The Broken Candle

Nancy's hand rested on the belly, her face contorting with disgust.

"There's no heartbeat! What the hell is going on inside there?"

Rowena's face drained of color, her eyes wide with terror as she stared at Nancy. "Mom... please, just hear me out! I fell because someone pushed me, and that was when the baby stopped moving!"

However, Nancy was beyond reason. Her hands trembled as she delivered two sharp slaps to Rowena's face. "You tramp! You've betrayed my son!"

The dead child had been in Rowena's womb for too long, and the blows brought on a pain so intense that it felt like a tidal wave crashing inside her.

Nancy blocked anyone from intervening, her feet brutally kicking Rowena's swollen belly. "You and that monstrosity inside you should both be dead!"

Rowena was on the verge of passing out when the police finally stepped in to save her. Nancy, however, was adamant. "She betrayed my son. She deserves to die!"

Bennett had been silently shocked the whole time, but then his body shook with a barely contained rage. "What is happening here?"

I did not wait for Rowena's explanation, struggling to break free from Sean's grasp, but he would not let go. "Cut it out, honey, you're about to have a baby. Let's just go and get this done!"

I threw off his hold, pointing an accusing finger at Rowena. "How can you do this to your husband, Rowena? Nancy told me he adores you, won't even let you lift a broom!

"You know it's shameful to be pregnant with another man's child, don't you? Is that why you can't admit it?

"If he truly loved you, would he let you carry a stillborn that long? He's just toying with you!"

I witnessed it myself: after Sean stepped out, Rowena tried to catch his eye over and over, but Sean blatantly ignored her. I figured Sean was worried about Bennett catching on and stirring up trouble.

Rowena, though, seemed to be in denial, desperately trying to defend herself. "The baby is Bennett's! Stop accusing me of lies!"

I could not resist twisting the knife. "Then why not show Bennett your full prenatal records?"

Rowena's face went ghostly white, she was speechless.

She had discovered her pregnancy while Bennett was still out at sea, nowhere near home.

Those medical records did not lie. I seized the moment to drive my point home. "Only lovers with something to hide sneak around! Look at Sean and me, we're not afraid to flaunt our love!"

With that, I whipped out my phone to show Rowena my latest social media update. "See, Sean was getting the hospital bag ready! That's what a real husband and father does–he takes charge!"

Rowena looked stunned by the video. "When was this?"

"Just now," I lied through my teeth, feigning innocence. "I'm about to have a baby, and of course, Sean's on it. He says it's his way of sending blessings to me and the baby! Doesn't your baby's daddy do the same?"

It was all a fabrication. Sean, that monster, wished nothing but the worst for me and the baby. He would never offer a blessing.

However, Rowena bought it like a fool. Consumed by a mix of fury and bitterness, she suddenly started bleeding profusely.

A nurse's voice pierced the air with urgency, "We've got a massive bleed!" as she sprang into action.

Rowena, hoisted onto the stretcher, mustered an unexpected surge of strength and yanked me forward. "You're about to pop too, right? Let's do this together!"

I had always kept my guard up around her. Seeing her reach for me, I slapped her hand away sharply.

I recoiled instantly, not even waiting for her to wince before I let out a sharp scream, "What are you trying to do?! Just because you're having a tough time, you want to drag me down with you?"

Rowena, overcome by my reaction, shut her eyes and passed out.

She was rushed straight into the OR for an emergency C-section.

Sean, witnessing the chaos, was beside himself with worry.

"Come on, honey, we don't want to wait any longer. Stop fussing and let's get this C-section over with!" he urged.

I feigned innocence. "But there's only one operating room, and Rowena's in there right now. Wouldn't it be rude to interrupt?"

"Rowena? She's nothing compared to you and our baby. If we miss today, I swear I'll have her hide!" Sean spat out the words, desperate to convince me to go through with the birth.

I looked at him and agreed with a smile, "Alright."