My Husband Killed Us for Her - Chapter 4: Chapter 4

The late autumn wind bit through my clothes, sending a shiver down my spine. I wrapped my arms around myself for warmth.
"Wait in the car," I told Adrian. He hesitated, then gently draped his coat over my shoulders before retreating to the vehicle. Even now, facing Lucas, Adrian chose to trust me completely.
Clutching Adrian's coat like a lifeline, I watched Lucas stumble toward me. His dark eyes were impossible to read.
"Why Adrian?" His voice cracked. "What does he have that I don't?"
The question stunned me into silence. Then memories of my early days with Adrian came flooding back, bringing an involuntary smile to my lips.
Back then, I was just another struggling director trying to break into the industry. My scripts couldn't even get a second glance from low-budget producers. I'd burned through nearly all my savings chasing this dream when Adrian entered the picture.
Unlike everyone else, he didn't dismiss me. He pored over my scripts line by line, introduced me to talented actors, and championed my work until I held my first directing award in my hands. That same night, he confessed his feelings.
I'd be lying if I said I hadn't fallen for him during those long creative sessions. But past trauma made me cautious.
"If we're together," I'd asked carefully, "can I keep directing?"
Adrian had looked genuinely surprised. "You don't need my permission. I love you - of course I'll support your career however I can."
Taking a deep breath, I'd added, "I want children someday."
His smile had warmed me through. "Me too."
That was the beginning of everything. Our simple church wedding with just close friends and family. The birth of our Lily.
Seeing my expression now, Lucas looked like he'd been stabbed. His eyes turned bloodshot. "That little girl... she's really yours?"
"Yes."
"You refused to have my child!" His voice broke. "Why him? Why not me?"
The old pain hit me like a truck. I remembered clutching that ultrasound report as I died in my past life - our baby with its perfect little heartbeat, gone forever in the flames.
Tears blurred my vision as the ache in my chest became unbearable. Lucas kept ranting about betrayal until I couldn't take it anymore - my palm connected with his cheek with a sharp crack.
He touched his reddening face, stunned.
"We did have a child," I whispered. "I was going to tell you that day when you drove us off the road."
The color drained from his face. "I used to mourn that baby," I continued. "Now I'm just grateful it never had to call you father."
Lucas staggered like I'd shot him. "No... Olivia said... she saw you at the clinic..." His hands trembled violently. "She told me you thought I was too poor-"
Suddenly everything clicked. This was why he'd called me selfish when we reunited.
"If I cared about money," I said bitterly, "why would I have married you when you had nothing?"
Lucas collapsed to his knees, whispering hoarsely, "I killed our baby... my own child..."
Tears streamed down my face as I looked at this broken man. All those years together, all I'd given him, and he'd believed Olivia's lies so easily.
When I turned to leave, he grabbed my wrist. "Evelyn, please... I was wrong. I need you-"
I yanked my arm free. "You said it yourself, Lucas. 'Let's never see each other again in this life.'"
Some wounds never heal. But at least this time, I'd learned to walk away.