Chapter 5

Once the cash started rolling in,Carter got busy.

Then came Maya—a waitress who delivered his lunch,the one variable I never saw coming.He pitied her,fell for her acting dreams,and decided to play hero:

"Want to be a star?Let me help you."

Just like that,the money I nearly killed myself to earn became Maya's stepping stone.

He paid for her elite acting school in LA and bought her a supporting role in a hit show.

When I confronted them on set,Carter shielded a sobbing Maya and shoved me to the ground.

I was pregnant.

I fell,my stomach slamming into the sharp edge of a metal prop box.

Blood soaked my dress.

My baby died right there—killed by his own father.

Carter panicked.He swept me up and rushed me to the hospital,crying and begging for forgiveness the entire way.Numb,I told him it was over.But he lost it.He grabbed a knife,slit his wrist,and used self-harm to threaten me.

"We're just business,Elara!"he cried.

"I was just doing charity.Didn't you fall in love with me because I'm kind?"

Yes.I used to believe that was kindness.But he had no right to feed that"kindness"of his with my flesh and blood.I was weak.I forgave him.

Until my birthday.I received a teaching offer from Juilliard and called him,dying to share the news.Over the line,all I heard was the unmistakable sound of a man and a woman,breathing hard together—nauseating and undeniable.

After what felt like forever,Carter's panicked voice came through:"Baby,I'm almost home."In that second,our six years together died.