<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen my wife is asleep again, remove her uterus; I don\u2019t want her to ever be able to get pregnant.\u201d<\/p>\n
I heard that phrase from the hospital hallway, standing in my open gown while my legs felt weak and my body trembled from the loss of my baby. The voice belonged to Jared Harlan, my husband, the man who had sworn to me before God that he would take care of me even if the world ended.<\/p>\n
I froze behind a half-open door, clutching the cold metal frame for support while the doctor remained silent. Jared lowered his voice, but it was still loud enough for me to hear every malicious word.<\/p>\n
\u201cMake up a diagnosis, like cancer or an irreversible risk, but just do it,\u201d Jared ordered. \u201cAnd don\u2019t let Shelby suspect a thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Shelby was me.<\/p>\n
Then Courtney Briggs appeared, an influencer from Harlan Media, which was my husband\u2019s company. She was wearing a tight white dress and had one hand resting on her barely visible belly. Jared drew her closer with a tenderness that no longer belonged to me.<\/p>\n
\u201cGive her the best prenatal plan you have,\u201d Jared commanded the doctor. \u201cThat baby will be the sole heir of the Harlan family.\u201d<\/p>\n
I felt the floor open beneath my feet, but I did not cry or scream out loud. I just went back to my room with a calmness so cold it frightened me. On the small table were the flowers Jared had sent, white roses with a card that read, \u201cYou and me against everything, my love.\u201d<\/p>\n
I felt completely nauseous looking at them.<\/p>\n
A young nurse walked in smiling, totally unaware that she was talking to a woman who had just heard her own executive sentence.<\/p>\n
\u201cMrs. Harlan, you are so lucky,\u201d the nurse said cheerfully. \u201cMr. Harlan reserved the whole wing for you, and he has not left your side for a single minute.\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked out the window at the busy streets of Phoenix. Outside, the city was still alive and completely indifferent, while my marriage bled away silently in this room.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you lost the baby, he cried like a child,\u201d the nurse continued, adjusting my pillows. \u201cTruly, few women have a husband as devoted as that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Minutes later, Jared came into the room looking agitated and out of breath. When he saw me awake, he ran straight to my side and hugged me tightly.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere were you?\u201d Jared asked, his voice trembling. \u201cI almost went crazy because I thought something terrible had happened to you.\u201d<\/p>\n
His fear seemed completely real, and that was the cruelest part of his deception.<\/p>\n
He brought a glass of dark medicine to my bed and held it gently to my lips.<\/p>\n
\u201cTake it, love,\u201d Jared whispered. \u201cIt will help you recover, and we can still try again for a family.\u201d<\/p>\n
The word \u201ctry\u201d pierced me like a sharp knife.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t want to,\u201d I said firmly, pulling away from him.<\/p>\n
His eyes hardened for barely a second before he regained his soft composure.<\/p>\n
\u201cShelby, don\u2019t be stubborn,\u201d Jared said, his voice tightening. \u201cYou always wanted to give me a child more than anything.\u201d<\/p>\n
I snatched the glass from his hand and threw it hard against the wall. The dark liquid fell like a black stain onto the clean white floor.<\/p>\n
\u201cI said no,\u201d I repeated, staring directly into his lying eyes.<\/p>\n
Jared took a deep breath to control his anger and turned to the side.<\/p>\n
\u201cLeave us alone,\u201d Jared told the nurse.<\/p>\n
That was the last thing I remember before feeling a sharp pain in my arm. The room began to spin, his face blurred, and darkness swallowed me completely.<\/p>\n
When I woke up, it was already morning, and the pain in my stomach felt completely different, deeper and emptier. I lifted the sheet with trembling hands and saw a brand new scar running across my lower abdomen.<\/p>\n
Jared was sitting next to me with red, bloodshot eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy love, there were severe complications during the night,\u201d Jared said, holding up a sealed file. \u201cThey detected cancerous cells in your uterus, so I had to authorize surgery to save your life.\u201d<\/p>\n
Everything in the paperwork looked completely legal and perfect.<\/p>\n
But I had heard the truth with my own ears.<\/p>\n
At that moment, the door opened and Courtney entered with a large basket of fruit, smiling as if she were arriving at a family party.<\/p>\n
\u201cExcuse me for interrupting,\u201d Courtney said smoothly. \u201cI just came to visit Mrs. Harlan.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jared did not run away or flinch. He just squeezed my hand.<\/p>\n
Under the blanket, while he pretended to comfort me, his fingers reached out to touch hers.<\/p>\n
That was when I understood that the worst thing was not losing my womb, but discovering that my executioner slept next to me every night, and I still could not imagine what he was about to do to me next.<\/p>\n
That afternoon I pretended to sleep because I needed to know how far their betrayal would go. Jared stayed by my bed, patiently stroking my hair while Courtney sat across from us, crossing her legs with a discreet smile. She seemed like a polite visitor and a grateful employee to anyone passing by.<\/p>\n
But the mirror on the closet door showed me a completely different scene.<\/p>\n
Under the bed, Courtney brushed her foot against Jared\u2019s leg, first slowly and then brazenly. He looked at my face to check that I was still motionless, and then he gripped her knee firmly. He did not push her away, but rather warned her to wait.<\/p>\n
When they finally went out into the hallway, I got up as best I could and followed them slowly. I found them standing near a utility room down the corridor. Jared took her arm roughly.<\/p>\n
\u201cI told you not to do that in front of Shelby,\u201d Jared snapped.<\/p>\n
Courtney let out a sharp giggle.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo what did you expect?\u201d Courtney asked mockingly. \u201cYou have been playing the perfect husband for two days now, but your son and I need attention too.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t talk nonsense,\u201d Jared whispered angrily.<\/p>\n
\u201cNonsense?\u201d Courtney challenged him. \u201cAnnounce our engagement tomorrow or I will tell everyone the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jared remained completely silent, and that silence hurt me more than any physical blow could.<\/p>\n
I shuffled back to my room, but I fell to the floor before I could reach the safety of the bed. A nurse rushed inside to help me up.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t cry, ma\u2019am,\u201d the nurse said gently. \u201cIf Mr. Harlan sees you like this, he is going to break down completely.\u201d<\/p>\n
I wanted to laugh or scream, but I just let the tears flow.<\/p>\n