Chapter 9 : Hell Hath No Fury of a Woman Scorned The next day felt like walking into a dream . Zach met me at the porch and immediately reached for the luggage in my hand . I tried to stop him , fingers tightening on the handle , but he was too persistent , too eager to carry a burden that wasn't his to fix . He glanced at me , smiling sheepishly . " Let me . It's the least I could do after all the shit I put you through - us through . " Inside , the house smelled like toast and freshly brewed coffee , a cruel echo of the mornings we used to share - when Liam was still small enough to climb into our bed , and Zach still whispered apologies into my neck after a fight . It was familiar but absolutely tainted now . We moved toward the second floor , walking in silence as the stairs creaked beneath our steps . Zach stopped in front of a room and opened the door like a secret . It was stunning - large , sun - soaked , minimalist . Glass - paneled walls looked out over the lake , its stillness mirroring the way I held my breath . " Why would you give me the best room ? " I muttered , unsure if I was accusing him or thanking him . " You deserve it ," he said . " After everything ... " I scanned the pristine white sheets , the carefully plumped pillows . For a second , an image flickered - Celine's perfume clouding this space , her body tangled with his - and I inhaled sharply at the depressing scenarios running in my head . " The answer is no ," Zach said , startling me . I turned to him , meeting his intense , unreadable gaze . " Excuse me ? " " I never had sex with Celine on that bed , " he said bluntly , like he'd read my thoughts . His jaw twitched , his eyes refusing to leave mine . " I wasn't even thinking about it ," I said , voice tight as I yanked the luggage closer . He sat beside me on the edge of the bed , elbows on his knees , watching me like he was bracing for a confession . " Come on , I'll help you unpack , " he offered , that boyish grin returning like a bad habit . " No need . I can do it myself ," I replied curtly , keeping my eyes fixed on the floor . " Alright , " he said , rising slowly . But then he lingered - hovering in my periphery . His hand grazed the doorknob , but he didn't turn it . " I kept the room empty for months , you know . Couldn't let her stay here , even when she begged . " I looked up , startled . " Why would she beg for that ? " 19:39 Tue , Sep 30 " Because this room was always yours , " he said simply . Something twisted in my chest . I hated how easy it was for his words to crawl under my skin . And then he was gone . I stood there for a moment , rooted in place , the stillness of the lake mocking the chaos inside me . I told myself I came back for Liam . Just Liam . But then I opened the closet - and froze . There , hanging neatly in a garment bag , was the emerald green dress I wore to our fifth anniversary dinner . The night Zach cried after telling me he didn't deserve me . The night we made Liam . And inside the drawer , my old perfume bottle - nearly empty but carefully kept . Later that afternoon , I made Liam his favorite - macaroni soup with too many hotdog slices . He giggled , slurping noodles while Zach took photos like a doting dad . The kind of moment you freeze , print , and frame . A lie in a golden frame . After sometime , Liam fell asleep on the couch , .wrapped in his dinosaur blanket . Zach and I stayed in the kitchen , finishing coffee , pretending we weren't too close . Pretending we didn't still remember how each other tasted . " I'm sorry for how things turned out , " he murmured . I looked away . " You mean Celine ? " He nodded , shame bleeding into his expression . " She's been distant ... and this pregnancy ... it's been complicated . " I didn't say anything . I didn't want to give him the comfort of understanding . " I just want Liam to grow up seeing us both , " he added . " And what about Celine ? " I asked , setting down my cup . " Does she know I'm here ? " Before he could answer , a knock sliced through the air . " Expecting someone ? " I asked in a polite manner . " Maybe it's a parcel for Celine ," he said and walked to the door . When he opened it , 1 already knew who it was . Celine stood outside , disheveled and furious . Her makeup was smudged , her hair clung to her cheeks , and in her hand was a printed sheet - probably a screenshot or some receipt of betrayal . " Oh , what a perfect picture , " she hissed , stepping inside without permission . Her eyes locked on me like daggers . " Family dinner , bedtime stories . I'm surprised you didn't play house in my bed too . " " Celine - stop , " Zach said , but his voice had no power here . I stood tall . " You don't get to barge in here and insult me . I'm Liam's mother . I'm shwave aning to be part of his life " always going to part She laughed , cold and sharp . " You mean the life I've been building while you were too busy ghosting your own child for months ? " I pounded the table . " Don't you dare twist this . I left because I was pushed out . By you . Don't act like a saint when you mark your territory on a broken man ! " Celine's face went pale . " You think I didn't notice how you look at him ? Your subtle way how you brush elbows with him ? You think I don't see what's going on here ? " She turned to Zach . " Tell me , Zach . Did you kiss her again ? Did you fuck her while I'm gone ? Did you let her back into this house while I was still carrying your- " " Enough ! " Zach roared , gritting his teeth . But it was too late . Celine lunged at me . Her hands shoved me backward and I caught myself on the kitchen counter . " You used Liam just to crawl back in ! " she screamed . " I was in before you were ever in the picture ! " I shouted back , pushing her off me . Zach jumped between us , but not before Celine grabbed the fruit bowl and hurled it across the room . It shattered against the wall , shards of glass flew like confetti . I felt something sharp hit my foot but I ignored it . Liam stirred in the living room , still groggy from his sleep . " Mommy ? " I rushed to him , hugging him gently . " It's okay , baby . Go back to sleep . " " What's going on ? " Liam looked around and went on , " Why's Aunt Celine bleeding ? " I craned my head and looked at Celine behind me . Her soft sobs became rugged , heavy , disoriented . She clutched her stomach , gasping . " Oh god ... No , no , no ! " Zach held her in his arms . " Celine ?! " Her legs gave way . " I - something's wrong . My stomach ... " She collapsed onto the floor , hands smeared with fresh blood . " My baby ! " " Call an ambulance ! " I instinctively covered Liam's eyes . Zach was already on his phone . I dropped beside Celine , my anger dissolving into dread . Her face was drenched in sweat and terror . Celine's lips trembled as she looked up at me with wide , tear - filled eyes . " You pushed me ," she choked out . " If something happens to my child ... I will kill you ..." I stared at the scene - Celine bleeding on the floor , Zach panicked and yelling , Liam terrified and suddenly , I was the villain in the story I'd spent so long trying to rewrite . Sirens wailed in the distance . I could feel Liam's eyes on us from the hallway , confused and afraid . As paramedics loaded Celine into the stretcher , Zach rode with her , pale and silent . I stood at the doorway holding Liam's hand , watching as the woman who had once Chapter 9. Hell Hath No Fury of a Woman Scorned 3/4 32.4 % worse - Zach looked at me . But this time , the warmth was lost . And the only thing that remained was horror and blame . Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!