Chapter 5
Ray’s eyes widened, his grip on the phone. faltering for a second. “I’m not dreaming, am I?” he asked breathlessly. “Where are you now?”
“I’m at the hospital, in the OB–GYN department,” Christine replied, her voice. practically dripping with triumph.
“I’ll be there right away,” he said, his excitement barely contained.
As he ended the call, he turned back to me, his expression quickly morphing into a mask of indifference. “That was the company,” he lied with practiced ease. “There’s an urgent matter I need to handle. Stay home and reflect on how you can become a proper Mrs. Palmer. You need to learn patience and stop overreacting. A broader mind will do you good.”
His audacity was almost laughable. I had just overheard him making plans with
95% 12:20
1/6
Chapter 51
Christine, yet he treated me as though I were too naive to piece it together.
Ray adjusted his tie, his voice growing colder. “Once we’re married, things will settle down. But you need to work on that temper of yours. Men don’t like women who cause constant drama–it’s
exhausting.” His eyes hardened, a thinly veiled threat lingering in the air. “Occasional outbursts can be endearing,
but push it too far and you’ll strain what we have.”
What we had. The phrase landed like a dagger.
Before I could respond, he picked up his briefcase, flashing a smile that felt more like a sneer. “The wedding is already being arranged. Just stay in your role, Susan. Everything else is taken care of.”
He left without another word, the door slamming shut behind him.
***
95% 12.20
2/6
Chapter 5
A few days before the wedding, my student visa arrived. I called my parents, the weight of my decision settling over me as I explained everything. To my surprise, they didn’t chastise me for waiting so long.
“It’s good you’ve finally come to your senses,” my father said, his voice tinged with relief. “I always thought that Palmer boy wasn’t good enough for you. But back then, you wouldn’t listen to reason.”
Tears welled up, but I blinked them away. “Dad, from now on, the only people I’ll love are myself, you and Mom.”
After ending the call, I walked to the nursery, my heart heavy. The once–cheerful room now felt like a ghost of a dream. Every item–the crib, the toys, the tiny clothes–held memories of what could have been. I had hoped for a family of three, a life filled with love and laughter. That dream was gone.
I cleared out everything and gave it to the new neighbors, who had just had their first
95 12:20
3/6
Chapter 5
baby. Locking the empty room, I felt a strange sense of closure, as though I were finally burying a part of myself that had long since died.
***
Later that afternoon, a commotion outside. drew my attention. Raised voices, the blare of sirens and the unmistakable presence of the police suggested something serious. I was about to step out to investigate when the door burst open and Ray stormed in, his face pale and frantic.
“Susan!” he exclaimed, rushing toward me. Before I could react, he pulled me into a tight embrace. “Thank God you’re safe.”
I stiffened, pushing him away with a cold glare. “What are you doing back here?”
Half an hour earlier, I had seen a post on Christine’s social media. She and Ray were at a hot spring, her caption gushing about their romantic getaway. The photo of them together–his arms possessively wrapped
95% 12/20
4/6
Chapter 5
around her waist, her lips pressed against his cheek–was burned into my mind.
The memory churned in my stomach as Christine’s voice suddenly cut through the
tension.
“Turning off your phone during the day- what’s that supposed to mean?” she snapped, barging in behind him. Her eyes darted toward me, alight with hostility. “Mr. Palmer heard there was a burglary nearby tand couldn’t reach you, so he dropped a
multimillion–dollar deal to come rushing home. Do you know how much trouble you’ve caused him?”
She was seething, her tone dripping with righteous indignation. But before she could. finish, Ray turned to her, his face
darkening. “Shut up,” he barked, his voice sharp. “This has nothing to do with you. Go back to the office. I’ll deal with you later.”
Christine froze, her lips parting in shock. She had never expected him to scold her, let alone in front of me. Tears welled up in
95% 12:20
5/6
Chapter 5
her eyes as she gently placed a hand on her stomach, a dramatic gesture that reeked of manipulation. “Fine,” she said, her voice trembling. “The baby and I will leave. We wouldn’t want to interrupt your precious fiancée’s display of affection.”
She spun on her heel and stormed out, but not before shooting me a venomous look.
I stood silently, watching Ray as he pinched the bridge of his nose, frustration etched
into his features. It was clear he was unraveling. But for the first time in years, I felt nothing–not anger, not pain, not pity. Just a quiet, resolute determination to leave this chapter of my life behind.
95% 12:20
