The Silent Womb's Revenge

Chapter 6

"Don't cry... It's all my fault." Ethan Sullivan held Sophia Williams tightly, his voice trembling.

Her tears soaked his shirt. She struggled desperately, but he only tightened his grip.

"I'm an asshole." He pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "I'll go explain to Mom right now—"

Sophia suddenly laughed. A bitter, broken sound, tears streaming down her face.

She knew him too well. This wasn't a slip of the tongue—it was a carefully planned betrayal.

Ethan stayed home with her for two days. He cooked all her favorite dishes, even when she refused to look at him.

But Victoria Taylor's social media posts were like knives, plunging into her heart day after day.

Baby supply checklists. Extravagant postpartum care center reservations. Gourmet meals for expectant mothers...

Every single post had Ethan's like beneath it.

Late at night, as Ethan knelt to wash her feet, his phone rang.

"It's Jacob." He put it on speaker. "Says he closed a big deal and wants to celebrate."

Her brother's cheerful voice crackled through: "Sis, bring Ethan along!"

Sophia stared at her feet submerged in the water. This would be her final goodbye.

"Okay."

The Williams' family home was brightly lit, the scent of barbecue filling the air.

"Sis!" Jacob jogged over. "I made them all put out their cigarettes!"

Their friends teased, "Only because Ethan told us to!"

"Damn right," Jacob slung an arm around Ethan's shoulders. "Wouldn't be my brother-in-law otherwise."

Ethan rolled up his sleeves, expertly flipping skewers on the grill.

"My wife deserves the best." He handed her a perfectly grilled chicken wing. "Sit farther back—don't breathe in the smoke."

Sophia took it silently, the food tasteless in her mouth.

"Ethan," Jacob said suddenly, "wanna grab some beer from the cellar?"

Ethan ruffled her hair. "Wait for me."

The moment they left, her phone buzzed. Victoria had sent a location pin—right here at the Williams' home.

Sophia's blood ran cold. Terrified Jacob would cause a scene, she rushed after them.

Then froze at the hallway corner.

The three of them stood laughing together. Victoria hooked her pinky around Ethan's, whining, "The baby won't stop kicking..."

"I'll get the beer." Jacob winked at them. "Don't mind me."

Ethan pulled Victoria against him. "Only the baby misses me?"

"Jerk..."

They stumbled into Sophia's childhood bedroom, locked in a passionate kiss.

At thirteen, she'd lost both parents in a car crash. Dropped out of school to raise her brother.

On her wedding day, Jacob had wept: "Sis, if he ever hurts you, I'll bring you home."

Now her marital bed was their affair spot. Her own brother—their accomplice.

"Sis?" Jacob reappeared with a crate of beer. "Where's Ethan?"

Sophia studied her brother's familiar face and whispered, "Where is he?"