Desert Vows

Because I didn't give up my seat for the secretarys dog, my husband abandoned me in the scorching desert to teach me a lesson.

Five months pregnant, I felt a sharp pain and urgently asked the driver to take me to the hospital.

But my husbands secretary, holding her dog, squeezed into my car.

She said her "baby" had no appetite, begging me to let the driver take her to the vet instead.

I refused sternly.

"I can give you money for a cab. My baby and I cant be delayed."

That night, my husband came home and accused me.

"Do you have any idea that you left Vanessa stranded? She had to walk to the hospital in 45-degree heat carrying her puppy. Theyre still there now!"

I was confused.

"Any adult would know to call a cab. I transferred money to her."

"Are you saying she and her dog are more important than me and our child?"

My husband softly agreed.

"Of course you and the baby are more important."

In the following days, he took devoted care of me.

But on the day I was due to give birth, he abandoned me in a desert.

On a large screen high above, transmitted by a drone, he smirked, holding Vanessa.

"Didnt you say adults know how to call a cab?"

"Lets see how you manage to get to the hospital now."

The mans arrogant face on the screen grew clearer.

Though in the 60-degree heat, I felt a chill run through my body.

I stared coldly at Alexander through the screen.

"Get me to a hospital now. The baby cant handle this heat."

The disgust in Alexanders eyes intensified.

"Cant handle the heat? Then how dare you make Vanessa walk under the scorching sun?"

"Dont say I didnt give you a chance. Get down on your knees and apologize properly to Vanessa, and maybe Ill let you go."

I looked up in disbelief.

"Me, apologize? I gave her money to hail a cab. I did nothing wrong."

"Alexander, youre heartless. Im carrying our child!"

He let out a scornful laugh.

"I forgot to tell you. Vanessa is also pregnant with my child."

He gently placed his hand on Vanessas belly, his gaze tender and affectionate.

I was stunned.

Severe dehydration from the exposure made me collapse onto the burning sand.

My phone fell out of my pocket. The screen lit up, filling with ride-hailing apps.

Alexander curled his lips in a sneer.

"I downloaded them for you in advance. You said it yourself hail a cab."

"So go ahead and call one to take you to the hospital."

Vanessa smiled triumphantly.

Crouched in the desert, the pain of contractions and the burning of my skin were nothing compared to the agony in my heart.

Everything he did today was just to get back at me for Vanessa.

The weather grew hotter. Sweat drenched my body, and the abdominal pain intensified.

Yet he watched coldly as I suffered.

My eyes reddened, my voice trembled.

"Alexander, have you forgotten the vows we made?"

This sent him into a rage.

"Vows? Vanessa saw you getting too close to another man!"

Alexander and I had been married for seven years.

I never thought the man who once adored me would cheat, believing his secretarys lies and putting me in danger.

I forced myself up, speaking word by word.

"I didnt. I never"

But before I could finish, Alexander cut me off.

"Enough!"

"I dont want to hear it! Today, Im teaching you a lesson. Youll repay Vanessa a thousand times for the humiliation she suffered that day!"

A helicopter appeared overhead. Bodyguards dumped something from above.

Alexanders voice was icy.

"If you cant get a cab, then start walking."

When I saw what was dumped from above, I gasped.

It was box after box of shattered glass.

I secretly pressed the button on the back of my pendant.

The person who gave it to me said that no matter where he was, he would come to me as soon as possible.

Exhaustion made my hands tremble. The pendant fell to the sand, buried.

I could only pray that my distress signal had reached him.

When Alexander dumped me in the desert, he deliberately took off my shoes.

My feet stepped onto the scorching sand mixed with glass shards, immediately getting cut.

On the large screen, Vanessa feigned sympathy, yet a hint of glee in her eyes.

"Just apologize to me properly, and Ill forgive you."

"I wont hold a grudge. Dont be so stubborn."

Then she tugged at Alexanders sleeve.

"Alexander, maybe we shouldnt make her apologize. I"

His gaze was fierce.

"No. I promised you she would apologize."

Vanessa stood on her toes and kissed his neck.

My heart felt like it was being sliced apart.

The pain in my feet made my vision blur.

