I hung up just as Faith walked toward me, a cup of freshly brewed tea in her hands.
"Michelle, I'm sorry." Her voice dripped with faux sweetness. "I came to apologize."
John had many mistresses, but few were like Faith. She wasn't just passing through—she wanted the crown.
I looked at her affected expression, fighting the urge to retch. "Save your acting. You don't need to waste energy scheming against me anymore. John and I are getting a divorce."
Tears instantly welled in her eyes. "That's not what I mean..."
John, who had followed her in, saw her tears and his expression darkened. He snatched the teacup from her hand, strode over, and gripped my jaw, forcing my head back.
I stared at the steam rising from the cup, panic seizing my chest.
"No..." My voice trembled as I clawed at his hand. "John, I've trained since I was six. My voice is my life! Please—"
He didn't let me finish.
"Michelle, Faith is pregnant." He tipped the cup. "This is my first child."
Scalding liquid poured down my throat, burning everything in its path.
"I won't allow you to upset her. I won't tolerate any risks to them."
"This is the price you pay for making Faith suffer."
I stared into his eyes—eyes that were once my entire world, now sharp as blades. There wasn't a trace of the man who had once loved me.
I wanted to scream that I didn't do it. I wanted to demand a divorce right then and there.
But the tea Faith had tricked me into drinking had been scalding. Agony seared my throat, a relentless, stabbing fire that choked off my words.
Suddenly, Faith's face drained of color. She clutched her abdomen and crumbled to the floor.
"John... save our baby... it hurts..."
He didn't hesitate. Didn't even look at me. He scooped her up and rushed toward the car, his only focus on getting her to the hospital.
Pain radiated through my body, so intense I nearly blacked out. I stumbled after them, needing medical attention for my throat, hoping he would at least drive me to the emergency room.
But the engine roared to life. As the car sped away, the side mirror clipped me, sending me sprawling onto the pavement.
From beginning to end, John never glanced in the rearview mirror.
A laugh bubbled up in my chest, but when it tore from my throat, it came out as a grotesque, rasping croak. The sound was alien. Broken.