OLIVIA

I sat in the dark jail cell, thinking about my baby and how he was going to survive in a place like this. I didn’t care about myself—they could keep me there for as long as they wanted—but my baby didn’t deserve this. He didn’t deserve to be born in a jail or suffer for my sins.

It was only the second day of my incarceration, and the police were keeping their word to Nick about not letting me out. But I thought they were taking it too far; they hadn’t given me food since I arrived.

It was good that nothing stayed in my stomach anymore. I’d been starting to have morning sickness. But I still felt hungry, even though I knew whatever I ate would come back up again.

“Oh, my baby,” I said, caressing my stomach, “I’m so sorry you’re going through this, that you’re going to start your life into this world like this. But I swear to you, I will protect you. Your father will never know you exist, and he’ll never hurt you or me ever again. He’s done enough.”

The cell door opened. I stood as Nick’s best friend, Ethan, came into view.

“Oh, Olivia. I’m sorry I wasn’t there. I just found out what happened, and I gave Nick a piece of my mind. But he won’t budge. He won’t even show me the proof he claims to have against you. He refuses to drop the charges and get you out.”

I smiled sadly. “It’s all right, Ethan. I’m just glad you’re here. I need your help.”

He sighed, pity in his eyes.

“Don’t pity me,” I said. “I’ll be fine. I just need your help me with something, but don’t tell Nick.”

He frowned. “Olivia, he only let me to see you today. After this, he won’t let me come back.”

“Then let’s make it count,” I said with a nod. “I’m pregnant. It’s still early, but I’m afraid I’ll lose my baby in here. Please, help me.”

His eyes widened in shock. “Olivia... Nick doesn’t know, does he?”

I shook my head.

“That moron. How could I be friends with someone so stupid? That woman you call your friend has him eating out of the palm of her hand, and he just can’t see it!” He started pacing, but we didn’t have time for his anger.

“Ethan, please. Forget about Nick. Karma will deal with them both. I have to worry about my baby.”

He stopped and peered at me, concern in his eyes. “All right. I’ll see what I can do. I’ll try to get you some prenatal vitamins to keep the baby healthy and then see about bribing a guard to get you that medicine and tell me when you go into labor.”

Relief flooded me. “Thank you, Ethan. Please, check on my grandmother from time to time. Let her know I’m okay, and tell her not to stress or worry about me.”

He gave me that pitying look again.

“Stop looking at me like that. I’ll be fine. Just help me with this, and everything will be all right.”

“I don’t know how you do it, Olivia. I don’t know how you can be so positive when you are in a situation like this.”

I had no choice. I couldn’t afford to fall apart—I had a baby and my grandmother to think about.

“Time’s up, Mr. Lewis,” an officer informed Ethan. “You only get ten minutes, and not a minute more.”

“I’ll do as I promised,” Ethan said. “I’ll do everything I can to be able to see you again. Stay strong, Olivia.”

I smiled faintly and nodded. After he left, I felt a small surge of hope that my baby was going to be all right. Ethan was a man of his word. He would find a way to help me.

I lay down on the thin mattress in the corner, curled into the fetal position, and thought about everything that had happened in such a short period of time—how my best friend had betrayed me, and how I had let my marriage fall apart completely, all without even knowing it. I fell asleep with those thoughts in my head.

The clanging of the cell door woke me up. “Here. This is for you.” The officer glanced around before tossing a small plastic bag into my cell. “From Mr. Lewis. I won’t always be around, but when I am, I’ll take care of you.” He closed the door and left.

I rushed to the plastic bag and found both food and vitamins inside. Tears welled in my eyes, grateful to Ethan for what he’d done. I quickly ate the food, took the vitamins, and drank water from the tap.

Lying back down, I caressed my belly. “Everything’s going to be okay, baby. I promise.”

OLIVIA

NINE MONTHS LATER

Prison had been hard, not just because I was pregnant but because of how I was treated. But I was grateful for one thing—Ethan kept his word. The guard he’d bribed continued to bring me vitamins and took care of me as promised.

