Chapter 5 - The Secret Safehouse
Amelia sat on the edge of the velvet couch, staring out the window of the luxury apartment.
Sarah had rented this beautiful downtown penthouse specifically to keep her hidden.
The building had twenty-four-hour armed security and required a keycard for the elevator.
Ethan would never be able to find her here.
Amelia rested both hands on her swollen stomach, feeling a strong, reassuring kick.
"You are safe now, little one," Amelia whispered to her unborn son.
"I will never let anyone make us feel invisible ever again."
The doctors had managed to stop her premature labor with strong medications.
She was now on strict bed rest until she reached thirty-six weeks.
The physical pain had slowly faded, but the emotional wound in her chest was still bleeding openly.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Ethan picking Claire up.
She remembered the look of desperate panic on his face that was meant for someone else.
The doorbell chimed softly, breaking her out of her dark thoughts.
Sarah walked into the living room, carrying a massive bag of takeout food.
"I brought your favorite spicy noodles, and I have some very interesting news," Sarah announced.
Amelia carefully shifted her weight, making room for her friend on the couch.
"What happened?" Amelia asked, her voice quiet but steady.
"Your soon-to-be ex-husband went back to work at the firehouse today," Sarah smiled fiercely.
"And apparently, the entire squad has completely turned against him."
Amelia frowned slightly, feeling a tiny sliver of surprise.
"How do they know what happened?" Amelia asked.
"Noah Reed told them everything," Sarah replied, digging into the food.
"Noah stood up in the middle of the station and told everyone how Ethan abandoned his pregnant wife."
Amelia felt a strange flutter in her chest at the mention of the rookie's name.
Noah had saved her that night, stepping in when the man who swore to protect her had walked away.
"The fire chief officially reprimanded Ethan for severe negligence during a rescue," Sarah continued happily.
"No one trusts him to have their back in a fire if he cannot even protect his own family."
Amelia looked down at her hands, feeling no pity for the man she used to love.
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Ethan was finally reaping exactly what he had sowed.
And she was going to make sure he never got the chance to hurt her again.
