She Stole His Gratitude, I Exposed Her

Chapter 2

I fought back the searing rage and stabbing agony that threatened to burst from my chest, heaved myself to my feet and ran as fast as I could, my heavy pregnant belly throwing off my balance with every stumbling step.

Jonathan was just about to climb into his car when he spotted me running. His face drained of color in an instant.

"Queenie, stop running! Watch the baby! Someone, catch her, now!"

I ran for my life, a whole horde of people hot on my heels.

Suddenly, a hard shove hit me square in the back. Caught completely off guard, I went tumbling down the hillside, rocks clattering beneath me as I fell.

A gut-wrenching, searing pain exploded through every inch of my body in an instant.

I collapsed into a pile of jagged rocks at the bottom of the slope, and a warm, sticky wetness quickly spread out beneath me.

When Jonathan, who'd been chasing right behind me, saw the scene, his voice shook with terror and he made to rush down immediately.

"Queenie, hold on!"

"Jonathan, don't move!"

But Jasmine grabbed him hard by the arm, snagged her camera and lifted it in a flash, and pointed the lens straight at my desperate face and the blood seeping from between my legs.

"This is exactly the shot I wanted! It's perfect! With this, the editor will definitely make my position permanent!"

I was in so much pain I could barely breathe, and could feel the warm blood gushing out of me in waves.

Tears streamed down my face nonstop, and I squeezed out every last bit of strength I had left to beg Jonathan.

"Please... save me... save our baby too..."

But Jasmine kept snapping impatiently.

"Just wait a little longer, Jonathan! I need shots from multiple angles. If I miss this chance, I'll never get another one.

"You haven't forgotten the scar on my back from saving you all those years ago, have you? You owe me for that favor. Just grant me this one last request, I'm begging you!"

Jonathan's gaze darted back and forth between me and Jasmine, torn. Finally, he pressed his lips tight and looked at me, his face drawn with clear hesitation.

"Queenie, just hold on a little longer, okay? Be patient for me? I promise you, I'll get the best obstetrician in the entire world for you. We'll definitely save our baby! Trust me!"

His words landed like a punch to the gut, and I went completely rigid.

Tears burned my eyes as my chest tightened so much I could barely breathe, and I squeezed my lids shut, drowning in despair.

He'd made me so many promises over the years.

When we got married, he'd sworn he'd protect me for life, that he'd never let anyone hurt me even a little.

But he'd stood by and done nothing while Jasmine spread false, vicious rumors about me, dragging my name through the mud.

When I told him I was pregnant, he'd been over the moon, saying the baby and I were his whole world, that we'd always come first for him, no matter what.

Now, as I fought for my life and our baby's, he didn't even care to rush to save us. All he cared about was letting Jasmine finish her photoshoot and get the material she wanted.

A single tear trickled down the corner of my eye.

It was over.

Whatever was left between us was gone, completely and irrevocably.