But when he wasn’t around, the others would conveniently “forget” to feed me. There were days I was so hungry that my stomach ached. One day, I yelled until someone finally came. But instead of food, I got a beating.

They beat me so badly that I had a black eye and bruises all over my arms and legs. But through it all, I protected my baby. Even after the beating, they didn’t give me any food. From that day on, I learned to stay quiet when that officer wasn’t around.

I rationed my food, eating small portions and saving some in case I didn’t get any the next day. I was skin and bones, and I worried about my baby. Was he getting enough nutrients? Would he be born healthy?

The thought of my baby suffering only made my resentment for Nick grow. I hated him more with each passing day.

My belly was huge now, heavy. Today, I woke up feeling uncomfortable and exhausted. I didn’t touch my breakfast when the guard brought it. A dull pain throbbed in my back, coming and going. Every time it hit, I froze, holding my breath until it passed. I thought I might be in labor, but my water hadn’t broken.

Still, something was wrong. Impatiently, I waited for lunch, hoping to ask the guard to contact Ethan and bring a doctor. I couldn’t lose my baby—not after everything we’d been through together.

I drifted in and out of sleep. The pain kept getting stronger, more frequent. On several occasions, I bit my bottom lip to prevent from screaming. Finally, the cell door opened. I was leaning against the wall, breathing through the pain. But at that moment, it felt like some entity out there in the universe was finally on my side.

Suddenly, my water broke.

The guard’s eyes widened in shock. “I’ll get Mr. Lewis!” He dropped the plate of food he was carrying and ran off.

I gripped the bars, pulling on them so hard I thought they might break.

The guard came back, panting. “Mr. Lewis is coming.”

“Thank you,” I managed to say.

He just stood there, helpless. “Please, keep the baby in. I don’t know what to do. Wait for Mr. Lewis!”

If I wasn’t in so much pain, I might’ve laughed. He clearly had no idea that once the baby decided to come, there was no stopping him. But I hoped he would hold off; this cell was no place to have a baby.

After what felt like forever, with me lying on my back and feeling the baby coming, the cell door opened once again. “Olivia! I’m here. I’ll take you to the infirmary.” Ethan rushed in with a doctor.

The doctor took a quick look and said, “She won’t make it to the infirmary. The baby’s crowning. He’s coming now.”

At that moment, my resentment for Nick hit a new level. My baby was going to be born in a filthy cell all because Nick believed some woman he barely knew over me. He had condemned me to this suffering.

“Olivia, you have to push,” Ethan said. “I know this isn’t what you wanted, but the baby’s coming now.”

His voice pulled me back to reality. It wasn’t about Nick anymore. It was about my baby. I pushed as hard as I could. I pushed with everything I had. Soon after, my baby’s cries filled the air, and tears streamed down my face. The doctor handed him to me.

“Is he okay? Is he healthy?” I asked, staring at him. He was so small.

“I’ll need to examine him, but he looks good—just a little underweight but good.”

I smiled through my tears. “His name is Samuel. Give him my last name, not Nick’s, and keep him safe. Take him away from here, Ethan.” My heart broke as I handed him over.

“You can hold him for a little longer,” the doctor offered, but I shook my head.

He’d been born in this dirty cell. I didn’t want him to spend a second more in here. “No. Take him away and check him out to make sure he’s healthy. And remember, Ethan—don’t ever tell Nick.”

I sobbed as I watched Ethan leave with him. “Nick, you’re going to pay for this. I swear it.”

NICK

Two years have passed since that woman humiliated me, since I found out she stole millions from me.

How could I have been so stupid and blind? When Sandra told me that Olivia had a hand in what happened to my mother all those years ago—how they met, how Olivia “just happened” to save her from being hit by a car—I refused to believe it at first. I thought my wife could never be capable of such things.

