Chapter 4

It was David.

He rushed over, gently helping Xena to her feet. Tears struck down her cheeks, and she looked up at him, trembling with frustration.

“David… I tried to have Anson apologize to her, but she wouldn’t even listen. She pushed me away. What did I do wrong?”

“Does she… not like me?”

David brushed the tears from her face and cupped her cheek.

“It’s not your fault, Xena. You’re a good person.”

He helped her down the stairs with Anson, leaving just the two of us alone.

I could feel the storm coming. His eyes were hard, teeth clenched.

“Sarah… you don’t have to hurt Xena! She’s not a bad person. You’ve been cruel to her for no reason!”

“You and I had a past, yet you’d treat her like this?”

“I used to think you were reasonable… but behind my back, you’re vicious!”

I didn’t respond. Instead, I placed the divorce papers I had prepared firmly on the table.

“If you want to marry Xena so badly, sign these papers.”

David stared at the words, stunned, then snatched them from my hands and threw them to the floor.

“Sarah, have you had enough? Am I too nice to you?”

“Just because you want a child? Fine! You’ll get one!”

Before I could react, he shoved me onto the hotel bed. I pressed my hands against his chest, but I had no strength to resist.

He ripped my clothes away with brutal force. I shook my head, desperately.

“David… please!”

For an hour, I felt powerless, trapped, utterly alone.

Afterward, he straightened, voice low:

“Since you don’t want to go home, stay here. In a couple of days, I’ll take you to the doctor. If you’re pregnant… there’s no way you can leave me.”

He left, and I curled up on the floor, tears streaming. He didn’t love me—yet he had hurt me anyway.

I ran to the shower, trying to wash away what had just happened, but nothing could clean the pain. I collapsed on the floor, haunted by the memory.

Finally, I went to the hospital for a checkup. My hands shook as I handed over my papers. I prayed silently that I wasn’t pregnant.

When the doctor confirmed it, I fell to my knees, tears flowing uncontrollably.

“You’re young, it’s rare to get pregnant,” the doctor said gently. “This is a blessing.”

I shook my head and lifted my chin.

“I want to schedule a termination.”