Chapter 1
The passenger door flew open before Emily Carter could understand what Derek was doing.
Cold wind rushed into the black SUV.
Rain slapped her face.
Traffic roared past on the wet highway, headlights streaking through the gray night like warnings.
She was eight months pregnant, one hand braced against her stomach, the other gripping the leather seat as her husband twisted toward her from the driver’s side.
“Derek, stop.”
He did not stop.
His polished navy suit was soaked at the cuffs. His jaw was tight. His eyes were full of disgust, like the woman carrying his child had become something dirty on the floor of his brand-new car.
Then he shoved her outward with his leg.
Emily grabbed for the doorframe.
Her fingers slipped.
“You’re bad luck,” Derek sneered.
Her feet hit the slushy shoulder first.
Then her knees.
Pain shot through her body.
She fell hard beside the highway, one hand under her belly, the other reaching toward the open SUV door as dirty water splashed across her dark green maternity dress.
Derek leaned out, furious.
“I won’t let you ruin this car—or my life.”
Then he slammed the door.
The SUV pulled away so fast the tires sprayed icy water across her legs.
For several seconds, Emily could not move.
She could only breathe.
In.
Out.
In.
Out.
Her hair whipped across her face.
Her stomach tightened with a sharp, frightening pain.
The baby shifted.
Emily pressed both hands to her belly.
“Please,” she whispered. “Stay with me.”
Cars rushed past without stopping.
The SUV’s taillights disappeared into the storm.
The man who had promised to protect her had left her on the side of a highway in the cold, pregnant and shaking, because he thought she had no one left to call.
That was Derek’s mistake.
A truck slowed behind her.
Air brakes hissed.
A woman’s voice shouted through the rain.
“Hey! Don’t move, honey. I’m coming.”
A middle-aged truck driver jumped down from the cab, boots splashing in the puddles. Her blonde hair was tied in a messy bun, and her plaid jacket was soaked within seconds.
She wrapped a thick gray blanket around Emily’s shoulders.
“My name’s Rosa. I called an ambulance. Was that your husband?”
Emily’s lips trembled.
She looked down the highway where Derek had vanished.
Then she slowly shook her head.
“Not the police,” she breathed. “Not yet.”
Rosa stared at her.
“Honey, he threw you out of a car.”
Emily’s eyes hardened through the pain.
“I know.”
Rosa held her more carefully.
“Then why not?”
May you like
Emily’s hand moved to the side of her belly, where the baby kicked once.
“Because first,” she whispered, “I need him to think he got away with it.”
