Chapter 7%
By dawn, I had packed my things and made my way downstairs with my suitcase. That’s when I saw them. Beckett was sitting by Delaney, gently feeding her soup.
Before I could say a word, he looked up and panicked when he saw me.
He quickly set the bowl down, his face stiff as he scrambled to explain.
“Delaney didn’t have much appetite this morning. I just made her some broth to help her feel better.“>
I nodded blandly and reached for my suitcase.
That’s when he noticed it.
His expression darkened instantly
the hell is this?” he snapped. “You’re leaving? Just because I made her a bowl of soup?”
He grabbed my suitcase from me, his expression darkening.”
I glanced at the red marks scattered across his neck and a wave of nausea rolled through me.”
“Just soup?” I said coldly. “You might want to check yourself in the mirror.“}
Beckett instantly raised his hand to his neck, trying to cover the evidence. “Mosquitoes,” he muttered. “There were so many last night.”
I let out a bitter laugh and turned away. Not worth a response.>
But my silence only seemed to fuel his anger.}
“I said it was mosquito bites. Can you stop being so jealous all the time?!” he barked.}
Then, in a sudden fit of rage, he slammed the suitcase to the floor. I flinched and instinctively covered my belly.
His face shifted when he saw the gesture–guilt flashing for a split second–but before he could say anything, Delaney’s voice floated over sweetly.”
“Beckett, this is partly my fault too. Let me apologize to Evelyn.“}
She walked over with the same soup bowl, her voice dripping with false kindness.
“Evelyn, don’t be upset. You can have the soup. I don’t mind.“}
I looked down and saw the faint imprint of her lipstick on the rim.
“Get that thing away from me!” I snarled, shoving the bowl aside.
It hit the ground and shattered, hot liquid spilling everywhere.
Delaney shrieked.
“Beckett, it hurts!” she cried dramatically, holding out her hand with a tiny red mark that was barely visible.
Beckett’s eyes darkened. He soothed Delaney first, then stood up and stormed toward me, grabbing my arm.
I struggled, trying to pull away, but he ignored it and keep dragged me into the kitchen.
His expression twisted with rage. “Didn’t I tell you to be more understanding? She was trying to be nice and you attacked her! “You need to learn a lesson!” His tone terrifying. D
Before I could react, he shoved my hand into a pot of steaming soup–still hot, still burning at seventy degrees.
I screamed.
The pain was immediate and excruciating, tears streaming down my face uncontrollably.
When he finally let go, I collapsed to the floor, shaking.”
He loomed over me coldly. “This was just a warning. Hurt Delaney again and I won’t be so gentle.”
In that moment, Beckett felt like the devil himself–his presence terrified me to my core.)
The burning pain in my hand brought fresh tears streaming down my face.
Seeing this, Beckett’s expression softened slightly. He reached out, as if to touch me, but I flinched away in fear.§
He caught my wrist again. “Are you scared of me?”
There was a flicker of something in his eyes–maybe guilt, maybe regret. I don’t know.}}
Before he could say another word, Delaney called out from the hallway.
Without hesitation, Beckett dropped my arm and ran to her.
The sudden release made me fall again, hitting the floor hard. A sharp pain shot through my abdomen and warm blood began to flow down my thighs. Fear consumed me.
“Beckett. I gasped, my voice trembling. “The baby…”
He didn’t even turn around 2
“Don’t you dare use the baby to guilt–trip me,” he snapped. “You just hurt Delaney and I haven’t forgiven you for that. Right now, you and that child don’t matter compared to her.”
And just like that, he swept Delaney into his arms and disappeared down the hallway.§
Leaving me alone.E
Me and our baby
I couldn’t even scream for help. All I could do was cry. Silent, aching tears. Pain gripped me from two directions–my burned hand and the
9:56 AM &
agony in my belly–and I could feel myself slipping, falling.
Beckett had chosen her–again.
Even when all she had was a damn surface burn and that our child might die.”
With what little strength I had left, I reached for my phone and dialed 911.%
9:56 AM
