Behind The Bet

CHAPTER3

David stared down at her. For a split second, something flickered in his eyes, guilt? Shame? Fear?

Then it vanished.

He turned and stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

Reyna was left on the floor, broken, bleeding, and alone with nothing but the sound of her own sobs and the haunting silence that followed.

--

Reyna blinked her eyes open slowly. The ceiling was unfamiliar, the air smelled sterile, too clean. Panic gripped her chest. She sat up weakly, her body aching in places she didn’t remember hurting. Her mind scrambled for answers. Where am I? What happened to me? Is my baby okay?

Tears welled in her eyes, then spilled freely down her cheeks. “What have I done to deserve all this?” she whispered to herself, pressing a trembling hand against her stomach. “Please, God, let my baby be safe…”

In the distance, muffled voices rose. The walls couldn’t contain the heat of the argument brewing just beyond her door.

“This is NOT the man I raised you to be!” Mrs. Julie Reynolds' voice rang sharp and furious. “Have you gone mad? What were you thinking, David? You want to end up in the news for attempted murder? " Do you have any idea what that would do to our reputation and our businesses?”

“Mum, it wasn’t intentional,” David’s voice came, lower, defensive. She provoked me. She poisoned Nadia. I lost a child too! I had to correct her”

“Correct her?” Mrs. Julie snapped. “You *assaulted* her! She’s in a hospital bed, David. Bruised. Broken. And pregnant with your child! " You don’t ‘correct’ a woman with your fists, you barbarian!”

“Mum…” he started.

“No, shut up, David! Just shut up. " I’m ashamed of you. " Your father would be ashamed too if he were alive to see the monster you’ve become!”

A third voice joined, softer but no less firm, Tyla Reynolds. “Mom’s right, David. This isn’t who we are. You’ve crossed the line. And I’m sick of you always getting away with it just because you're the heir.”

David turned sharply. “Tyla, this has nothing to do with you.”

Tyla stood, her voice now rising. “It has everything to do with me. Reyna doesn’t deserve this. She loved you. She still does. And you nearly killed her for it. You think you’re always right just because you’re the golden boy of this family. You’re pathetic!”

Julie tried to calm her, “Tyla, please”

“No, Mom. I won’t stay quiet. Let him hear it. He’s lost the only woman who truly saw the good in him.”

David clenched his jaw, swallowing a lump of guilt. For the first time, the weight of what he had done began to settle on his chest like stone.

From the bedroom, Reyna heard it all and wept quietly, her soul bruised deeper than her skin.

As the shouting outside simmered into a tense silence, Reyna lay back against the pillow, her tears soaking into the white sheets. The muffled thud of footsteps approached slowly, hesitant, familiar.

The door creaked open.

---

Julie Reynolds entered first. Her once-pristine makeup was smudged from stress, and her voice, though calm, trembled with remorse. She walked to Reyna’s side and gently reached for her hand.

“My child… I am so sorry,” she said, eyes brimming. “I didn’t raise him to become this. I failed you.”

Reyna looked away, swallowing hard. Her voice was faint. “Did I… lose the baby?”

Julie shook her head, squeezing Reyna’s hand. “No. The doctors said the baby was safe. You’re lucky… very lucky.”

A sigh escaped Reyna's lips, part relief, part grief. “I loved him,” she whispered. “I didn’t deserve this.”

“I know, and that’s why I won’t let this go unaddressed,” Julie said, her voice hardening. You don’t have to go back to that house. I’ll make sure you're cared for. ”

Just then, David stood at the doorway. His face was pale, jaw tight, guilt written across every inch of him. Reyna turned her eyes toward him empty, unreadable.

“I wanted to see you,” he said weakly. “I wanted to say… I’m sorry.”

Julie turned toward him sharply. “Now you remember remorse? After nearly killing her?”

David ignored her, looking only at Reyna. “I was angry. Hurt. I felt betrayed… but nothing excuses what I did.”

Reyna didn’t respond. She only stared. The silence grew heavier.

“I want to make things right,” he added.

“No, David,” Reyna said quietly. “You don’t get to break me and then decide how to fix me.”

David’s throat tightened. For once, he was speechless.

Julie walked to the door and opened it wider. “I think you should leave.”

He hesitated, then nodded slowly. “I’ll fix myself first. Even if I lose you in the process.”

As he left, Reyna turned her head back to the ceiling, eyes wet, heart heavier than ever.

She whispered under her breath, “I loved a man who never truly saw me… but I’ll survive.”

The room fell into silence again, only this time. It was the silence of a woman slowly reclaiming her strength.

Reyna jolted upright, gasping for air as beads of sweat trickled down her forehead. Her eyes darted around the room, breathing shallowly. The silence was deafening.

“It was all a dream…” she whispered, clutching her chest as reality crashed in. But the ache in her heart didn’t fade, it grew.

heavier.

The emptiness she felt wasn’t just from the nightmare. It had been three full days since she’d heard from the only man she ever truly loved, David Reynolds. No messages. No calls. Nothing.

She dragged herself to sit up properly, her limbs weak and heavy.