Suri finally crashed at dawn after hours of tossing and turning.

Didn't last.

Bruce yanked her up, his face tight.

"You actually slept?"

He dragged her out of bed. Pain flared down her burned arm.

She lay on the floor, pale light spilling over her as she looked up at him. "What are you even doing?"

"What am I doing? Why'd you put cinnamon in the cream soup? You know it's got cinnamaldehyde—causes uterine contractions! Julie could've miscarried!"

"What?"

Suri blinked, stunned.

"You're saying I did that on purpose? Just to make her lose the baby? Seriously, Bruce? Why would I do that?"

"Because you hate how well I treat her! Suri, you were the only woman I ever cared about." He was shaking, furious. "I brought Julie here 'cause she's pregnant and alone.

"If you had a problem, you should've just said it! Why go this low?

"I'm done with the excuses. Is Julie right? You're bitter 'cause you can't have kids, so you wanted her to lose hers?"

Suri stayed on the floor. "You don't believe me."

"You messed up and won't even own it," he said, towering over her. "We're going to the hospital. You're apologizing to Julie."

"And if I don't?" Her eyes flamed.

"You're going. I've spoiled you long enough—look what that's done. Time you owned up to what you did."

Bruce hauled her to the hospital.

The second they walked in, he dropped her arm and went straight to Julie's side. His tone flipped. "You still hurting?"

"It's better now. Bruce, when you left... I was so scared. I thought I might lose the baby—and you weren't here."

"Come on, silly girl. I'd never leave. Suri's here to apologize."

Suri stepped up, locking eyes with her. "Julie, did you tell Bruce I added cinnamon to the soup?"

Julie played innocent, but Suri wasn't buying it. She knew exactly who Julie was.

She hadn't added a thing to that soup. Only one way this made sense—Julie did it herself and pinned it on her.

Of course. Anyone who snagged Bruce like that was never gonna play clean.

"It's okay, Suri," Julie said, all sweet and fake. "I know you didn't mean it. Just... be more careful next time.

"Bruce worries about me, that's all. Don't be mad. But maybe you shouldn't cook anymore. We don't want any more... accidents.

"I just want the baby to be safe."

Bruce's chest tightened.

He looked at Suri. Long pause. Then, "Tomorrow, you're moving to the complex next door. I've got a place there. You'll stay until Julie has the baby."

Her burn throbbed, sweat clinging to her skin. Suri's lips had gone pale—Bruce didn't even notice.

She pressed them together, steady. "Fine. I'll move out. You two could use the space."

The flat look in her eyes made him hesitate. "That's not what I meant. It's just two months, Suri. You get that, right?"

"I get it." She smiled. She was leaving anyway.

"Good. To show Julie you're sorry, get her a gift for tomorrow when she's discharged."

Her face went bone white. "Sure. Got it."

She already knew what she'd give.

Suri had barely stepped inside when the staff started hauling her stuff to the complex next to theirs.

Watching all the things she and Bruce once picked out get boxed up, she expected heartbreak. Didn't happen.

She was gonna move out eventually. At least she didn't have to pack. Perks.

"Mrs. Jerkinson," one of the staff said, "the new place needs a few more days. Mr. Jerkinson said you can stay here two more nights."

"Cool," she said.

After that, Suri headed to the rose garden.

It was May. Full bloom.

She told the gardener to cut every single rose and send them to Julie.

"But Mrs. Jerkinson, aren't these your favorites? You usually just take a few. You sure you want them all gone?"

"Yeah."

She parked herself on a bench and watched them work all day—snipping, clearing, loading up the truck.

By sunset, the sky was streaked in pink and purple.

Suri grabbed a torch and lit the leftovers on fire.

The flames twisted up with the dusk light—gorgeous, in a totally wrecked kind of way.

"Oh my God, what are you doing? Mr. Jerkinson planted these himself! Burning them... what a shame!"

"He's never planting anything here again. Might as well torch the past while I'm at it."

Still watching the fire, Suri pulled out her phone and called her elder brother, Connor, who was doing business overseas.

"Connor, where are you right now? I'm thinking of visiting in a few days."

"Everything okay? You and Bruce taking a trip or something?"

"Just me. Send the address—I'll come soon."

There was a pause on the line. "You're going alone? What happened? Fights happen, Suri. Let it go. Didn't Bruce make that woman end the pregnancy?"

"She's about to give birth. I already signed the divorce papers. Once the decree comes in, I'm heading your way."

Connor didn't hesitate. "That loser. Don't worry, Suri, I've got you. Our company's way bigger than his. Did he really think we can't find someone a million times better?"

