Chapter 7
When Harvey saw that Sarah wasn’t speaking, his expression softened. The same hand that had just wrapped around her throat now brushed gently across her cheek. Sarah froze. She remembered this touch. On so many nights, it had brought her warmth, comfort, and love—or at least what she thought was love. But now? That same hand made her feel uncertain and afraid, standing on the edge of a cliff. Harvey didn’t seem to notice the stiffness in her posture. His voice was low, almost coaxing as he taunted, “Be good. This child isn’t meant to be born. Getting rid of it is for your own good.” Just as the words left his mouth, his phone buzzed. Sarah didn’t need to see the screen to know it was Zoey. Even Harvey didn’t realize it but always softened when talking to Zoey. His tone would shift, his voice gentle, reverent, as if speaking to something fragile and precious. But when it came to her, Sarah felt she barely registered. She didn’t want to think about it anymore. After Harvey left the room, she lay beneath the cold, white hospital lights. The silence pressed in like thick and heavy fog. For the first time, she felt a pressing need to act. Sarah hadn’t stolen anything, but back when living under someone else’s roof, she’d tried too hard to please the Stevens family, to get a little attention. She had been naïve, bound by the idea of ‘family,’ forgetting that she was always an outsider. When her grandmother died, she no longer had a home. Later, she thought that even the shipping container was home, because Harvey was there. No matter how hard or bitter life was, she endured it. Sarah tried to be a good daughter, partner, and woman. But reality slapped her in the face. Now, she had a child. And that child gave her something she hadn’t had in a long time—purpose. That small ember of courage began to glow. Slowly, Sarah pushed back the covers and stood up. Her body ached. Every step felt unstable, like her bones weren’t quite holding her up, but she moved forward, one trembling foot at a time. She opened the hospital room door, and there he was. Harvey stood just outside, not even surprised to see her. In his hand was a medicine. Sarah stiffened. She didn’t need to ask what it was. Harvey stepped forward and offered her the pill. Sarah backed up slightly, eyeing the contents with suspicion. She could smell the bitterness from where she stood. Her instinct screamed at her to run. She raised her hand, ready to knock the bowl from his grip. However, Harvey’s following words stopped her cold. “Don’t make a decision you’ll regret. Your grandmother’s ashes are with me right now. Didn’t she mean everything to you? You want her to suffer unrest even in death?” Sarah’s entire body went still. Her eyes widened. She looked at him in disbelief, but his face remained calm, unreadable, as if he hadn’t just blackmailed her with the one thing she held sacred. She closed her eyes. And in that single moment, something inside her broke completely. The man she had once loved unconditionally and stupidly had never cared. Not for her, not for their child. Not even for the memory of her grandmother. To him, everything about her, every piece she considered sacred, was merely leverage, a way to control her. A way to break her. Her heart, already cracked, now shattered. She opened her eyes and looked at him, not with anger or hate, but with hollow understanding. He lowered his gaze, almost like he couldn’t meet her eyes. “Now’s just not the right time for this baby,” he said again, as though repeating it would make it true. “Maybe someday. I even brought you some fruits to help you bounce back.” He sounded like he genuinely cared about her health. But Sarah couldn’t even bring herself to argue anymore. There was no point. She was leaving. This was the last time she’d ever let him have power over her. Without saying another word, she took the pill from his hand, brought it to her lips, and swallowed it in one motion. Then she turned, walked back to the bed, and lay down. She didn’t see the flicker of something in Harvey’s expression as he stared at her. Lying on her back, she forced her voice to remain steady. “I took the pill. I hope you’ll keep your promise. I need to rest.” For a long moment, silence. Then the sound of the door closing. As soon as it clicked shut, Sarah broke down. The tears came hard and fast, soaking the pillow beneath her. It hurt more than she thought it would. But she had once promised her grandmother that she would live well. While sick, her grandmother worked to find her a place to stay and a future to strive for. If she had given up now, her grandmother would have been heartbroken. Sarah reached for the frayed, knotted charm bracelet from beneath the blanket. She clutched it so tightly that the sharp edge bit into her skin, but she didn’t feel a thing. She knew she had to leave this place. Somewhere, no one knew her. Somewhere, she could start over. Somewhere she could be free. A sudden warmth spread beneath her. She knew what it was. A life, her baby, was being taken from her. And she had done it with her own hands. At that moment, her phone buzzed. Automatically, she reached out and tapped it, desperate for a distraction. The screen lit up. It was Zoey. A video popped open without warning. Zoey was sitting cross-legged in it, instructing Harvey to sew baby clothes. Harvey, awkward and all thumbs, fumbled with the fabric. Sweat clung to his forehead. But he was focused, careful, and unrecognizable. No one would’ve guessed this man was heir to the Jameson Group. Zoey’s voice came through, teasing but curious. “Harvey, you’re taking this so seriously. Do you like kids?” He didn’t even look up. “Yeah,” he replied. Zoey hesitated. “Then what about Sarah’s child—” He cut her off instantly. “That child shouldn’t exist. Don’t bring it up.” The video ended. Sarah stared at the screen silently, then quietly set the phone aside and pulled the blanket over her head. The sharp, metallic scent of blood hung in the air, making her head pound. She couldn’t stay here. Not another second. As soon as her body recovered, she would leave, far away from all of this. From him. She never wanted to see Harvey doting on Zoey ever again. After packing her luggage, she no longer had the slightest attachment to this place, and this time she did not hesitate!