Losing My Baby, Losing My Husband

I was five months pregnant when my husband Lucas took me to the hospital for my prenatal checkup.

Every time she saw me, Chloe Sinclair, Lucas's ex-girlfriend who worked as a nurse here, would get this heartbroken look on her face.

Lucas thought I was deliberately flaunting my pregnancy just to upset her. He snapped at me,

"Chloes fragile, Evelyn! She cant have children! And you just parade that belly in front of her? Youre doing this on purpose!"

Right then, Chloe Sinclair collapsed in a dramatic faint.

Lucas immediately let go of me and rushed to catch her as she fell.

But I lost my balance and tumbled down several stairs.

The pain was blinding. Gasping, I managed to choke out, "Lucas... I think... I think I'm losing the baby."

He laughed, as if I'd told a bad joke.

"You? Stop playing the victim! This is just what you get for humiliating Chloe."

Withthat, he scooped Chloe up and walked away.

Then I calmly called for a doctor.

When I woke up after surgery, my baby was gone.

Lucas sat by the bed, looking tense. He quickly grabbed my hand.

"Evelyn, baby... I swear, I swear I didn't know you were hurt that badly."

I yanked my hand back, refusing to look at him. A tear escaped down my temple.

Five months. The exhaustion, the nausea, the hope C Id carried it all alone.

"We're young, Evie," Lucas tried to comfort me. "We can... we can try again."

I whipped my head around, "You know I dont lie, Lucas. And you actually know the truth, dont you?"

A flicker of guilt crossed his face. He looked away, unable to meet my eyes.

"It was an accident! How was I supposed to know a simple fall would cause this?"

His excuse was pathetic. A bitter laugh escaped me. "What a stellar father you turned out to be."

Rage contorted Lucass features instantly.

He shot up, finger jabbing towards my face.

"Evelyn Reed! It was just a clump of cells! A fetus! Do you have to be so vicious?"

His chest heaved. Seemingly unable to contain his fury, he lashed out, sweeping the vase off the bedside table.

It shattered on the floor, shards scattering everywhere.

The tense silence was shattered by the door swinging open.

Chloe Sinclair walked in. She worked in Lucass department.

Hesitantly, she murmured, "Lucas, I... I came to check on Evelyns report."

Lucass anger vanished the moment he saw her. His voice softened instantly. "It's okay, Chloe. Take your time."

Chloe pretended to study the report, frowning, shaking her head, her eyes constantly darting between Lucas and me.

After minutes of this charade, Id had enough. "Does it really take that long to read a report? If you can't manage, get someone who can!"

She flinched like Id slapped her, throwing herself against Lucas. "I just wanted to be sure! I didnt want to make a mistake!"

Lucas wrapped his arms around her protectively, glaring daggers at me. "Why are you taking it out on her? Losing the baby is your own fault!"

Chloe sniffled theatrically. "Lucas, don't blame Evelyn..."

But Lucas was already surging forward. He grabbed my arm, his grip brutal.

"You always have to cause trouble! Making a scene over nothing!"

The pain in my arm was sharp, but it was nothing compared to the agony in my heart.

Lucas snatched the report from Chloe and started reading out loud, deliberately twisting the medical jargon.

He insisted the data proved I had been careless, that I was to blame. "Look at these numbers! Don't they tell you anything?"

"This is what happens when I spoil you! Maybe you needed a harsh lesson!"

With a cold snort, he spat out those words and stormed out, dragging Chloe behind him.

As he left, I clearly heard Lucas mutter, loud enough for me to catch,

"Good riddance to that baby. I was sick of seeing that big belly anyway. Always flaunting that belly. Id enough of it."

The old me would have been shattered by those words.

But now, I just picked up the phone to call the best divorce lawyer in town.

I only stayed in the hospital for two weeks. Lucas never visited once. He still gave me the silent treatment, trying to force an apology.

But this time, he didn't get an apology. He got divorce papers.

My phone buzzed relentlessly with his calls. I ignored every one.

As I was packing the last of my things in our apartment, ready to leave this city of bad memories, the door flew open with a crash. Lucas stormed in.

"Evelyn! What childish game are you playing now?" he demanded. "You could learn a thing or two from Chloe about being a decent woman!"

I didn't look up. I kept folding clothes like he wasn't even there.

"I'm talking to you!" His voice rose, he hated being ignored.

Furious, he grabbed my wrist, forcing me to look at him.

"After all these years together, you just throw it away?" His eyes were bloodshot, a man on the verge of losing control.

I met his gaze calmly. "Remember to sign the papers."

The finality in my voice seemed to finally cut through his anger. His grip loosened slightly. His tone softened, turning wheedling.

"Evie... are you still mad about... that? I'm sorry, okay? I'm really sorry."

He fumbled in his pocket, pulling out a small velvet box, presenting it like a prize.

"I got these for you. Your favorite diamond earrings."

But just before Lucas arrived, Chloe had posted an Instagram Story. Two pictures, a few words.

The first: the gleaming interior of the city's most exclusive jewelry boutique. The second: Chloe's hand adorned with multiple sparkling rings, each clearly expensive. Lucas's back was visible in the shot, card in hand, ready to pay.

Caption: Lucas is the best! Got me all the rings I wanted!

The store threw in a pair of diamond studs as a gift. Not really my style, so I gave them to Lucas lol.

Lucas had just handed me Chloe's cast-offs.

Expressionless, I took the little box.

Under Lucas's hopeful gaze, I raised my hand high and dropped it straight into the trash can.

Lucas's hopeful smile froze, then shattered.

"Evelyn Reed, you are impossible."

"You know me."

"If you want a divorce? Fine. I'm done playing."

With the last word, Lucas smoothly slid his wedding band and tossed it into the same bin.

He straightened up, looking down at me with pure contempt.

He didn't leave. He just stood there, a familiar certainty in his eyes.

He was waiting. Waiting for me to break down as I always had, to cry and beg for his forgiveness like in countless past fights.

I smiled faintly and slipped off my own ring.

"Couldn't agree more."

Lucas froze.

"You'll regret this!"

"Who else would want you? Used goods!"

"You always wanted to stand on your own? Fine! Let's see how tough you really are! See how far you get!!"

He was shouting now, practically roaring. "Get your crap and get out of my house! NOW!"

It was pouring rain outside. Lucas didn't hesitate. He shoved me and my suitcase out the door.

I gripped my luggage handle, my steps steady as I walked down the driveway.

At the gate, I instinctively looked up towards the balcony.

He was there, silhouetted against the glass, watching me through the sheeting rain. I could feel his expectation, waiting for me to turn back, to cave.

To be the Evelyn he could always control.

This time, he was wrong.

I climbed into the waiting taxi without a backward glance.

Lucas Grant, you broke us first. Don't expect any mercy from me now!