Love's Finale in Lies

"Anne, I'm sorry."

Caden didn't answer. He just pulled me into his arms and buried his head in the crook of my neck.

This was Caden's usual little trick for apologizing. I always found it an endearing contrast to his usual self. In the past, whenever he did something wrong, this was all it took for me to forgive him.

'Does he think something like cheating can be glossed over with a simple apology?'

'What does he take me for?!'

I shoved him away, ignoring the look of utter shock on his face as I wiped away the tears that had started streaming down my cheeks.

Caden explained with a helpless air, acting as if my distrust was deeply hurting him.

"Anne, I honestly had no idea she was going to drug me. The baby... I only found out about it yesterday. I know you're heartbroken, but Kara said she just wants to have the baby, and that she'll let us raise it."

Kara Jolie jumped at the opening, her voice choked with sobs.

"Anne, you've been a mother. Surely you can understand why I don't want to abort my baby."

A new wave of pain clenched my heart as I thought of my own child, whose life was taken before it ever had a chance to be born. The agony was so intense I could barely breathe.

'Did Caden know Kara was pregnant all along? Is that why he was so quick to take my child away from me?'

'If you truly love someone, could you really bear to hurt them like this?'

For the past ten years, despite Kara's obvious crush on him, he had always made me feel completely secure. He never once crossed the line, not in word or deed.

When our friends would tease him, he would always put me first.

"I only have one love, and that's Anne. She's the only one for me."

'I thought that in marrying Caden Vaughn, I was marrying for love. But in reality, love can't conquer all. A single, flimsy prediction could shatter everything I once thought was beautiful.'

Suddenly, an overwhelming exhaustion washed over me, and I lost all strength to fight.

'A homewrecker desperate to take my place, a mother-in-law who deliberately gives me a hard time, and a husband who seems to love me but uses gentle coercion to force my hand...'

'Maybe leaving is the only way out.'

I curved my lips into a self-mocking smile. The dull ache in my heart was a silent, grinding pain.

"Do whatever you want."

Caden thought I had agreed and let out a huge sigh of relief.

Mrs. Vaughn snorted at me, then immediately turned to Kara. Her face lit up as she helped Kara to her feet, her expression full of tender concern.

"Look how drained you are. I'll have the housekeeper make some nourishing soup for you."

Kara said with a playful pout, pulling Caden's hand to rest on her belly.

"Brother Caden, look. The baby is acting up again."

I watched their loving family scene with cold eyes, then turned and went upstairs without a word. I had my best friend abroad book a flight for me.

'Since someone has to be the third wheel, I'll just remove myself from the picture and let them be happy together.'

I jolted awake in the middle of the night, my mind filled with the image of my child, crying and demanding to know why I hadn't saved him.

I trembled, silent tears streaming down my face.

The cold, empty space beside me was a reminder of my failed marriage.

Earlier tonight, Kara Jolie had claimed she'd had a nightmare. Caden, worried it might affect the baby, said he was going to check on her.

He didn't return all night.

The Caden who would pull me into his arms and gently soothe me whenever I had a nightmare was gone forever.

I got out of bed, intending to go downstairs for a glass of water, but there was a knock on my bedroom door.

I opened the door to find Caden standing there. The look deep in his eyes made him seem like a stranger.

"Anne, Kara had a nightmare. She dreamed that you didn't like the baby and pushed her down the stairs. Now she's afraid to let you raise the child."

"Mother has a Statue of Guanyin in her room. Go and kneel before it for a night to pray for the child. And apologize to Kara, won't you?"