Chapter 3
Maybe it was the alcohol, but I didn’t sleep well that night.
Dreams twisted and warped, one after another, until-
I swore I heard Ryan Mitchell’s voice.
“Isabella… Isabella…”
Had to be a dream.
Ryan hadn’t called me by my nickname in years.
But then I heard it again, this time clearer:
“Isabella, you’ve got a fever–why didn’t you tell me?”
“I’m taking you to the hospital right now.”
“Don’t be scared.”
Before I could react, everything went weightless.
Next thing I knew, I heard the engine start.
Funny how being sick makes you feel weak but weirdly alert.
Ryan kept calling people the whole drive.
“Doctor, I’m almost there, please hang on.”
“It’ll be okay, don’t be scared.”
“Good girl, just hang in there.”
But when we finally pulled up to the ER,
I forced my eyes open just in time to see him jump out of the car-
And run toward a slender woman waiting on the steps.
He wrapped her in his arms like she was his whole world.
Suddenly, all those scattered phrases snapped into place.
And every single one of them-
Wasn’t meant for me.
12 32
He Got His Dream Baby Just Not With Me
The distance between the car and the steps wasn’t far.
I could hear her sobbing softly.
And Ryan, gentle as ever, whispering:
“This is my baby. Of course I want it.”
“No one’s taking this child away. His name will be Mitchell.”
And just like that, pain filled every inch of my body.
That’s why this girl was different.
That’s why he flaunted her so openly.
Every move he made-
He was stomping on my wounds.
Grinding me into nothing.
In our first year of marriage, I was pregnant too.
But my body was weak, and the pregnancy was unstable.
Ryan moved all his work home just to take care of me.
He never left my side.
Until one day, he had to fly out for a meeting.
I wanted to surprise him, so I traveled to the city he was in.
And I got into a car accident.
When I woke up, the doctor told me the baby didn’t make it.
And that my body had been damaged–I might never have kids again.
I’ll never forget the look on Ryan’s face that day.
Cold. Furious.
“My parents were right! You’re worthless!”
“I never should’ve married you!”
“You killed my child!”
“My child!”
12:32
He Got His Dream Baby… Just Not With Me
25.9%
The man who once held me like I was his world,
Was now stabbing me with every word.
Maybe that was when our marriage truly ended.
But I held on like a fool.
Clinging to scraps, hoping for even a shred of love.
But after eight years and nine divorces, I’m done.
I don’t want to look for love anymore.
Let’s just pretend-
It never existed at all.
12:32
