"I hope you can understand."
Justin had shoved me into a miscarriage.
I lost our baby at four months. I listened to the doctor say what a shame it was. I listened to the nurses complain that they couldn't reach my husband by phone. I listened to the caretaker explain that Mr. Simmons was too busy, but that he'd paid generously for my care.
Even the caretaker had advice for me.
"That's just how it is for women."
"If you want to be happy in this life, sometimes you've got to look the other way."
My heart was being carved open. I broke down in that hospital room, sobbing until I couldn't breathe. I clawed at myself, screamed, did everything I could to make Justin look at me. Just one look. That was all I wanted. He wouldn't even give me that.
Because.
Justin said.
"When you lost the baby, Odette blamed herself. She wanted to break up with me."
"I thought."
"I could let her go."
"But," his voice hardened, "I can't."
"I can't lose Odette. The same way I couldn't lose you back then."