Then she gave me that recording of their phone call, where Olivia had admitted everything: how she’d landed her “golden goose,” how her life was going to change for her and her grandmother. As if that weren’t enough, she stole from me. Sandra had showed me the proof.

I recovered some of the money, but only a small portion. Thinking about her still fills me with rage. How could she have been so cruel? My mother loved her!

“Nick!” Sandra snapped me out of my thoughts. “It’s almost time to go pick up your parents. I’m finishing up with dinner. It'll be ready by the time you get back.”

If it weren’t for Sandra these last two years, I don’t think I would’ve made it through.

My parents have been traveling the world, and they’re coming home today. They’re going to be so disappointed when they find out what happened with Olivia. My poor mother. She trusted that good-for-nothing woman.

Anger surged as I grabbed my keys.

“Nick!” Sandra's voice stopped me again. I turned to face her.

“Don’t think about her,” she said softly. “It only makes you angry. Today is about your parents coming home. Let’s focus on celebrating, not on the past.”

I gave her a small smile. What would I have done without her?

At the airport, I spotted my mom first, followed by my dad, and their guards carrying the bags. Her face lit when she saw me. She rushed over, throwing herself into my arms. I laughed, hugging her back as Dad shook his head.

“You’re suffocating our son, woman!” he grumbled. Mom shot him a glare over her shoulder, and he raised his hands up in mock surrender. Watching them, a wave of sadness washed over me. I had thought Olivia and I would have what they had. I guess it wasn’t meant to be.

“Goodness! You’re so thin! Does Olivia not feed you anymore? Where is she, anyway?” Mom asked, her smile fading slightly.

I sighed. This wasn’t the time or place to tell them. “Let's get home, and I’ll explain everything,” I said.

They exchanged a glance, and Mom's face brightened again. “Don't tell me she's at home with a baby! Oh, I knew she’d give me a grandchild soon!”

My heart sank. She had no idea Olivia never wanted kids—only my money.

“Mom, it’s not like that.” I opened the car door for her.

Dad got in after her, his face already turning cold.

I started the car and drove off. Mom wanted to ask more questions on the way, but Dad convinced her to wait until we got home. Thankfully. Talking about Olivia wasn’t easy, and I wasn’t looking forward to the conversation.

Once we got back, I told them everything: how Olivia had pushed her best friend down the stairs, killing her child; how she’d stolen millions from me; how she was never in love with me, never wanted a baby with me; how she was secretly on birth control the whole time; and how she had just wanted my money.

“She is not the person you thought she was,” I said. “Olivia is cruel.”

Mom looked at me as if I’d committed a crime. “Nick, are you insane?” she shouted, furious.

I stared at her, baffled. Hadn’t she heard what I said?

Mom shook her head, sadness and disappointment etched across her face. Dad hadn’t said a word and refused to look at me, but his eyes were icy cold.

“Are you sure it’s not Sandra who’s clouding your judgment?” Mom asked sharply. “Are you sure she isn’t the reason you’re thinking this way?”

“Sandra is the one who showed me the truth about Olivia,” I insisted. “Without her, I’d still be under Olivia’s control. You should be grateful to her!”

Mom’s eyes flashed with anger. “Grateful? To a homewrecker? Dear God, what must her grandmother think of us? Michael,” she said, turning to my father, “go to Olivia’s grandmother and apologize. Tell her we had no idea and that we’ll get Olivia out of jail.”

Dad stood, ready to go, and I was stunned. How could they still be so blind?

“She’s dead,” I said quietly. “She died a few months after Olivia was arrested.”

Mom’s face crumpled, and a tear slipped down her cheek. I wanted to comfort her, but Dad beat me to it, pulling her into his arms.

“You’re such a fool, Nick,” he said, his voice hard. “I didn’t raise you to be this foolish. I hope you don’t come to regret this.”

I sat there, feeling utterly lost. Why were they defending Olivia? Why did she still have such a hold on them?

“I’m going to get my daughter-in-law out of jail,” Dad declared. “And Nick, if you don’t drop the charges, I will disown you.”