Love and Hate Are Gone - Chapter 1

Three hours before my wedding, my fiancé called to say he wasn’t coming. He’d just gone and gotten a marriage license with Ashley Miller, of all people.

I stood there, feeling the judging stares of our guests, when suddenly the hotel doors swung open. It was my fiancé’s uncle, Greg, and he was leading the most insane procession of limousines I’d ever seen.

He presented me with a bouquet of nine thousand nine hundred and ninety–nine red roses, telling me he’d been secretly crushing on me for years and that it was his dream to marry me.

I was so grateful to be rescued from that humiliation that I said yes on the spot. Three years into our marriage, I’d suffered seven miscarriages. I was finally pregnant again.

Greg was so overjoyed, he spun me around, making me promise I’d take it easy and saying that he’d give his life to protect me and our baby.

Then, at three months pregnant, I walked in on him talking to our private doctor: “The abortion pills are already in her milk, just like the last seven times,” the doctor said. “I don’t understand,” he asked. “Ashley had your kid. Why not my wife?”

Greg gave a self–deprecating laugh. “Only a son can take over the company. Mark can’t have kids. How could I let Ashley suffer in the future?”

So, all those vows of undying love were just a lie. Fine. I’d leave. “But, Mr. Greg, you’re not just giving up your chance to be the next CEO, you also gave up seven of your kids.”

“You’ve had me doctor the reports for Mark for ages now. He doesn’t know he’s infertile. And when the kid’s born, he can’t even call you ‘Dad.‘ Is it all worth it?”

Greg looked both loving and sad at the same time. “So what? If I couldn’t have Ashley back then, I’d make sure she was happy for the rest of her life. No one is gonna screw that up, not even me or my kid with Kate.”

The doctor hesitated. “But Kate’s had seven miscarriages. Another one, and I’m afraid she might not be able to conceive again.”

Greg’s lips pressed into a thin line. Finally, he said, “It’s okay. I’ll take care of her for the rest of her life.”

I was gripping the doorknob so tightly, my knuckles were white. Before Greg could see me, I stumbled back to the bedroom, sinking to the floor.

I always thought I was just weak. That was why I couldn’t hold a pregnancy and had lost seven babies in three years.

Greg’s father had made it clear that whoever – produced an heir Greg or his nephew, Mark – would become the next CEO. I had been so weakened by the multiple miscarriages, but never complained, even feeling guilty that I had somehow let Greg down.

All those vows and promises were just a lie. He didn’t even use protection, just letting me deplete myself over and over.

In his eyes, my body and my dead kids were just obstacles in Ashley’s path to happiness. “Kate, why are you sitting on the floor?”

Greg walked into the room, quickly helping me up, all concern. “You okay? Was it morning sickness?”

He gently rubbed my back to make it easier to breathe. “Honey, you’re going through so much. Next time you feel sick, just yell for me. Don’t suffer alone. It breaks my heart.”

“You’ve had a lot of restless nights since you got pregnant. When the baby’s born, I’m gonna have to ground him so he learns not to make his mom miserable.”

“Here, drink some warm milk to help you sleep better.”

Looking at that glass, I felt a sharp pain in my chest. Would there even be a next time?

Before each miscarriage, he’d been exactly like this, making me late–night snacks or preparing my favorite fruit salad. I’d thought it was a sign of his love, but it was just a murderer’s disguise.

“Honey, I don’t really like milk. Can I skip it?”

Greg smiled helplessly, but his tone was firm. “Kate, come on. The doc said if you don’t crave it, it means you need it. If you don’t sleep, our baby won’t sleep. Don’t you want the best for our little one? Listen to me, sweetie. It’s for the baby. I’ll help you drink it.”

He lifted the glass to my lips, not giving me any chance to refuse. Greg, were you so scared that my baby would stand in the way of Ashley’s plans? Or, in your heart, was only she worthy of having your child?

I closed my eyes in despair and gulped down the milk.