###Chapter 16
Piper’s voice cracked as she turned the screws. Her eyes shimmered, wide and weaponized “Colin, how can you bear to bring our child into this world just to be called a bastard? Even if you don’t care about me, think about our baby…”
His gaze fell to her stomach. Barely showing.
He pinched the bridge of his nose, exhausted. “The child-I’ll take responsibility. But you,” his voice hardened, “I’ve told you before. It was an accident. I’m not marrying you. Period.”
He looked around at the room like he was seeing everyone clearly for the first time-and hating every single face. Why had it taken him this long to realize their true faces?
Piper wasn’t done. Not by a long shot.
“And what about me? What about when she posted those videos? Did she care what that would do to you? She only ever thought about herself. She’s vicious, Colin. Selfish. A woman like tha doesn’t deserve your heart! Please, wake up! Forget her. We could be a family-me, you and ou baby…”
In the past, those words might have worked. He’d once believed her tears. Once wanted nothing more than to hand her the moon just to stop her from frowning.
But now? That mask she wore-soft, sweet, helpless-was cracked beyond repair. He saw righ through it to the rot underneath.
His eyes drifted to the trash bin in the corner, almost like instinct.
Something tugged at him.
He stepped over and slowly bent down.
On top of the pile, nestled in tissue and memory, was a small plush star. Old, a little worn, bu clean-still lovingly kept.
The very first gift he’d ever given me.
He remembered the way I’d lit up when he handed it to me, like that cheap little trinket was the North Star itself.
‘Thank you, Colin! I’ll treasure it forever-just like I’ll treasure you!”
My voice still rang in his ears.
He kept digging.
Next: the base of a tarnished debate trophy. He’d won it during the national championship and given it to me like it was the most sacred thing he owned.
Further down-a lopsided, hand-painted ceramic vase. Ugly. Unique. Mine.
All of it: worthless to the world. Priceless to me. To us.
And beneath it all, like an afterthought, were those untouched luxury dresses. Tags still on. Branded handbags. Jewels that glittered like lies. Soulless.
That was the shift. Somewhere along the line, the gifts changed. Became meaningless. Transactional. Cold.
When had his love turned into money?
He looked back at Piper. Drenched in designer. That diamond bracelet he’d once bid on like a madman at auction sparkled on her wrist. That yacht, that penthouse, that curated life… All of it had been for her.
And what had he left me?
Silence. Neglect. Betrayal so deep it nearly broke me in two.
Grief crashed over him like a rogue wave, choking and endless. His heart twisted in on itself.
He pressed the plush star to his chest like it might bring back what he’d destroyed. But no amount of tears-hot and falling fast-could fix what he’d shattered.
Then Piper screeched, “What is that filthy thing? Throw it out! Look at me, Colin! Look at our
child!”
She lunged for it and threw it on the floor.
He snapped.
His head whipped around, voice gravel-rough and bloody:
“Piper, I’ll say it one last time. My wife-will only ever be Annelise Ward. Get out.”
Faces paled. Chaos froze.
Mr. Marks staggered back like he’d been struck. “You brat! What the hell has Annelise done to you?”
Piper’s mother shrieked, “You got my daughter pregnant and now you want to pretend it didn’t happen? You think you can just walk away?”
Piper looked like someone had ripped the floor from under her. She trembled, hysterical. “Colin… how can you be this cruel? I gave you everything! I’d die for you!”
He shoved her away like her touch disgusted him.
“I’ll give you enough money to live comfortably for the rest of your life. You won’t want for anything. But I never want to see you in this house again. The child will be taken care of. You
won’t.”
Then he pointed-straight to the door.
“Now get out. All of you.”
Piper collapsed. Her pristine hair a mess, her thousand-dollar gown now dirty and crumpled.
She scrambled, desperate, crawling toward Colin’s mother like a drowning woman grabbing a lifeline.
“You promised me! You said I’d be part of this family! You can’t just leave me like this!”
But no one moved.
7:38 pm
17
