My Unborn Daughter Warned Me Not To Marry Him Chapter 03
Saint Josh’s Charity Case
The office is dead silent.
Finally, Josh says, “Sloane. Get the hell out.”
She doesn’t move. She bites her lip. Big wet eyes.
“Autumn, I’m so sorry. This is all my fault. Josh only feels bad for me because I’m sick.”
“Yell at me. Slap me. I deserve it. But he loves you. He’s always loved you.”
Dawn’s voice hisses in my head: There it is. Playing the victim card. Classic.
I don’t need Dawn to tell me. I can see it on Josh’s face already.
He winces. Slides an arm around Sloane. Steadies her like she’s about to faint. But he’s looking at me when he says:
“Autumn. Sloane has severe depression. She’s fragile. Don’t do this to her.”
I haven’t said one word to that girl. Not one.
And he’s already decided I’m the villain.
Doesn’t matter how bad her acting is, Dawn whispers. Daddy will always, always pick her. See it, Mom. See it now.
I walk to the shelf. I pick up the crystal award. The one Josh had made when he launched the foundation.
I smile. It hurts my face.
“Josh. You remember I had depression too, right?”
His eyes drop to the award. His pupils shrink.
He remembers.
The year I pressed charges against my stepdad for what he did to me. The year my own mother took the stand and lied for him. Got him off. The year I stopped eating. The year I started cutting.
Josh sat on my bathroom floor with me. For weeks. Wouldn’t let go of my hand even when he slept. Dragged me out of hell one inch at a time.
Later, the painting I made from that year sold at Sotheby’s for a fortune. That money became the seed money for his startup.
He named the charity after me. The Moonlight Fund.
Sloane was one of the girls we saved.
Somewhere along the way, saving me stopped being enough for him. He got addicted to the feeling. Being the hero.
Josh’s lips part. Whatever he’s about to say.
Sloane cuts him off. Tears streaming.
“The Moonlight Fund saved my life. And I fell in love with him. I couldn’t help it. I’m so sorry, Autumn. Josh, I wish you’d never rescued me.”
Then she runs. Sobbing. Hair flying. Oscar. Emmy. Golden Globe.
“Sloane!” Josh bolts after her.
Doesn’t even look at me when he shoulders past. Doesn’t stop.
The award slips out of my hand. Hits the floor. The words MOONLIGHT FUND crack clean in half.
I press both hands to my belly.
Breathe. Breathe. Don’t spike your blood pressure. Don’t. Protect the baby.
My man is already gone. Has been gone. My job now is to keep this baby safe.
I will not walk this Earth alone again.
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