I constantly rubbed my belly, forcing myself to stay conscious.

Blood seeped continuously from my wounds. Wherever I walked, I left trails of blood.

Vanessa leaned against Alexanders chest, gasping,

"Honey, Isabella is weak from being so close to labor. This could be life-threatening."

Alexander snorted coldly.

"Life-threatening? Did she consider that when she made you walk in the heat?"

His anger seemed to be fueled further.

A helicopter landed in front of me. Bodyguards roughly pinned me down.

I struggled desperately to protect my belly, but one of them held me down firmly, tying iron weights to my wrists and ankles.

Alexanders cold voice rang above me.

"Vanessa was carrying her dog that day. Now youll know how it felt!"

Already weak, the weights pulled me down immediately.

My palms touched the sand and were scalded instantly. Glass shards dug into them, making a bloody mess.

"Vanessa said she didnt dare stop walking for a second that day."

"Isabella, Ill make you experience that too!"

The bodyguards on either side yanked me up. If I paused even for a second, a whip lashed across my back.

"Ah!"

I couldnt hold back a scream that echoed through the deserted area.

Vanessa pretended to feel sorry,

"Alexander, maybe we should stop. Isabellas a delicate rich girl. She cant take this"

Alexander flew into a rage.

"A delicate rich girl?"

"Isabella, dont think I dont know youve always looked down on me because youre from the Sterling family!"

Three years ago, Id cut ties with my family to marry him and helped him build his business from scratch.

Back then, he cherished me. If I got the smallest cut, he would rush me to the hospital.

But later, he grew tired of what he called my "spoiled" nature, accusing me of looking down on him because of my background.

He turned to his obedient secretary and, to get back at me for her, tortured me like this.

I thought getting pregnant would make him change, but now Vanessa was also carrying his child.

My heart turned to ice even in the scorching heat.

Seeing my prolonged silence and refusal to yield, Alexanders expression grew darker.

On the screen, Vanessas eyes reddened, crying pitifully.

"Alexander, maybe let it go. Look at her people will think Im bullying her."

"It was just me walking in the heat with my dog. Im fine I can endure it"

This enraged Alexander completely. He glared with madness.

"Isabella, Im coming down there to deal with you myself!"

The helicopter carrying Alexander and Vanessa landed before me.

He grabbed my hair brutally and slapped me across the face.

"Isabella, apologize to Vanessa!"

My eyes bloodshot, I spoke word by word.

"Never."

Alexander scanned the area and dragged me toward a large rock not far away.

Without a word, he shoved me hard against the scorching stone.

Smoke immediately rose from my body, the air filling with a burning smell.

My once fair skin was now covered in burns of varying sizes, oozing blood.

Alexander let go in disgust, ordering the bodyguards to hold me down.

As soon as my skin made a sizzling sound, they pulled me up.

Before I could catch my breath, they slammed me against the rock again.

Over and over. I felt my life fading.

But the heavy, painful sensation in my belly reminded me I had to hold on.

I couldnt let my child die.

I bit my tongue, forcing myself to stay conscious.

After several times, the rock was covered in bloody marks, a horrifying sight.

Alexander looked at my wounded skin, his eyes cold.

"Vanessa got burned too when she reached the hospital."

"Isabella, do you admit your fault?"

The pain made me tremble all over. I wanted to speak but had no strength.

Suddenly, an intense pain shot through my belly.

Then, I felt a warm flow.

No

My water broke

"Alexander... my water broke. Get me to a hospital"

Vanessa immediately stepped forward, pressing down hard on my contracting belly.

Drenched in cold sweat, I let out a scream and pushed her away instinctively.

Vanessa knelt beside me, slapping her own face repeatedly.

"Im sorry! I studied nursing. I just wanted to check on you."

"Im sorry Im sorry"

Alexander kicked my pregnant belly hard, glaring at me viciously.

"How dare you hurt Vanessa!"

The next moment, he gently caressed my belly.

I almost thought hed softened, a flicker of hope in my heart.

But his next words shattered me completely.

He leaned close to my ear, his tone deceptively tender.

"You wanted me in the delivery room, didnt you? Ill watch you give birth right here. How about that?"

