A possibility crossed my mind, and I smiled. It wasn't a kind smile.

"Afraid a divorce would look bad? Hurt your chances at a promotion?"

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

He frowned at me, his tone matter-of-fact:

"Didn't I already explain this to you? There's nothing between Denise and me. She just wanted to offer herself to me, to fulfill some fantasy of hers."

"I agreed to marry you. You're the only one I'll ever marry, and I'm not going to divorce you."

The absurdity of it hit me like a wall. My voice came out cold as ice:

"I don't need any of that, Ezra. What makes you think that after you killed me and our child, I'd be willing to spend the rest of my life playing house with you?"

Ezra looked at me, something unreadable crossing his face.

"Shelagh, the last life is over. This time around... I'll treat you well."

Before I could respond, he yanked the door open, stepped out, and locked me inside.

Dread flooded my chest. I threw myself at the door and pounded on it with both fists:

"Ezra! What are you doing? Open this door!"

His voice came through muffled, thick with something I couldn't name:

"You know Denise is pregnant. She's still young. If she keeps the baby on her own, her reputation will be ruined for good. I already promised her that once she gives birth, we'll take the child in and raise it as ours..."

"I know you resent Denise. And to make sure you won't mistreat the baby in the future... I can only make it so you can't have children of your own. Without a child of your own, you'll pour everything into that one."

The cold spread through me like poison. I screamed until my throat burned:

"You've lost your mind, Ezra! You want to make it up to her? Fine! Divorce me and do whatever you want! But what gives you the right to destroy me? What gives you the right to ruin my body just to prop up your love story with her?!"

His voice dropped low, almost gentle:

"You owe Denise this... You've always owed her. You owe her and the baby a life..."

"Shelagh, I promise, after this, I'll cut ties with Denise completely. I'll be good to you for the rest of our lives..."

I screamed and cursed at him, but none of it slowed his retreating footsteps.

The door was kicked open. Several men walked in, their faces twisted with ugly intent.

My pupils blew wide the instant I saw them.

These men were the violent offenders Ezra had personally apprehended just weeks ago.