Chapter 2

"An accident?" I repeated, the word tasting like ash.

Lily stirred in my arms, a small, innocent sound in the suddenly poisoned room.

Brady dropped to his knees beside my hospital bed, his handsome face contorted with remorse.

"Savannah, my love, you have to understand."

His voice was a low thrum, the one he used when he was trying to charm or disarm.

"That night... the charity gala... someone spiked my drink. I was out of my mind."

He reached for my hand. I pulled it away.

"I was so worried about you, about the baby. I couldn't... I wouldn't risk hurting you in that state."

His eyes, those clear blue eyes the town adored, welled with tears.

"They... they were there. They helped me. It just... happened."

He gestured vaguely towards my friends, who stood clustered by the door, a tableau of guilt and defiance.

"I never meant for this, Savannah. You're my wife. The only woman I love."

Martha sniffed loudly. "He's a good man, Savannah. A responsible man. He's taking care of them, of his children."

"His children," I echoed, my voice flat.

"They're carrying Henderson blood," Martha declared, puffing her chest. "They deserve a place."

Brady looked up at me, his expression pleading. "They're ruined, Savannah. Pregnant, unmarried. Their lives will be over if I don't step up. We can't just cast them out."

He lowered his voice. "They can be... discreet. It won't change anything between us. You'll always be my wife, the mother of my firstborn."

A cold laugh threatened to escape me.

I remembered my father's words, back in Texas, when I'd told him I was marrying Brady.

"Some men, Savannah, they collect things. Trophies. Power. Be sure you know what you are to him."

I'd dismissed it as a rich man's cynicism.

Now, his words echoed.

"I want a divorce, Brady," I said.

The room went silent.

Brady's head snapped up. "No. Savannah, no. We can't."

He scrambled to his feet, his composure cracking. "We love each other. We built a life here. Think of Lily!"

"I am thinking of Lily," I said. "She won't grow up in a house of lies."

He grabbed my arm, his grip surprisingly tight. "You're not thinking straight. You just gave birth. You're emotional."

"Let go of me, Brady."

He tore at his hair. "I won't sign anything! I won't lose you! I made a mistake, a terrible mistake, but we can fix this!"

Martha stepped in. "Divorce? Don't be absurd, child. You're a Henderson now. You'll uphold the family honor."

I looked at my four friends.

Willow, my confidante, met my gaze, then quickly looked away.

Amber, always so eager for more, smirked openly now.

Crystal, practical Crystal, was already calculating, her eyes darting between Brady and Martha.

Daisy just trembled, a leaf in the wind.

"There's another option," I said, my voice devoid of emotion.

Brady seized on it. "Anything, Savannah. Anything."

"They get rid of them," I said, my gaze sweeping over the four women. "The pregnancies. They end them."

A collective gasp.

Martha shrieked. "You monster! You'd kill my grandbabies?"

Amber stepped forward. "Never! This baby is my ticket!"

Crystal nodded. "We're keeping them."

Willow remained silent, her face a mask of conflict.

"If they do that," I continued, looking only at Brady, "I'll... consider staying. We can pretend this night never happened. I'll even give them money, help them start new lives elsewhere."

It was the most I could offer, a compromise that felt like swallowing glass.

Brady stared at me, his face a battleground of relief and horror.

"Savannah, that's..."

Before he could finish, Martha lunged, her hand connecting with my cheek in a stinging slap.

"You barren witch! You give him one girl, a useless girl, and now you want to destroy his sons?"