"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.