Chapter 5: The Trap in the Chapel

Grandma Montgomery’s frown was thunderous. “What for? We’re still playing cards.”

The heir softened. “It’s nothing, Grandma. I just need to ask her something.”

“What happened?”

“Rachel and Melissa both lost their babies. I have to take Sarah for questioning.”

Grandma Montgomery’s shock was real. “How could this happen on New Year’s?”

With two pregnancies lost, suspicion fell on every girlfriend. But Grandma Montgomery insisted, “You can question her here.”

The heir didn’t argue. Mrs. Foster prepared a warm room, and he left first. I followed, nerves jangling.

I sat in silence, arms crossed, planning to ignore him. But when I peeked up, he was already asleep, wrapped in fur. I fumed. Wasn’t he supposed to question me? All this drama—just for a nap?

I dared to wave my fist at him, just this once. But he grabbed my arm, pulling me close. “Sarah is quite bold.”

His grip was firm, his gaze slow and appraising. “And quite good at pretending.”

My heart thudded. Had he seen through me?

He pulled me onto the bed. “Come up, sleep.”

I was baffled, but he didn’t let go, even reaching to take off my coat—the one I’d cut up. My heart hammered as he saw the patchwork inside. He paused, dropped the coat, and pulled the comforter over me. “Sleep.”

I stammered, “I-I didn’t mean to.”

He ground his teeth. “Can’t sleep? Then go outside and keep watch!”

I shut my eyes tight. Better freezing than angering him again.

By dawn, the police had taken every other girlfriend and their friends for questioning. Only I, called away by Mrs. Foster and questioned by the heir, escaped suspicion. The rest? Marched out under red and blue lights. The cook was blamed, but everyone knew it was a cover. The real culprit—my half-sister.

Time blurred. By March, I was eight months pregnant. Holly brought news: my half-sister’s water broke. Mrs. Green, the housekeeper, came for me, her voice oozing sarcasm: “The lady’s giving birth. You girlfriends must go pray in the chapel.”

My heart sank. A trap.

Holly tried to protest. “Sarah’s too far along to kneel that long!”

Mrs. Green’s eyes were cold as ice. “Orders from above. All girlfriends. Are you deaf?”

I signaled Holly to get help, but Mrs. Green watched us like a hawk.

Inside the chapel, Rachel and Melissa glared at me. As soon as we knelt, they started fighting, dragging me into it. I tried to shrink away, but it was no use. Someone grabbed me—Rachel slammed into my belly.

Pain shot through my stomach, and the world went white. Was this how it would end—for both of us?