Chapter 6

Alena Koch POV:

Jake moved, not to help me, but to pull me off Britney, his grip like iron bands around my arms. "Alena, stop it! What are you doing? It' s just a headstone! We can fix it, replace it!" His voice was calm, dismissive, as if the chipped marble was merely an inconvenience, not a symbol of their desecration of Mom' s memory.

Years of unspoken bitterness, of suppressed rage, finally erupted within me. "Just a headstone?!" I shrieked, my voice raw, strained. "It' s my mother' s grave! It' s all I have left! And you, you took everything from me! My job, my future, my mother' s chance at life, and now her peace?! Why? Why do you keep taking everything I cherish?!" I struggled against his hold, tears of pure fury streaming down my face. "I have a new life, Jake! A new family! Leave me alone! Leave us alone!"

Britney, still on the ground, let out a pathetic whimper, but her eyes, when they met mine, were filled with a cold, venomous hatred. Jake finally saw it. His face hardened. He pulled me back, then in a sudden, violent motion, he raised his hand and slapped me across the face. The blow sent my head snapping sideways, a sharp crack echoing through the quiet cemetery. My cheek stung, my ears rang. A metallic taste flooded my mouth.

"Have you lost your mind, Alena?" he snarled, his eyes blazing with anger. "Are you done making a scene? Britney didn' t kill your mother! And for God' s sake, get a grip! You' re such a mess now. You couldn' t even hold onto a simple job, could you?" His words, sharpened by his anger, cut deeper than the slap.

I stared at him, my vision blurring with tears, not from pain, but from the utter disgust that now filled me. "Get out!" I roared, my voice hoarse, broken. "Get out of here! I don't want to see you! Ever again!"

His eyes widened, then narrowed. He reached for me, a flicker of something resembling concern in his gaze. "Alena, wait. Let me help you."

I violently shook off his hand, digging into my pocket. I pulled out my wedding ring-the one Davion had given me-a simple, elegant band of white gold, and shoved it into Jake' s chest. "I am married, Jake," I said, my voice shaking with a newfound resolve. "And my husband would kill you if he saw you right now. Get away from me."

Jake stared at the ring, then at my face, a stunned, disbelieving laugh bubbling from his lips. "Married? You? Don't be ridiculous, Alena. Who would marry you, a weeping mess? Some poor fool you tricked?" His arrogance, even now, was breathtaking. He believed I was still the same desperate girl, waiting for him. He believed his absence granted him eternal claim over my life.

I had loved him so humbly, so completely, that he thought I would never move on. He thought I was incapable of moving on. He thought I was worthless without him.

Suddenly, a shove from behind sent me reeling. I wasn' t sure if it was Britney or one of Jake' s friends, but the impact was hard, sending me crashing to the ground. A sharp, agonizing pain flared in my abdomen. I gasped, my vision swimming. My hand instinctively went to my lower belly.

Then I saw it. A dark, spreading stain on my dress, a gush of red flowing between my legs, soaking into the dry earth. My heart leaped into my throat. Blood. So much blood. I stared at the crimson pool, then at my trembling hands. A cold, stark terror gripped me.

"No," I whispered, then louder, a desperate cry, "No! My baby! Jake, help me! Please! I' m bleeding! I need a hospital!" I had just found out. Just yesterday. I hadn' t even had a chance to tell Davion, to celebrate. This child, conceived after months of bitter herbal remedies, of countless injections, of endless prayers. This child was my future, my hope, a piece of Davion and me. I couldn' t lose it. I wouldn't.

"Jake! Please! For everything we ever were! Help me! My baby!" I pleaded, my voice hoarse, clutching at his pant leg.

He stared down at me, his face pale, then, for a split second, his eyes softened, comprehension dawning. He bent down, scooped me into his arms, and started to run towards his car.

"Jake, no!" Britney shrieked, her voice shrill, pulling at his arm. "Don' t listen to her! She' s just trying to trick you! It' s probably a miscarriage! Or a trick! Who knows whose baby it is, anyway?"