Chapter 2

Claire's POV

Ever since Sophia moved in, I set some rules for myself: avoid them whenever possible.

When they're watching TV in the living room, I stay in my room. When they're eating in the dining room, I come down later for whatever's left. At night when I hear voices from the master bedroom, I put on headphones and turn the volume all the way up.

Sometimes from the stairwell I catch glimpses of them sitting side by side on the couch, Sophia leaning against Ryan's shoulder, his hand resting on her slightly rounded belly. They look so cozy, like a couple who've been in love for years. Anyone who saw them would never guess I'm the one who's been with him for seven years.

But it's fine. The plan happens in a few days anyway. Until then, I just want to wait quietly for that day to come. No more drama with them.

That afternoon, I feel lighter than I have in weeks. Ryan took Sophia to a prenatal appointment, and the whole house is finally quiet. I drag a lounge chair into the backyard to get some sun.

The warmth feels good. I close my eyes and start planning my life after I leave. Maybe I'll move to a small town, open a coffee shop, get a cat. No one will know me. No one will look at me with pity or contempt.

"Wow, you're really good at taking shit, aren't you?"

I open my eyes. Sophia is standing over me, one hand on her belly, looking down at me.

My stomach drops. They're back already?

"Can't stop clinging to my husband?" She smirks. "Seven years together, and what did it get you? The second I showed up, he picked me."

I sit up, ready to leave. But she steps in front of me.

"You know what you are now?" She says it slowly, making sure every word lands. "You're the other woman. You should've left a long time ago."

I take a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm. Just a few more days. In a few days I'll be gone forever.

"Aren't you worried he'll hear you talking like this?" I ask coldly.

Sophia laughs. "He'll believe whatever I tell him. Want to see?"

Before I can react, she screams and staggers backward.

She falls into the pool. The water only comes up to her waist, but she's flailing around like she's drowning.

"What happened?!"

Ryan bursts out of the house and jumps into the pool, pulling her up. Sophia wraps her arms around his neck, shaking.

He turns to look at me. The anger in his eyes is something I've never seen before.

"Why would you do this?" His voice is shaking. "You're not this kind of person!"

"I didn't push her!" I say quickly. "She—"

"Enough!" He cuts me off, carrying Sophia toward the house. When he passes me, he stops and tells the two bodyguards behind him, "Hold her under. Teach her a lesson."

The bodyguards grab me and drag me to the pool. I fight back, but it's useless. They shove my head underwater.

Cold water floods my nose and mouth. My lungs feel like they're about to explode. I come up gasping, and they push me down again. Once, twice, three times... Everything starts going black.

One thought keeps circling through my head: I'm going to die for real before I even get to fake my death.

When they finally pull me out, I collapse on the ground, coughing violently. The bodyguards drag me into the house and dump me outside the master bedroom door.

Through the doorway, I see several doctors gathered around the bed. Sophia has changed into dry clothes and is lying weakly against the pillows.

A doctor is saying, "She needs to rest after a scare like this. Make sure she avoids any stress for the next few days..."

Ryan is taking notes by the bed. After the doctors leave, he leans down and says, "Don't worry. I'll take care of you and the baby."

His voice is so gentle.

He turns and sees me soaking wet in the doorway. Guilt flashes across his face. He walks out and sighs. "I lost my temper earlier. But you really crossed a line. Go apologize to her. She's being generous by not making this a bigger deal."

I look up, meeting his eyes. "If I told you I didn't push her, would you believe me?"

He frowns, irritation creeping into his voice. "Stop making excuses. Why would a pregnant woman throw herself into a pool? Just apologize. I need to get her something to eat."

He turns and walks away.

I stand in the doorway watching his back disappear down the hall.

Sophia is propped up in bed. When she sees me come in, she smirks. "See? I told you he'd believe me."

She sits up. "Men are so easy to fool. His brother was like that. Ryan is too. Get him drunk one night, and he actually believes I'm pregnant with his kid."

My eyes go wide.

"So..." My voice comes out shaky. "The baby isn't even his?"

Sophia freezes for a second, then laughs coldly. "So what? You think he'll believe you? Get out."

I hold up my phone.

"I don't need to say anything." I stare at her. "I recorded everything you just said. He'll have to believe this."

Sophia's face changes. She lunges at me from the bed. "Give me that!"

I turn to run. I barely get the door open before I'm slammed into the wall. The phone flies out of my hand. The screen shatters.

Ryan rushes in. He sees Sophia on the floor and drops the bowl he's carrying, running to her. "Are you okay?"

Sophia clutches her stomach, crying. "She wouldn't apologize! She called me a liar! She said I should get rid of the baby... I just want to have this child, and then I'll give you back to her..."

Ryan's expression shifts from worry to rage. He looks at me, and his eyes are ice cold.

"You've really disappointed me."

He shouts to the bodyguards outside. "Take her to the basement!"

"That's not what happened!" I struggle. "She's lying! That baby isn't even yours!"

Ryan turns back to help Sophia onto the bed. The bodyguards drag me out of the room and shove me into the basement. The iron door slams shut.