June's POV

As I called his nickname, he instantly relaxed, thinking that all was fine.

His eyes softened as he walked toward me. He leaned down to kiss me, but I turned my head slightly, and his lips grazed my cheek instead.

“I’m tired,” I said softly, pulling the covers over me. “It’s been a long day.”

Richard's expression tightened, but he forced a smile. “Of course. You should rest.” There was a flicker of irritation in his eyes, but he said nothing more.

His phone buzzed again. He grabbed it quickly, and his annoyed expression melted into a wide grin as he texted the person back.

Immediately he was done, he stood up from the bed, and grabbed his clothes in a hurry. “Something came up at the company,” he said, avoiding my eyes. “I’ll be back in a couple of hours.”

“Of course,” I replied coolly. “Take your time.”

Richard gave me a slight look of surprise. Previously, I would have complained about how he always had to leave late in the night for an urgent matter in the company, but now I was even telling him to take my time.

His phone buzzed again, and he shook off his confusion, and hurried to leave.

“I love you,” he mumbled as he hurried out of the door.

“And I hate you,” I murmured under my breath.

~

When I woke up the next morning, I realized that Richard didn't return home. He probably spent the night at April's place. But it didn't bother me.

I prepared for my appointment with the hospital for the abortion.

As I sat on the bed at the hospital, my heart clenched within me. Could I really do this?

The doctor stood beside me,

“Are you sure about this, June?” she asked gently.

I opened my mouth to say yes, but the word wouldn’t come out. My hand instinctively moved to my stomach. I thought of Ethan—his bright smile, his little hands holding mine, the way he called me “Mommy.” The joy I had felt because of him.

Tears welled in my eyes. I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t end this life.

“I… I’ve changed my mind,” I whispered. “I can’t go through with it.”

The doctor gave a soft nod. “That’s okay. Take your time. You can leave whenever you’re ready.”

My baby deserved a chance. No matter the darkness surrounding me, this child was a part of me—a part of Ethan. I wouldn’t let anyone take that away.

As I walked down the hall, lost in thought, I heard a familiar voice laughing. I looked up and froze.

Richard and April.

They were walking out of the antenatal ward, smiling at each other like they were the only people in the world. Richard’s hand was resting on April’s lower back as he leaned in close, whispering something that made her giggle.

My blood ran cold. April’s hand was resting on her stomach, and my eyes widened in disbelief.

She was pregnant.

They saw me before I could turn away. April’s face paled.

“June!” She rushed toward me, her eyes wide with fake concern. “I… I was just—Richard came to assist me for my antenatal visit.”

“Don’t apologize, April,” Richard interrupted her gently, as he placed a hand on her shoulder. His eyes shone with warmth and affection as he looked at her. “You did nothing wrong.”

I gave them a smile. “Yes, you're right, Richard. She did nothing wrong.”

I stood there, numb, watching them. The way he looked at her… the way he protected her… it was everything he had once promised me.

They were both surprised. In the past when I saw them too close, I always got jealous or complained. But Richard always scolded me for being too paranoid and insecure about my own sister.

“We were dating previously, but she's married, and so am I. We're just close friends now, nothing more.” He always told me.

Richard turned to me, “We’ll talk at home, June. Let me drop April off.”

I didn't even hesitate. “Please take your time.” I said to him, brushing past them.

“And congratulations on your pregnancy, April.” I called coldly from over my shoulder, leaving the two of them standing there with surprised looks on their faces.

~

Richard must have felt that something was very wrong, because he came home very early that night.

“You're early,” I commented, without glancing up from the book on my hand as I lay on the bed.

“Yes, I finished early today, I rushed back home to spend time with my wonderful wife.” He said, leaning to kiss me, but again, I shifted my head, causing him to kiss my cheeks instead.

Richard paused for a moment, watching me, but I kept my attention on the book I was pretending to read.

“I feel like we haven't been spending enough time together. I'll need to take some days off.” He said softly, his eyes shone with care and concern.

I shrugged nonchalantly. “You've been busy at the company. So I understand.” I replied coolly.

