Chapter 1
My husband Antonio Kaufman gave the one million dollars we had prepared for our unborn baby to his first love, Emma Dixon.
I wanted the money back, but he said, “Emma needs it more. Don’t be stingy.”
When I demanded an IOU, Antonio called me heartless.
Then Emma cried that she had lost all of the money.
Antonio didn’t get mad. He held Emma to comfort her and promised to take care of her forever.
I packed silently and called my dad.
“Antonio is an asshole. I’m leaving him and going home to run the family business.”
When I hung up, Antonio walked out and told me in a low voice, “Grace, go cook for Emma. She’ll be hungry when she wakes up.”
I ignored him and walked to the room.
Antonio grew angry and blocked my way.
“Grace, it’s just one million. What’s the big deal? You’re so unfeeling!
“Be good, or get out!”
His yelling woke Emma, who was asleep in the room. Annoyed,
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she took his arm and looked at me with disdain.
“Antonio, you were popular in school, and your family is rich. Why did you marry such a miser?
Antonio sighed and looked at Emma.
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“You think everyone is as kind as you?” he said, glancing at my baby bump.
“Grace and I are having a baby. Regrets won’t help now.” Antonio looked at me impatiently
I touched my belly and thought, “Should I keep this baby?”
When I had the prenatal checkup, the doctor said my health was poor, and I might not even deliver
Even if the baby was born, caring for it until age three would cost a million dollars, and there was no promise it would be healthy.
Every day, I felt the fetus growing weaker.
And we lost that one million dollars.
My dad would only help if I divorced Antonio and went back home.
I had married him against Dad’s advice. Dad warned me never to mention our family’s power, or Antonio would lose his job.
My pregnancy was merely three months along. If the baby was unhealthy, I shouldn’t bring it into this world. I didn’t want it to suffer, especially with a man as irresponsible as Antonio.
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What pained me most was that, even though he knew the money could make sure I delivered our baby safe and sound, he gave it to Emma without a second thought.
Since the baby and I meant less than Emma, there was no reason to stay.
I turned to grab my bag, ready to head to the hospital.
Suddenly, Emma snatched my suitcase and yelled, “Grace, don’t try to run away and make things hard for Antonio!
“I’ll dine with my clients tonight. Even if I end up with a bleeding stomach or on someone else’s bed, I’ll pay you back!”
Antonio, who had never cooked, was in the kitchen. Hearing the commotion, he rushed out. Emma, in a flimsy black dress, hugged him as she walked toward the door.
“Don’t worry. I won’t put you in a dilemma. I’m off to earn money. Now, go comfort your wife.”
Antonio immediately locked the door.
My eyes lit up as I thought, “Is he fearing I’ll leave?”
Antonio walked toward me, and I thought he was gonna say
sorry.
But he only said coldly, “Grace, you’re the cruelest woman I’ve ever seen. You’re a woman too, but you forced Emma to sell herself for money!”
Before I could explain, Antonio grabbed my bag and tossed it into the fireplace.
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With an icy glare, he added, “Without your ID card, you can’t go anywhere.”
Then he turned to Emma with a smile.
“Emma, we’ve known each other for years. You’re like family. You don’t need to pay me back. If you’re short on cash, we can sell the house and car. Now, go get changed. I’ll take you to eat out.
“Grace’s bag just got burned. This place smells toxic. We can’t eat here.”
I ran to the fireplace to get my bag back, but it had a big hole in it. My ID, the few grand I had, and even my phoné were burned
- up.
Fearing my phone might explode, I dashed to the kitchen and grabbed a pair of tongs to pick it up.
When Antonio left with Emma, he double–locked the door..
I couldn’t open it, and my phone was broken. He must’ve done it on purpose.
But did he forget that I hadn’t eaten, either? There were no snacks in the house.
And I couldn’t even cook because of my morning sickness.
I lay on the bed, feeling starving and helpless. And I vomited often. Soon, I grew very weak.