I had made that wish when I first got pregnant.

I wanted our baby to see its parents the moment it opened its eyes.

Vanessa looked at Alexander with feigned curiosity.

"Great! Ive always wanted to see a C-section!"

Alexanders eyes softened. He kissed her forehead.

"Alright, baby. Ill let you watch."

His bodyguards rushed forward and pinned me to the ground. The leader held a long dagger.

I struggled desperately, biting one guards arm hard.

"Let me go!"

The bodyguard loosened his grip in pain but others held me down firmly.

They roughly lifted my top. The sunburn on my belly stung even more intensely.

Just as the blade was about to pierce my belly

The sky filled with the sound of helicopters.

A man in a tailored suit descended, casually playing with a dagger.

The next second, the dagger flew and embedded itself in a bodyguards arm.

The mans voice was terrifyingly cold.

"Who dares touch her?"

"Lucas"

My voice was hoarse, barely audible.

Alexanders face turned ashen.

"Lucas? This is a private matter between me and my wife. Whats the meaning of bringing so many men?"

"Mr Thorne, quite the display of power."

Lucas spoke, his voice icy.

"I never knew its now acceptable to abandon ones wife in labor in a 60-degree desert, littered with glass, for a live barbecue experience."

Alexanders face flushed. He tried to sound firm.

"She made Vanessa walk in the heat! Im just teaching her a lesson!"

"Lucas, I advise you not to interfere!"

"A lesson?"

Lucas laughed as if hed heard the biggest joke.

Walking to me, he took off his suit jacket and scooped me up gently.

His movements were careful, but his tone brooked no argument.

"Alexander, youre not even fit to lick Isabellas boots. What right do you have to teach her?"

Lucas turned to leave, holding me.

"Stop!" Alexander roared, "You cant take her!"

Lucas glanced back coldly.

"Not only will I take her, but Ill also ensure you experience everything she just did."

Lucas ordered his men,

"Gather every single glass shard. Dont miss a grain."

"Find a larger rock, heat it up, and let Mr Thorne and his dear secretary lying together on it. Make sure they enjoy their wedding bed."

Vanessa hid behind Alexander, crying.

"Alexander, Im scared"

"Shut up!" Alexander snapped.

The Vance familys influence far surpassed the Thornes.

Lucass gaze turned to Vanessa, freezing her in place.

"You wanted to see a C-section? Dont worry, youll see plenty."

Then, he carried me swiftly onto the helicopter.

Inside, a medical team was ready. They quickly hooked me up to various monitors.

I was shaking all over, the pain in my abdomen growing stronger.

I gripped Lucass arm tightly, using all my strength.

"Lucas my baby please, save my baby"

"Dont be afraid, Isabella. Its alright."

Lucas held my hand firmly, though his palm was icy.

He growled at the doctors.

"Now! Fastest speed! If anything happens to her or the baby, youll all be joining Alexander in the desert!"

A strong will to live kept me barely conscious.

"Maam! Hold on! Push a little more!"

I pushed desperately, my vision starting to double.

Pain and blood loss pulled me into semi-consciousness.

I thought I saw a tiny, wrinkled face, hearing a faint infant cry.

I smiled. My baby he made it

But hours later, when I woke again, I was met with dead silence.

Lucas sat by the bed, his eyes bloodshot.

"The baby?"

I asked, my voice raspy.

"I heard him cry. Is he in the NICU?"

Lucas was silent for a long time before speaking with difficulty.

"The doctor said"

A doctor entered, looking at me with pity.

"Ms Sterling, please accept our condolences."

"The fetus was severely deprived of oxygen due to prolonged exposure to high heat, leading to suffocation in utero."

"We did everything we could, but he only lasted three minutes."

Three minutes.

My child was in this world for only three minutes.

I didnt cry. I didnt scream. I just stared blankly at the ceiling.

The physical pain seemed distant because my heart was utterly hollow.

I turned to Lucas, speaking word by word.

"Lucas, I want them to pay a thousand, a million times over."

Lucas gripped my hand, his gaze icy.

"Ill help you."

"Theyll repay what they owe you with their lives."