Chapter 13 I Want A Divorce
Mia’s POV
The hospital room is too quiet. Too white. Too empty.
Just like me now.
The morning light hurts my eyes. I keep my hand on my stomach. There’s nothing there anymore. No movement. No life. Just emptiness.
When the door opens, I know it’s Kyle. I always know. Even now, my heart still responds to his presence. I hate that it does.
“You should be resting,” he says. His footsteps are measured, controlled. Everything about Kyle is always controlled.
I turn my head slowly. He looks perfect. Not a hair out of place. Like nothing has happened. Like our babies aren’t gone.
“How’s Taylor?” I ask. I can’t help it. I need to know if he spent the night with her while I was losing our children.
His jaw tightens. “She’s fine. Some bruising.”
Of course she is. Taylor always lands on her feet. While I lose everything.
“The doctors say you need rest,” he continues, checking his phone. Always checking his phone. “I’ve arranged for the best specialists-”
“I want a divorce.”
The words hang in the air. The monitor keeps beeping. Steady. Unlike my heart.
Kyle’s hand freezes over his phone. His eyes snap to mine. “What did you just say?” 1
“You heard me.”
“No.” Just one word. Cold and final. Like everything else about him 1
“It wasn’t a question.” My voice sounds strange to my own ears. Empty, like my womb. “I’m ending the contract early.”
He moves closer. Looming over my hospital bed. His presence fills the room, suffocating. “You’re not thinking clearly. The medication-”
“Don’t tell me what I’m thinking.” The words come out sharper than I expected. “For once in your life, Kyle, just listen.”
His eyes narrow. “You’re being hysterical.”
“Hysterical?” A laugh bubbles up. It sounds wrong. Everything sounds wrong now. “Our babies are dead, Kyle. Dead. And you’re calling me hysterical?”
“Lower your voice.”
“Why? Afraid someone might hear? Might find out about your secret wife?”
“Mia.” Warning in his voice now. “You’re tired. We’ll discuss this when you’re more rational.”
“Rational.” The word tastes bitter. “Was it rational when you left me bleeding on the floor? When you carried her away while I was losing your children?”
He runs a hand through his perfect hair. It falls right back into place. “You’re twisting things.”
“Am I? Tell me, Kyle. Where were you last night? While I was in surgery, where were you?”
“Don’t.” His voice drops low. Dangerous.
“With her?” The words hurt coming out. “Holding her hand? Comforting her over her ‘bruises‘ while I was losing our babies?”
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Chapter 13 I Want A Divorce
+25 BONUS
“Enough!” His fist slams into the wall beside my bed. I don’t flinch I’m too empty to flinch anymore.
“I’m done,” I whisper. “Done pretending. Done watching you run to her every time she calls.”
“This isn’t about Taylor.”
“Isn’t it? Then why is she the one you believe? Why is she the one you protect?”
He starts pacing. Five steps one way. Five steps back. Like a caged animal. “You’re my wife.”
“No.” The truth hurts less now. “I’m your employee who signed a paper. Your convenient arrangement.”
“I won’t discuss this now.” He pulls out his phone again. “I’m calling Dr. Matthews. You need something to calm you down.”
“Touch me with another needle and I’ll scream this hospital down. My voice is quiet. Steady. “I’ll tell everyone what a loving husband you are. How you left your pregnant wife bleeding while you comforted your mistress.”
His face darkens. “Is that a threat?”
“No.” I meet his eyes. “It’s a promise.”
“You signed a contract.”
“A contract that’s cost me everything.” Tears burn my eyes but don’t fall. “My pride. My dreams. Our babies.”
The termination penalties—”
“Bankrupt me.” The words come easily now. “Take everything. It’s worth it to be free of you.”
He moves closer. Eyes stormy. “You don’t mean that.”
“I do.” And I do. God help me, I do. “I’d rather be penniless than spend another day as your convenient wife.”
“This marriage isn’t over until I say it’s over.” His voice turns hard. Cold. “You agreed to five years.”
“Or what?” My voice drops to a whisper. “You’ll lock me up again? Keep me prisoner like last night?”
Something dark crosses his face. “That was for your protection.”
“Was it? Or was it for her? To give Taylor time to spin her lies?”
“I’m warning you, Mia.”
“Warning me about what?” Everything feels hollow now. Empty. “That you’ll punish me? Control me? You’ve already taken everything that matters.”
He grabs my chin. Forces me to look at him. “You’re not thinking clearly. When you’re discharged-”
“Let go of me.” Each word precise. Careful. “Or I’ll press this nurse call button and tell them exactly how I lost these babies.” His hand drops like I’ve burned him. Good. Let him feel something Anything.
“This isn’t over.” He moves to the door. Running away. Again.
“Yes, it is.” My voice is quiet now. Tired. So tired. “It was over the moment you chose her over our children.”
He pauses, hand on the doorknob. “You signed a contract, Mia. Don’t forget that.”
“And I lost our babies.” The words hang between us. Heavy. Final. “Some contracts aren’t worth the paper–they’re written on.”
The door slams behind him. The sound echoes in the empty room. Empty like my womb. Empty like my heart.
I look out the window. The sun is rising. Strange how the world keeps turning. How everything looks the same outside when everything is different inside.
Chapter 13 I Want A Divorce
+25 BONUS
My hand touches my empty stomach again.
Three years of marriage. Over in a hospital room. No love. No passion. Just contracts and damages.
My phone buzzes. A message from Taylor: “I hope you’re feeling better, sister dear. Kyle’s been so worried about me.”
The tears come then. Silent. Empty. Like everything else now.
But they’re the last tears I’ll ever cry for Kyle Branson. I promise myself that.
