Chapter 5

He slammed the door behind him. "What the hell was that?"

I flinched. "What... What are you talking about?"

"There was a pin in the food, Avery. A damn pin!" His voice rose, venom laced in each word.

"It could've hurt Anna. Were you trying to poison her?"

My mouths parted in disbelief. "What? No— Ethan, I didn't— "

"Save it," he snaps. "Don't let your jealousy turn you into a killer."

The slap landed before I could process the rage in his eyes. My face whipped to the side. The sting burned instantly.

I gasped, stumbling slightly, my cheek throbbing. "I would never hurt anyone."

"You'd better not," he grows. "Because if something happens to Anna because of you, I won't be this merciful."

He stormed out, leaving me in the cold echo of the kitchen.

I held my cheeks, trembling. The tears won't fall. Not yet. I grabbed the counter, trying to breathe. My heart was heavy, but my eyes remained dry. Numbness began to settle in place of pain.

___

Later, I wiped the floor,quiet and robotic when Anna walked in— heels clicking like applause.

"Oh dear," she said with a mock-pity smile. "You're still cleaning?"

I didn't respond

Anna kneeled slightly, voice laced with sweetness.

"Sorry about earlier. I told Ethan not to be too harsh, but you know how he gets when he's worried about me."

I did not look up.

"I mean... A pin in the food? That's dangerous, don't you think?" Anna tilted her head, smirking. "You should really be more careful."

I clenched the rag tighter. My hands ached. My knees burned. My pride? Long buried.

"Such drama over a small mistake," Ethan's mother chimed in, entering the room. "Back in my day, women knew how to cook without injuring the guests. Maybe if you weren't so distracted, you'd do your job properly."

Still, I said nothing. I kept on scrubbing.

They left me there—like they always do— basking in their casual cruelty.

Then came the sound of hurried feet."Anna?" Ethan's mother yelled. "Are you okay?"

A gag echoes from the bathroom.

I stood still.

They all rushed in, hovering, fussing.

I am alone again.

I turned to wipe the counter and noticed Anna's purse lying there, wide open. Something white and plastic poked out.

I shouldn't look

But I did.

My fingers pulled it free: a positive pregnancy test. Underneath it, a folded clinic result.

Pregnant. Eight weeks.

My hands shook.

I pulled out Anna's phone— unlocked. My stomach twisted as I scrolled.

Ethan: "I'm so happy, love. This baby... It's everything. You're everything. Unlike Avery— just a placeholder. You? You're my future."

I swallowed a cry. My throat tightened.

So this is what he meant. Why he had turned cold. Why he slapped me? Anna was carrying his child— and I am disposable now.

The pin in the food. The slap. The cruel silence. It all made sense now. I'd been working non-stop, preparing everything, and they still found a way to blame me.

And he never wanted a child with me. He'd said it once. Casually. Like a joke.

"You? You're not the kind of woman I see myself raising kids with."

My fingers tremble as I tuck everything back into the purse before they return.

I smoothen the counter like nothing ever happened.

But something had.

Something inside me had cracked wide open.

___

By morning, they were all dressed to leave for a family function. I watched as Anna beamed as Ethan helped her down the stairs

He walked up to me, tossing a card in my direction. "Buy yourself something nice. But don't be ridiculous with it."

The card fell to the floor near my feet.

I stared at it.

Not at him.

Slowly, I bent, picked it up with trembling hands. Not from fear— but from the weight of realization.

I nodded, my expression unreadable. "Of course."

Ethan turned, already distracted by Anna's glow.

I walked back inside. The card clenched tightly in my hand.

I don't cry.

I don't feel rage.

I just stared at the silver shine of the card, a ghost smile forming in my lips.

Not because I was grateful.

But because I had a plan.