Chapter 6

Another message.

An ultrasound image.

Black and white. The small gestational sac clearly visible. Notation in the upper right corner: 8 weeks.

"Surprised? You know, when I told Nico the news, he went absolutely wild."

"Oh, by the way, with me he really is a beast. Nothing like... how boring he is with you. Is he always that restrained when he does it with you? Hahaha, that's because he doesn't want to touch you at all! But with me... god, I can barely handle his passion!"

I leaned against the window.

The world spun.

The child we'd hoped for over four years was growing inside his mistress's belly.

Maybe I should congratulate them. Send a card. Write, "Hope your baby doesn't look like his father."

Another message.

"By the way, he's taking me to Miami tomorrow. Romantic little getaway. ~"

I turned off my phone. Turned to the doctor. "Doctor, I need to leave now."

"But your husband—"

"I'll speak with him myself."

I went to the law firm.

"Mrs. Moretti, Illinois is a no-fault divorce state. You can file unilaterally, without your husband's consent." Mr. Henderson, the attorney, pushed the documents toward me. "Regarding the division of assets, do you have any requests?"

I understood the Moretti family's reach. I didn't want a protracted battle over money. I didn't need his dirty cash.

"Traceable assets under my name during the marriage, divided according to state law. Once the funds arrive, donate everything to Chicago Children's Hospital."

I only wanted my freedom.

A flicker of surprise crossed Henderson's face, then he nodded. "We'll await your instruction before formally filing."

"A few more days." I stood up. "Wait until everything is in place."

My phone rang.

Nico.

"Baby, I'm so, so sorry. That thing took longer than expected. Where are you now?"

"At home." A lie.

"Good, I'm on my way. I'll be there soon. But..." His voice turned hesitant. "I might have to go to Miami tomorrow. Emergency family business. It's complicated. Might not be back until next week."

His romantic getaway with Tiffany.

"Okay." My voice was so calm it even surprised me.

"You're not angry? I know the timing's bad, but family business... you understand."

"I understand."

"Olivia." His voice suddenly softened. "I love you. You know that, right?"

I looked down at the divorce papers in my hand.

One last time.

"Nico." I said quietly. "Would you ever fall in love with someone else?"

"What? Baby, what are you worried about? How could I ever fall for anyone else?"

"But what if... what if something went wrong between us—"

"It won't." He cut me off, his voice carrying a disquieting possessiveness. "Olivia, listen to me. As long as your name is still Olivia Moretti, you can never leave me. You're my wife. My woman. In this city, no one dares touch you. And you have nowhere to hide."

A calm voice answered in my mind: My name isn't Olivia Moretti anymore.

My name is Evelyn.

"And what if I wanted to leave?"

He laughed. Arrogant confidence. "I'd give you a three-day head start at most. Then I'd find you. As long as you're Mrs. Moretti, I'll drag you back from wherever you run. You can't shake me off, baby. You'll never shake me off."

I hung up.

Stood on a Chicago street. Stared at the Willis Tower in the distance.

Three days?

He had no idea how long I'd been planning. How thorough I'd been.

He had no idea that in three days, Olivia Moretti would vanish from the face of the earth.

---