Chapter 2
“Jack, baby… be careful with the baby!”

I jolted awake, eyes wide in shock, my gaze flicking to the window’s reflection. Against the bedroom door, Jack had his face buried in Rachel’s neck, their clothes in disarray.

A cold, sickening realization hit me , this wasn’t their first time.

The meds I’d been taking to treat my condition had sleeping aids in them, so I usually slept like a rock through the night. But Jack’s words shattered any doubt in my mind.

“You little minx, you’re usually loud as hell in here. What’s with you today? Shy now?”

He picked up his pace, the bed shaking with each of his movements. The sound of Rachel’s sobs filled the room.

“You always bully me!” she cried. “I thought about it, your whole family’s going to be at your brother’s engagement party tomorrow. I don’t care about myself, but shouldn’t our baby at least meet its relatives?”

Jack was stone-faced, his tone cold. “No way. I’m only taking Lily to that event.”

Rachel’s sobs grew louder, her voice breaking. “I get it. I’ll never compare to Lily. If it weren’t for loving you, why would I suffer in secret, keeping our child hidden like this?”

Jack kissed her tears away, but I could hear the hesitation in his voice as he finally gave in. “Alright, alright. I’ll take you. Happy now, you little crybaby? You’ve got me wrapped around your finger.”

Rachel wiped her eyes, sniffling, and whispered, “No more tears, okay? Let me kiss you.”

Then, the mattress beside me dipped as Jack gently moved Rachel onto my bed. His touch shifted from urgent to almost tender, as if he had all the time in the world.

It wasn’t until the first light of dawn that Jack carried the drowsy Rachel away, her body heavy against him.

My pillow was soaked with tears, my heart in pieces as I lay there, feeling hollow. I closed my eyes, letting the exhaustion take over. Tomorrow, when I woke up, I’d be someone else’s bride, someone who could give me the escape I so desperately needed from this betrayal, from this shame.