Chapter 2

There was a pause on the other end of the speaker.

Then Lucas sighed.

"Veronica. The lengths you'll go to for attention."

"I read your prenatal report before I left. The doctor said everything was fine. You aren't due for another two weeks."

"You're lying on the floor playing dead just to pull me away from Vivian, don’t you?”

I dragged in a breath.

"I'm not lying to you."

"My water broke. The baby is going to suffocate."

"Lucas. This is your child."

Through the speaker, I heard a woman’s weak moan—Vivian’s.

“Vivian, are you in pain again? The doctor is on his way.” His voice softened, full of care.

"Veronica. Vivian is an orphan. She has no one but me."

"You have a family. You have money. Why do you have to compete with a poor girl?"

"She’s just borrowing your hospital bag, and you stoop to such a dirty trick to force me back. You’re despicable."

My cheek pressed against the cold floor. Tears mixed with sweat and dripped off my chin.

I pulled my eyes away from the camera and started crawling toward the door, gritting my teeth.

Glass cut into my palms. I didn't feel it.

I only had one thought: *Get out.*

I reached the entryway, raised the shard, and slammed it against the lock.

The glass shattered. My hand opened up in a deep red line.

The deadbolt didn't even shift.

Lucas's voice came back through the speaker, low and furious.

"Veronica. What are you doing?"

"If you damage that door, I swear —"

I wiped my bloody hand on the shoe cabinet and searched frantically. I remembered there was a spare key here. If I could find it, I could live.

I threw everything onto the floor. At the bottom of the lowest box, my cold fingers touched a metal key.

I dragged myself upright against the wall and pushed the key into the lock with both hands.

It wouldn't go in.

I leaned down to look.

Someone had filled the keyhole with dried glue.

I just sat there, staring at it.

"Don't bother."

Lucas's voice came through the speaker, a little smug now.

"I know how stubborn you are. I was afraid you'd sneak out and cause a scene at Vivian's hospital."

"So I sealed the lock with super glue before I left."

"Just apologize. Veronica, just admit you were wrong and promise not to bother Vivian. The moment she's done, I'll come straight back."

My back slid down the door until I slid down slowly, the wood cold against my spine.

He hadn't sealed me in to protect Vivian.

He had sealed me in to make sure I had no way out. He wanted to take away my very right to survive.

I looked up at the camera, my voice hoarse.

"Lucas. Let's get a divorce."

A pause. Then his enraged voice exploded from the speaker.

"*Veronica*. You're threatening me again?"

"You think saying *divorce* will make me come running? Is that the only trick you have? Crying, screaming, threatening — is that *all* you know?"

I closed my eyes. I didn't answer him.

The contractions came one after another now, relentless, crushing. I felt something descending, a terrible pressure.

"Lucas. I don't want you anymore."

Then I gathered the last of my strength, raised the metal key, and threw it at the camera.

The lens shattered. The red light went out.

The room fell silent.

I lay there in the spreading blood, breathing hard.