---- seething with rage. He had been drinking heavily, empty bottles strewn around him, one hand still dialing my number over and over. When he saw me, he stopped, looked up, and locked eyes with me. "Where the hell have you been?" I didn't answer. I turned to head into the bedroom to pack. But suddenly, he hurled his glass across the room. It shattered against the wall. He stormed toward me and grabbed my arm hard. "asked you a question! Where were you? Why weren't you answering my calls? Who were you with- some other man? I get it," he sneered. "You're mad I've been ignoring you, right? Fine. I'll make it up to you." He swept everything off the coffee table and pushed me down on top of it, roughly tearing at my clothes. ---- I froze, panicked. "Ricky! Have you lost your mind? I just gave birth!" He didn't listen. He bit down hard on my lip. I struggled and shoved him with all the strength I had. He snapped, lunged again, this time yanking my hair. But then he stopped. He looked at my tear-streaked face, the blood on my mouth, and his expression faltered. Panic and something dangerously close to regret flickered in his eyes. "J... I'm sorry," he stammered. "I didn't mean to..." He reached out, his hand trembling slightly, trying to touch the wound on my lip. But just as his fingers were about to graze my skin, the front door burst open with a loud bang. Ricky jolted, yanking his hand back. The anger returned to his eyes instantly. Audrey stepped into the wreckage of the room. Her ---- gaze swept over the broken glass, the bruises, the blood. She didn't need to ask what had happened. She already knew. Just as she opened her mouth to lash out, Ricky scoffed and looked down at me. I still lay crumpled on the floor. "Hmph. How convenient. Your backup just showed up. I'm going to find Lindsay. I won't be coming home tonight." And with that, he turned and walked out. "Ricky! Stop right there!" But he didn't. He didn't even glance back. Audrey could only shout at his fading silhouette, her voice trembling with helpless rage, ''You better be back at the family estate tomorrow!" But her words never reached him. He was already gone. ---- She exhaled slowly, then knelt to help me up. She handed me an envelope. In it was a plane ticket. "Tomorrow's the last day," she said. "This is your flight out." Then she looked at me, pain in her eyes. "Tomorrow is your child's funeral. I know my brother doesn't deserve forgiveness, but that baby... he was yours. I hope you'll send him off properly, before you go." I paused. Then nodded. The next morning, I arrived at the family estate before dawn. This child-my child-cost me a lot to bring into the world. And yet I never even got to hold him once before saying goodbye. Maybe... he knew I'd done everything I could. Maybe that's why he chose to leave first-to save me from having to carry him through the wreckage of this love. Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!