Richard furrowed his eyebrows at me in surprise. He knew it was unlike me. I had always wanted him to take a break from the company so that we could spend time together.

“What's going on, June?” He asked, “Why are you acting this way?”

June's POV

My eyes were still on the book as I replied to him. “Nothing.”

“Are you throwing a tantrum because you saw April and I together at the hospital?” He asked, “Because I have told you several times that—”

I cut him off, before he could continue sprouting out lies. “I told you I'm fine. You and April are close friends or whatever. I'm not bothered by any of that. Now can you please give me some peace and quiet. This book is getting interesting.” I dismissed him.

Richard clenched his jaw in annoyance, and his eyes flashed with irritation as he stood up and entered the bathroom.

I stood up from the bed to get a glass of water from the kitchen.

As I walked into the kitchen, I leaned against the counter, taking deep breaths to calm myself.

Suddenly, Richard’s heavy footsteps sounded behind me.

“You’ve been acting strange all day, June,” Richard said with irritation. “If something’s wrong, just spit it out.”

I turned slowly to face him, keeping my expression calm. “I already told you—I’m fine. No need to worry about me. Why don’t you go check on April and her baby instead?”

His eyes darkened, as he clenched his jaw. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

I shrugged, stepping away from the counter. “Nothing. Just that you seem more concerned about her than your own wife.”

Richard’s patience snapped. “You’re being ridiculous again, June! April is your older sister. You need to stop this childish jealousy—”

I rolled my eyes. “I’m not jealous. You both deserve each other.” I drawled.

“Enough!” he growled, and his hand shot out and shoved me back with force.

My back slammed against the corner of the counter, and I gasped in horror as pain spread across my body.

I fell to the ground, my stomach slammed on the floor and I released a sharp cry.

“You know what? I have things to do at the company tonight. Don't wait up for me.” Richard muttered darkly.

He slammed the door behind him as he walked out.

Pain surged from my stomach as I lay on the cold floor, and a sense of dread washing over me. My hands instinctively clutched my belly, and panic took over when I felt something warm and wet flowing down my legs.

Blood.

“No… no, no,” I whispered, tears streaming down my face. I struggled to sit up, as my vision blurred from the pain.

I reached for my phone from my pocket with shaking fingers and dialed Richard’s number. It rang once, twice, before he finally picked.

Relief flooded through me.

“R-Richard—”

“Don't call me until you're ready to stop acting like a child” he growled, and disconnected the call.

“No… no, no,” I whispered desperately. I tried again, but he had switched off his phone.

I released a cry as the agony intensified. I desperately called 911. I couldn't lose this child.

As unconsciousness overcame me, the last thought on my mind was: If I lose this child, Richard will pay double.

Then my world went dark.

~

When I opened my eyes, I was in a hospital bed. A doctor stood by my side, her face etched with concern.

“Ms. Winslow,” she said softly, “you’re awake.”

I blinked, trying to remember what had happened. Then it hit me—the kitchen, the blood, the baby.

“My baby…” My voice cracked as panic rose in my chest.

The doctor's expression grew somber. She gently placed a hand on mine. “I’m so sorry, ma'am. You lost the baby.”

A scream tore from my throat as my heart shattered into pieces. This couldn't be happening. I had lost everything—my son, and my unborn child, all because of Richard.

Tears streamed down my face as I sobbed uncontrollably. Why couldn't I have anything good? Why was my life turning upside down?

I sobbed till I was drained and exhausted. I stared blankly at the ceiling above me, with no will to continue living.

I should have just died also, rather than to continue living in this nightmare.

The door opened, and someone walked in. I didn't have the energy to look.

“Hello, June.” A deep cool voice greeted me.

I reluctantly opened my eyes to see Killian Romano, April's husband, staring down at me with an unreadable look in his cold gray eyes.

I didn't have the strength to respond, so I didn't bother.

He approached my bed slowly, before he sat on the chair beside me.

“I heard what happened, I'm sorry.” He said softly.

Seeing Killian was reminding me too much of my sister, and what she did. I didn't want him here.

“April is not here,” I rasped, my throat dry from crying.

