Pregnant, Humiliated, and Not Alone

CHAPTER 4 — St. Anne's

The church was nearly empty when Olivia arrived.

She had insisted on going herself, even with Daniel and Marla waiting outside. She needed to hear it with her own ears. Needed to know which part of her life had been built on fraud.

Nurse Ellen was waiting near the back pew, clutching her coat closed with white knuckles. She looked older than Olivia remembered from the clinic. Tired. Guilty.

"I should have called you sooner," Ellen said.

"Then start now."

Ellen nodded and handed her a copy of the original scan report. "This was never supposed to leave the clinic. I found it in a bin after your appointment."

Olivia scanned the page. Her hands shook.

There it was. Clear as daylight. The pregnancy was normal. Strong heartbeat. No complication. No warning.

"No risk?" Olivia whispered.

Ellen shook her head. "None."

Olivia swallowed hard. Richard had watched her panic, watched her cry, watched her believe she might lose the baby, and he had said nothing.

Why?

Ellen lowered her voice. "I saw him talking to Victoria in the corridor. She said, 'If Olivia thinks the baby is in danger, she'll stop asking questions.'"

Olivia's stomach turned.

At that moment, the church door opened.

Richard stood there, breathing hard, rain beginning to darken his jacket. He looked different without the polished smile. Smaller. More frightened.

"Olivia," he said. "Please."

She stood very still. "You lied to me."

"I was trying to protect you."

"From what?"

His eyes flicked to Ellen, then back. "From losing the baby. From losing everything."

"That is not an answer."

He stepped closer. "Victoria found out you were planning to leave me. She said if you walked away with the house and the baby, my life would be ruined. I panicked."

Olivia stared at him.

Not because he had hurt her. Because he had told the truth so badly that it still sounded like a lie.

Behind him, the church door opened again.

This time it was Victoria.

And in her hand was a recording device.

"I kept the proof because I knew he would turn on me too."