My Husband Let My Child Die to Keep His Secret Love

Chapter 6

For the next three days, Hudson didn't come to see her once.

At four in the afternoon, she got a text from the Clerk's Office.

Clerk's Office: Ms. Shaw, your marriage to Mr. Payne has been officially dissolved. You may come to pick up your divorce certificate.

After reading the message, Celia calmly went through the discharge procedures.

She had just stepped out of the hospital and was about to hail a cab when one pulled up right in front of her.

Two men got out. They grabbed her from both sides and started dragging her toward the car.

"Let go of me! I don't know you!"

The second Celia realized what was happening, she fought back hard.

Afraid of drawing attention, one of the men forced a dumb grin and said, "This is my wife. We had a fight and she ran off. We're just taking her home."

Within seconds, Celia was shoved into the car. No way to call for help.

"Who the hell are you? Why are you taking me?"

The scar-faced man sitting to her left let out a mocking snort. "We've got a problem with Hudson. Blame him for locking up our boss."

"Quit wasting your breath on her!" the driver snapped impatiently, flooring the gas.

Celia's hands clenched at her sides. Her voice came out calm but ice-cold. "Hudson and I are divorced. If you want payback, I'm the wrong target."

"Bullshit. If you hadn't seduced our boss, he never would've gotten caught."

The scar-faced man shot her a vicious glare. "Say one more word, and we'll kill you right now."

Celia felt like she'd been struck by lightning.

These men were accomplices of the serial killer.

She probably wasn't getting out of this alive.

Today was supposed to be the day she picked up her divorce certificate and started a new life.

She refused to give up. She tried reasoning with them again.

"I was set up that day too. You've got it all wrong—"

Growing impatient, the scar-faced man pulled out a rag and jammed it into her mouth, cutting her off.

"Save your silver tongue. We're not letting you go."

*****

Half an hour later, they dragged Celia onto a boat.

The scar-faced man pulled out a gun and pressed it hard against her forehead. "Think Hudson will give himself up to save you?"

Moments later, Hudson stepped onto the stern. Alone.

"Let her go. You want revenge? Come at me."

The driver laughed wildly. "Hudson, I'm in the mood for a gunshot. Either you put a bullet in your own leg, or I blow your woman's head off."

"Fine."

Hudson's reply was heavy. He raised the gun and pulled the trigger without a second's hesitation. The bullet tore through his calf.

Bang!

His face went deathly white. Bright, glaring blood poured from the wound.

Celia's eyes flew wide with utter disbelief. She wanted to say something, but the rag in her mouth left her voiceless.

The next second, officers lying in ambush charged toward the boat.

Chelsea shouted frantically, "Hudson! Are you okay?!"

The scar-faced man went ballistic at the sight.

"Hudson, you set us up? You've got a death wish!"

He pulled the trigger instantly, firing straight at Hudson.

Hudson gritted his teeth and rolled sideways, barely dodging the bullet.

Regaining his stance, he fired a clean shot, hitting the scar-faced man square in the shoulder.

"Ahh!"

The scar-faced man screamed in agony. Mad with pain and rage, he swung the gun toward Celia. "All of you deserve to die!"

Celia tried desperately to get out of the way, but the bullet grazed her forearm.

A sharp cry tore from her throat. Her face drained of all color as she doubled over in pain.

"Don't even think about running."

The driver grabbed her right arm, yanking her back. "If we go down, we're all going down together!"

In the struggle, the small glass bottle holding her baby slipped from Celia's pocket and clattered onto the deck.

Her pupils shrank. A heartbroken scream ripped out of her. "My baby!"

"Baby?"

Hudson stared at her in shock, his eyes dropping to the shattered bottle on the floor.

He and Celia had had a baby?

Then his gaze locked onto the fresh blood soaking through her sleeve. "Celia..."

He stumbled to his feet, desperate to calm the three men down, but it was too late.

The three of them seized Celia and hurled themselves off the boat into the churning sea.

Hudson watched Celia vanish before his eyes, his vision blurring with rage and despair.

Ignoring the searing pain in his leg, he staggered to the edge of the boat and let out a raw, hoarse roar. "Celia!"

Nothing answered but the crashing waves.