Things between Zoe and Mason hit a real, low point ever since their fight in Silvercrest.He rarely came home. If he did, it was only to get changed. They didn’t exactly talk to each other. He would even ask about her pregnancy through Ava.On the other hand, Barbara’s condition was getting worse. They would visit her, but they’d never do it together. One would visit Barbara in the daylight while the other would do it at night. They didn’t want to see each other and make things awkward.This went on day after day. Even Barbara noticed what was happening, but she was powerless to do anything. Every once in a while, some scandal about Mason would surface and make the rounds.Summer was gone and autumn came. Zoe was having her breakfast at the dining table in the morning. The trees were particularly green outside and the weather held up as well.Mason’s scandals made the newspaper. He checked into a hotel with a beautiful celebrity. Somebody took pictures of them walking in the h

Mason’s phone rang in the middle of the night.Rising, he leaned on the headboard and turned on the night light. Zoe also woke up when he was talking on the phone. “What’s wrong, Mom?”It was Lisa at the other end of the phone.She sounded calm and collected. “I don’t think Barbara’s going to make it past tonight, Mason. Take Zoe along with you. This could be the last time you guys will see her.”He remained quiet for about half a minute before responding in a husky voice, “We’ll be right over!”They got changed in less than five minutes and hit the road in the middle of the night.The rain splashed down on the black Rolls-Royce. Beads of raindrops streamed down the car, reminiscent of tears.Due to Zoe’s pregnancy, he didn’t drive very fast. They didn’t say anything to each other. Zoe sat next to him in the passenger seat and looked out the window and into the rainy night. She knew, deep down, that this would probably be the last night she’d see Barbara.The car slowed down

Their lives returned to normal after Barbara’s funeral drew to an end.Mason started going back home more frequently.They were still treating each other coldly. They didn’t really talk to each other during dinner and they would sleep twenty inches away from each other. Sometimes, he’d even sleep in the guest room. Once in a while, he’d hug her from behind and brush his hands across her belly, trying to feel for his baby girl in there. If Zoe was woken in the process, she’d remain quiet and let him do his own thing. This was how their marriage was now. Aside from Yanni, there was nothing left between them. She had forgotten that she used to love him and he had forgotten that he used to want to make up to her. He even forgot to tell Zoe that he wanted to have a daughter who’d run towards him when he came home from work and asked for a hug.Both of them had forgotten what made them love each other in the first place. All they could remember now was how painful it was to maintain

The rain continued to pour for the whole day.Evening came and the sky was so red that it looked like it caught fire, looking majestic.Wearing a scarf around her neck, Zoe stood on the balcony and admired the view in silence. She cast her mind back to all the key moments in her marriage with Mason. She had once burned her dairy here, which was filled with entries about him. She burned their wedding picture here as well. These moments in her past left a scorching mark in her heart so deep that she might never recover from it.Then, her phone in the bedroom rang incessantly.Adjusting her scarf a little, she gave the sky another glance before picking up the phone in the bedroom. It was Liam and he had bad news.“Things aren’t looking good for Noah, Ms. Zoe! I have reliable informants telling me that they found a new piece of evidence and decided to bring forward the court date. If the judge decides to pass on a harsh verdict, then we’re looking at five years, at least!“Don’t wo

Zoe was experiencing intense pain all over her body.She couldn’t breathe and it felt as if she’d die in the next second, but she refused to go. She needed to think about Yanni!She had been pregnant for eight months now. Her baby still had yet to see the world. She might’ve hated Mason for being cold and unfeeling, but she loved her baby more than anything in the world. On top of it, she had anticipated giving birth to her little girl. She can’t just die here.She can’t die! It wasn’t an option!Breathing heavily seemed to help with the pain from the contraction. So, she raised her head and cried out for help with every ounce of energy in her body.“Someone…“Save my baby…”…Alas. Nobody heard her cries for help.Fireworks continued to explode across the sky and the television downstairs continued to blare festive music.Zoe painstakingly crawled out of the bedroom and screamed. “Someone. Anyone. Save me. Save my baby.”The pool of blood trailed all the way from the bedroo