Chapter 10

After changing out of my blood-soaked scrubs, I scrubbed myself down like I was trying to erase the day off my skin. Only when I'd disinfected every inch of myself did I finally collapse into a chair, drained.

Daisy Carter walked over and handed me a glass of water, her eyes shadowed with something I couldn't quite read.

"Sophia… do you regret it?" she asked quietly. "Ending the pregnancy like that?"

I paused, the question hanging heavy between us. Then I gave a small, bitter smile and shook my head.

"It doesn't matter anymore."

"Even if that child had been born… they would've only suffered."

"Letting go early, that was mercy."

The night before the procedure, I'd stayed up, thinking about everything. Somehow, I swear the baby knew. They didn't kick like they usually did. No constant fluttering. Just the occasional gentle stretch of a tiny hand or foot, like a quiet goodbye.

It broke me.

But how could I bring them into a life that would only hurt?

By the time I clocked out, it was well past midnight. I was running on fumes. But when I got home, Ethan Thompson was there, sitting on the steps like some sad ghost, pale and flushed from alcohol. God knows how long he'd been waiting.

The second he saw me, his eyes lit up… then filled with panic. He stumbled to his feet and grabbed my hand like it was the only thing keeping him upright.

"Sophia… the door won't open. Why won't you let me in? Please don't shut me out."

"I want to come home. I'll be better, I swear. I know I messed up, I failed you, I failed our baby. Just give me one more chance to make it right. Please. I can't lose you."

I tried to pull away, but his grip tightened.

There was a time when seeing him like this, desperate, raw, would've shattered me. I would've caved. Let him back in without hesitation.

But that was before.

Before I knew about the lies.

Before Luna Bennett.

Before I realized the love I thought we had… wasn't real.

I used to think our marriage could weather anything. That the fights were just part of life.

What a joke.

"Go home, Ethan. Don't come back."

His eyes went wild, his voice trembling.

"Sophia, I can't go back to that house. It's too empty without you. Too cold. Just give me one more shot. We can start over. We can try again, have another child. I swear I'll do everything right this time. Just… believe me. Just once."

I shook my head slowly.

His tears didn't move me. Not anymore.

I pulled my hand free, firm and final.

"We can't go back."

"I can't un-know what you did. I can't pretend I didn't see it all. Ethan, I'm scared, scared that I'll wake up one day and there'll be another Luna. How am I supposed to trust you after that?"

"Five years of marriage, Ethan. You were with her for four of them. Four. Does that sound normal to you? Does that even sound like love?"

"Leave me alone. Once was enough."

And with that, I turned and walked inside.

The next morning, when I stepped out to take the trash down, he was still there.

Curled up on my doorstep.

He'd spent the whole night outside in the cold.

But this time?

I didn't feel anything.

Because showing him mercy now would be like drinking poison just to keep the peace.

And once?

Once was already far too much.