Killian's eyes darkened with anger.

“I'm not here for that cheating whore.” He growled, and I furrowed my eyebrows in surprise.

“You know?” I asked, and he nodded.

“Yes.”

“For how long?” I asked.

“Last week. You?”

“This week.” I replied.

“That's why I'm here.” He said, his gray eyes piercing into me.

“What are you here for?” I asked curiously, momentarily forgetting about my pain.

“I have a proposition for you.” He replied, “How would you like to have revenge?”

My heart raced at his words.

June's POV

“Revenge?” I asked, my heart racing in my chest.

Killian lowered himself into the chair beside me with a dark dangerous look in his piercing gray eyes.

“Yes, revenge. Think about it, June. You’ve been betrayed by the two people who were supposed to love you the most. You need to make them pay.”

A dark form of excitement rose within me. This was exactly what I needed.

I forced myself to sit up, ignoring the ache in my body. “So you want revenge on April?” I said.

Killian smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “I gave her everything, and she spat in my face, so yes, I want revenge on April. She might be your sister but—”

I cut him off. I didn't care if she was my sister. “Why did you reach out to me?” I asked curiously.

A cruel smile spread across his lips. “I didn’t want to have all the fun. You’ll play a very important role in my plan.”

I crossed my arms, “What exactly do you have in mind?”

“Marry me,” Killian stated simply.

~

After I was discharged, I boarded a taxi to get home. I glanced at my phone with a bitter smile on my lips. There were no calls, no messages, nothing from Richard. I had been in the hospital for two days, and he hadn't noticed.

I stared out of the window lost in thought. Killian's proposal had been so crazy that I quickly turned it down.

I wanted revenge, but I wasn't about to enter another loveless marriage. I was done with that. He had given me his number in case I changed my mind. I wasn't going to.

I got home to see that April's car was in the driveway. It explained why Richard had totally forgotten that I existed.

I opened the door, and entered the house. Strange sounds reached my ears, and I paused.

I took slow steps following the strange sounds to the master bedroom, the same room that Richard and I had made love to so many times.

The door was slightly open, so it was easy to see what was going on in there.

My breath caught in my throat, and I froze.

Richard had April pinned against the bed, with his hands roaming her body, and his lips devouring her lips. Their clothes were scattered on the floor.

I knew that they had been sleeping together, but it felt so different now as I stared at them. There was no denying it. The betrayal pierced deeper into my heart, and tears welled up in my eyes. They didn’t even notice me standing there, watching.

“Oh baby, I have missed your body so much.” Richard moaned.

“Really? Don't tell me that my sister is not satisfying you?” April taunted, running her hands across his chest.

“She has never satisfied me, not the way you do.” Richard replied, breathlessly. “When I take over, I'll give you the world, my love.”

For a moment, I couldn’t move, my body was paralyzed by what I was seeing and hearing. But then, something inside me snapped.

I pulled out my phone, with shaking fingers, and I silently took several pictures.

Without a word, I turned around, grabbed Richard's car keys and left the house.

I entered his car, and stared at the pictures for a moment. I opened my messages, attached the photos, and sent them to Killian with a simple caption:

I accept your offer.

My phone vibrated almost immediately with his response, almost like he was waiting for me.

Killian: Good, I’ll be in touch soon. You and I will have so much fun together.

I leaned back in my seat, and a bitter laugh escaped my lips because it felt like I had just signed off my soul to the devil himself, but I wasn't worried, all I wanted was revenge.

I immediately drove to the law firm that Killian had told me about earlier.

The receptionist glanced up with a polite smile. “Good afternoon. How can we help you?”

“I'm looking for Jonathan Hayes. Tell him that Killian Romano sent me.” I said.

The receptionist's eyes widened slightly, and she nodded, typing on her keyboard. “Mr. Jonathan Hayes is currently free. I’ll take you to see him”

A few minutes later, I was taken to see Jonathan Hayes.

“Ms. Winslow,” he greeted, extending a hand. "It’s a pleasure. Please, take a seat. How can I help you?”

“I want a divorce from my husband, Richard Thorne.”