Chapter 4The Clean Break

On the seventh day, the money hadn't arrived.

The lawyer's letter reached the company.

When Liam came home that night, he slammed the letter on the table.

"Chloe, do you have to do this?"

I asked calmly:

"What choice do I have? Wait for you to give all our money away and let me and the baby starve?"

His eyes were red. "Our five years of relationship..."

I interrupted him.

"You destroyed the relationship yourself."

"Liam, every time you chose her, you were destroying us."

"Every time you stayed silent, you were erasing us."

He was speechless again.

Over the weekend, I went out to buy baby supplies.

When I returned, I heard laughter before I even opened the door.

Inside, the living room was a playground.

Balloons, streamers, toys everywhere.

Several kids were running around. Sophie's son, Kayden, was riding on Liam's shoulders, laughing hysterically.

Sophie came out of the kitchen wearing an apron. Her smile froze when she saw me.

Her voice was tiny.

"Chloe... today is Kayden's birthday. Your place is big, so I thought..."

Liam put Kayden down, looking awkward.

"Chloe, let me explain..."

"Who allowed this?" My voice was icy.

The room went quiet. The kids stared.

I enunciated every word. "This is my house. Who allowed you to bring strangers in?"

Sophie's eyes reddened.

"I'm sorry, I'll leave right now... Kayden, let's go..."

"Sophie!"

Liam grabbed her and turned to me.

"Chloe, it's just a birthday party for a kid. Is this necessary?"

Is this necessary.

I've heard those three words too many times.

"Get out," I said.

"Chloe!"

"Take these people and get out!"

Kayden suddenly screamed and charged at me.

"Bad woman! Don't yell at my mommy!"

He hit me hard. I lost my balance and fell backward.

My lower back smashed into the corner of the dining table. Pain exploded.

Worse, a tearing cramp seized my abdomen.

I looked down. Bright red blood was spreading rapidly on my light-colored pants.

"Blood..." someone screamed.

Liam rushed to help me, but I pushed him away.

I gritted my teeth. "Call an ambulance... call an ambulance!"

In the ambulance, waves of pain washed over me.

I grabbed the nurse's hand. "My baby... my baby..."

The nurse comforted me, but her eyes said everything.

I was wheeled into the ER.

When I woke up, the doctor shook his head at me. "I'm sorry. We couldn't save the baby."

I didn't cry.

I just stared at the ceiling, my mind blank.

In the ward, Liam stood by the bed, eyes bloodshot.

"Chloe, I'm sorry..."

"Get out."

"We're still young, we can try ag—"

"Get out!"

He didn't move.

I grabbed a glass and threw it. It shattered at his feet. "Get out!"

Liam finally left.

I lay in the hospital bed, touching my flat stomach.

It was empty, as if that little life had never been there.

This morning, I felt the baby kick.

Now, nothing.

The last link between Liam and me was broken.

The next day, I placed the divorce agreement in front of him.

"Sign it."

Liam looked at the "leave with nothing" clause and looked up sharply.

"Chloe, you..."