crash Raine's little coronation.

I pounded on the door, yelling for help. Nothing.

I slumped against the freezing floor, pain ripping through me. My chest burned, blood soaking my shirt. Then a sharper, deeper agony hit my stomach.

I was three months pregnant.

I'd planned to tell Charlie after meeting my parents. It was supposed to be the best day of my life. A double blessing.

But my baby would never see it.

Warm blood pooled under me. My strength slipped away.

Beyond the walls, laughter and celebration rang out. My parents—right there, yet impossibly far.

I had nothing left.

The darkness took me.

***

I woke up in a hospital.

Dr. Reagan Reed stood by my bed. "A janitor found you bleeding in the restroom. They thought you'd... tried to take your own life, so they rushed you here.

"You were minutes away from bleeding out. And... we couldn't save the baby."

I pressed a hand to my stomach. There had been life inside me once.

Dr. Reed hesitated. "Did something happen? Do you want me to call the police?"

I just thanked him.

Then Charlie barged in, looking panicked—like he was still the guy who used to freak out over a paper cut on my finger.

"Madelyn! Why didn't you wait for me? Do you know how worried I was when I couldn't find you?"

Worried about me? Or about me talking?

I didn't answer. Just watched him, cold and silent. If he knew he'd killed his own child, how would he react?

He placed a container in front of me. "I asked the doctor—you must eat a light diet. I made you soup. Eat, okay?"

I hadn't eaten in... who knows how long.

I opened the container. The strong smell of seafood hit me.

The soup was thin, barely there. Someone had already taken a few sips.

Did he seriously not know patients shouldn't have seafood soup?

"Charlie, this soup is really good. You should teach me how to make it sometime."

A voice chimed in from behind him.

Raine.

Draped in designer clothes and glittering jewelry, she looked every bit the wealthy heiress. She'd done it. Stolen my identity.

My appetite vanished.

Even the soup was her leftovers.

Charlie avoided my eyes. "Raine was really worried about you. She insisted on coming. She got hungry on the way, so I let her have a few sips first. Don't be mad—I'll order another one for you."

Raine pouted. "It's not my fault—it was just too good."

Then she turned to me, all sugar-coated venom. "Madelyn, thank you for letting me take your place."

My blood boiled. I wanted nothing more than to rip her apart.

"Fraud! You're nothing but a thief—a liar who stole my life!"

Pure hatred burned in my glare.

Then—crack.

A slap sent my head snapping to the side.

"Madelyn Gibson! I never thought you'd be so cruel to Raine!"

Charlie stared at his own hand, something like regret flickering in his eyes. But his voice stayed firm. "Apologize. Now."

Tears streaked Raine's face. "I know Madelyn doesn't want to give up her identity. I really am just a thief. I don't deserve this! I'll go tell Mom and Dad right now—I'm not really their daughter!"