Chapter 3
916words
A nurse I'd never seen tossed an empty medicine bottle into the trash with a clatter, her voice full of disdain.
"Well, aren't you lucky."
"Harmed so many people, and all it cost you was a baby. You really landed on your feet, didn't you?"
My throat burned. I couldn't speak.
Seeing my silence, she wrenched the door open and shouted down the corridor.
"The arson suspect is awake! Someone get her transferred out of here! She doesn't belong in a proper hospital."
"Daring to harm a hero's child... Disgusting. It's a shame the fire didn't finish you off."
Two uniformed officers entered without a word. They hauled me upright, and soon, I faced Caleb.
Across a table, his expression was dark. He spoke like a judge.
"Sophie, you vicious piece of work.. Attempted murder."
"Considering you were pregnant, I could push for probation. But prison is where a bitch like you belongs!"
He turned away as if my very sight was toxic.
I tried to speak, to defend myself, but all that came out was a ragged, hacking cough.
Suddenly, Jessica rushed in, sobbing theatrically, collapsing against Caleb.
"Caleb! I had another nightmare again!"
"I dreamed I was burning... I was trapped and burning alive... I'm so scared..."
Caleb's expression darkened further. He looked back at me, his eyes blazing.
"Sophie, I can't imagine how a young girl like Jessica could possibly offend you."
"Why do you despise her so much? Why keep trying to destroy her?!"
"Her father sacrificed his life on a rescue mission! She's a hero's daughter! And you... you dared to...!"
He couldn't finish, slamming his fist down on the metal table with a bang.
Someone handed me water. I drank, the cool liquid soothing my throat, and finally rasped,
"I didn't start the fire. Jessica did."
"The one who should be in prison is her. And you, for negligence."
Caleb slammed the table again, shooting to his feet.
He leaned forward, his eyes drilling into mine.
"Jessica is pure and kind! How dare you smear her name?!"
"She told me everything! It was you! You started the fire over a stupid argument!"
Jessica chose that moment to let out a wail,
"Caleb, she's trying to frame me again!"
"I'm so scared... I just wanted to stay by your side... Is that so wrong, Sophie? Do you really need me dead to be satisfied?"
She lunged forward, grabbing my arm and shaking it violently.
I recoiled from her touch in pure disgust.
Instantly, Jessica shrieked and threw herself backwards onto the floor.
"Caleb! Help! She pushed me hard!"
Caleb moved in a flash, scooping Jessica up into his arms while his other hand grabbed my shoulder and hurled me to the floor.
"Sophie! How dare you lay a hand on her right in front of me?!"
"Have you lost your mind?!"
"If you weren't... recovering... I'd have you locked you up right now!"
I looked up at Caleb, fury coursing through my veins.
His features were the same, the same man who had once promised me everything.
But the illusion was shattered.
In my past life, when Jessica killed herself, he blamed me.
This time, Jessica was alive, and he still blamed me for the fire.
What was the point of this marriage?
I opened my mouth, my voice flat and empty.
"Caleb, I want a divorced. Sue me if you want."
"Now that the baby's gone, let's see if you can actually put me convicted."
Caleb's brow furrowed. A strange, hesitant note entered his voice. "What do you mean... gone?"
Looking at him, I almost laughed. It was a hollow, broken sound.
"'Gone' means our child is dead."
"After I carried your grandmother's life, you kicked it to death."
Shock flooded Caleb's eyes. Jessica jumped in immediately, her voice shrill.
"She's lying! You must have been carrying someone other man's baby! You were afraid Caleb would find out, so you used the fire to get rid of it!"
A cold, uncontrollable laugh finally escaped me.
"By that logic, I'm quite the criminal mastermind."
"I deliberately set my own house on fire, nearly burned myself alive, just to fake a miscarriage?"
"Jessica, is there any lie your twisted mouth of yours won't spew?"
Jessica's face flushed crimson, and she burst into theatrical sobs,
"Caleb, she's slandering me again! I don't know why she hates me so much..."
She tried to burrow her face into Caleb's chest, but he stood rigid, his gaze fixed on my abdomen.
He knew my health was fragile. He knew how much we had both wanted this child.
He knew I would never deliberately harm my own baby, no matter how angry I was. .
"Sophie... I didn't mean to... I just wanted to scare you...to make you see reason..."
"What you did was wrong. Starting a fire... it's reckless... I lost control..."
"I'm sor..."
I shook my head, cutting him off.
"I don't want apologies. It's too late for that."
"If you think I'm guilty, then lock me up. Open an investigation."
Caleb gritted his teeth, a flicker of panic in his eyes.
"I didn't know... I... You need to rest. You should go home."
Jessica's head snapped up like a rattle.
"Caleb! She almost killed me!"
"If my parents were alive... they wouldn't let me suffer like this..."
"Mom... Dad... I miss you so much..."
Hearing her cries, Caleb's expression hardened.