He paused. "Since he screwed you over, I'm pulling every business deal we had with him. And this time, you're not stopping me."

"Go for it," Suri said. "Handle everything."

Their parents had been gone a long time, but Connor had built his life up strong overseas.

The Somerset network had carried the Jerkinsons more than Bruce ever realized.

Now that she was done with him, she didn't want a single thread tying them together—not even in business.

After hanging up, Suri headed home.

The roses were already at the villa. Julie was in the middle of them, glowing.

"Bruce! I love them! Did you send these? I've never gotten this many before!"

Bruce stared at the flowers, something about them tugging at him.

He asked a servant, who said they were from Suri—a so-called apology gift for Julie.

His face tightened. Chest, too.

Then he spotted Suri standing outside the yard. Alone. Thin. Empty-eyed.

"You're back?"

"Yeah. The other place isn't ready yet. I've got two more days."

She brushed past him into the house.

Bruce grabbed her arm. "Don't be like this. I'm not kicking you out. This is still your home. Once Julie has the baby—"

"I know. If that's all, I'm going to my room."

He looked like he wanted to follow, but Julie tugged his sleeve. "Bruce, you said you'd stay with me!"

Yeah, he didn't come back. Not right away, anyway.

After her shower, Suri stepped out to find the door cracked open. Bruce wrapped his arms around her from behind.

"I'm sorry. I know I've been distant. But once Julie has the baby, things will change, okay?"

Too late. She'd run out of disappointment to feel. She gently pushed him off.

"Pretty sure Julie's calling for you. Aren't you gonna check?"

"Really? I'll go see. Be right back."

Bruce never came back.

Sometime past midnight, a sharp pain tore through Suri's stomach.

She snapped on the bedside lamp, tried to move—but her body wouldn't listen.

"Bruce!" Her voice cracked. "Bruce, my stomach—!

"Someone help! Please! I don't feel right!"

She screamed until her throat burned, but the house stayed dead quiet.

Hands shaking, she fumbled for her phone and dialed Bruce.

A voice answered—but it wasn't his.

"Hello? Suri, what is it?" Julie.

"Sorry, Bruce spent the whole night reading to me and the baby," Julie said, fake sweet. "He was so wiped, he passed out. If you need something, just tell me."

"Tell Bruce my stomach really hurts... ask him to come back..."

"Your stomach hurts?" Julie let out a sharp laugh. "Come on, you can't even have kids. What's there to hurt? And even if I wake him, you think he'd actually care?"

Before Suri could say anything, Julie shouted, "Bruce, wake up! Suri says her stomach hurts. She wants you to go over."

A pause. Then Bruce's groggy voice: "What is it?"

"Bruce—"

Julie cut in, all pout. "Ugh, I was finally asleep. My stomach wasn't even hurting that bad, but she just HAD to call and wake me. Now it's acting up again."

"Your stomach hurts again? Don't worry, I'm staying with you. I'm not going anywhere." Then Bruce snapped into the phone, "Suri, seriously? You can't even get pregnant—what stomach pain? Go to the bathroom or something. Quit calling!"

Click.

No matter how loud she screamed, no one came.

The pain slammed into her harder, draining every bit of color from her face.

Sweat drenched her forehead. Her lower belly kept tightening like it was trying to fold her in half.

Then—warmth. A sudden rush beneath her.

And just like that, panic took over.

'It hurts so bad.'

She glanced down—blood soaking the floor beneath her. Her face went paper white.

Was she... pregnant?

"Help!"

Barely hanging on, she dragged herself to the door. "Somebody... please..."

Bruce finally stepped out, holding up Julie.

"What are you yelling about?" he started—then saw the blood. His face dropped. "Suri? What's going on?"

He moved toward her, but Julie gagged dramatically. "Ew, what is that smell? Suri, if you're on your period, use a pad or something. There's blood EVERYWHERE. You seriously smell infected."

Suri shook her head, voice barely there. "No... Bruce, my stomach... I think I might be—"

Julie cut in, full venom. "Oh, I get it. You're jealous I'm pregnant, so you're pulling this stunt to mess with me. But this? It's just pathetic. Bruce is only gonna hate you more."

Bruce froze—then stepped back.

He looked down at her like she was something stuck to his shoe. "Are you done? Pregnant women need sleep. Go back to your room. Keep this up and you're moving out tonight."

The door slammed. Cold air rushed past her.

"Bruce Jerkinson... don't you DARE regret this..."

She stared at his heartless back, the world tilting—then everything went black.