Chapter 6

Natalie's POV

The moment I gave him my location, darkness pulled me under.

After days of relentless physical and mental torment, the second my guard dropped, my body gave out entirely.

When I opened my eyes again, I was lying in a private hospital room.

Moving my fingers sent sharp, agonizing pulses straight through my bones.

"You're awake." A low, gentle voice sounded beside the bed.

I turned my head and met Ethan Montgomery's deep, steady gaze.

"Does it hurt anywhere?" Ethan leaned in slightly, his voice hushed and cautious.

The Montgomery and Hayes families had been close friends for generations.

Ethan and my late father had been long-time business partners and close friends, though Ethan was only five years older than me.

I parted my lips, wanting to shake my head, but the door opened and a doctor stepped inside.

"Ms. Hayes, you're finally awake." The doctor looked down at my chart, his brow furrowed with grave concern. "When you were brought in, your fever was nearly 104 degrees, with extensive soft-tissue contusions across your body. But the most critical issue is that you are showing severe signs of a threatened miscarriage."

My mind went completely blank.

Instinctively, my trembling hand drifted down to rest over my flat stomach.

That ultrasound report I never got to show Julian hit me like a fatal blow.

The doctor's next words were like a bucket of freezing water poured over my head. "Between the high fever and severe physical trauma, there is massive internal bleeding around the placenta. You must remain on strict bed rest for the next few days. Even walking could trigger an irreversible loss of the pregnancy."

I froze on the bed, the tips of my fingers growing colder by the second.

In the county jail, the memory of those women kicking repeatedly at my stomach flashed across my mind.

Julian had sent me there to protect Chloe. He was the one who had handed me over to be brutalized.

"Ethan," I whispered, closing my eyes. "Take me away. Anywhere. I don't want to spend another minute in any city where Julian Vance breathes."

Looking at the dark bruises around my eyes, Ethan's jaw clenched, his knuckles turning white.

"Okay," he said, suppressing the lethal fury burning in his chest. He gently brushed a strand of hair from my forehead. "I'm already making the arrangements. But the doctor said you're too weak right now. Rest here for three days. Once your condition stabilizes slightly, I'll take you away immediately."

I didn't say another word, turning my head away numbly.

On the bedside table sat a clear evidence bag containing my old phone and my wedding ring.

With shaking hands, I pressed the power button on the phone.

The screen flickered on, and push notifications immediately flooded the display.

"#Billionaire Julian Vance Spends Millions Sponsoring Chloe Sterling's Solo Art Exhibition#"

"#Julian Vance & Chloe Sterling: A Match Made in Heaven#"

In the attached photo, Julian was bending down, gently smoothing the hem of Chloe's gown, his eyes filled with a tenderness that could drown someone.

I stared at the picture for a long time, then suddenly let out a faint laugh.

A laugh so bitter that tears spilled over, splashing against the back of my hand.

Opening the settings, I deleted all my social media accounts without a shred of hesitation.

Then, I grabbed the wedding ring on my finger and pulled.

It got stuck at the knuckle, but I didn't stop.

Even as it scraped away the skin and drew tiny beads of fresh blood, I yanked it off ruthlessly and threw it into the trash can beside the bed.

As long as I survived these three days, Julian Vance and I would be strangers forever.