Chapter 1 - The Public Spectacle
I froze in absolute terror as Julian’s heavy footsteps echoed against the polished marble floor of the bank lobby.
His eyes were completely black, devoid of the charming warmth that had fooled me for seven long years.
He reached out and gripped my upper arm with a bruising, terrifying force.
"You shouldn't have gone digging, my love," he hissed, his breath hot and threatening against my ear.
My heart slammed against my ribs, but my survival instincts suddenly overrode my paralyzing fear.
I knew that if I let him drag me out of this public building, I would never be seen alive again.
So, I did the only thing a terrified, pregnant woman could possibly do in that exact moment.
I let my knees buckle completely, collapsing toward the floor while letting out a piercing, dramatic scream.
"My baby!" I shrieked, clutching my swollen stomach and putting on the performance of a lifetime.
"Please, somebody help me, the pain is unbearable!"
Julian instantly panicked, his grip loosening as three bank tellers and a security guard rushed toward us.
His terrifying mask of rage instantly melted back into the facade of a deeply concerned, loving husband.
He knelt beside me, trying to put his arms around my shoulders to pull me back to my feet.
"She’s just having a panic attack, she has a very difficult pregnancy," he lied smoothly to the approaching guard.
I slapped his hands away, tears streaming down my face as I looked desperately at the older female teller.
"Please, call an ambulance right now, I think I am going into early labor," I sobbed convincingly.
Julian’s jaw clenched so hard I could hear his teeth grinding, but he was completely trapped by the audience.
He could not force me into his car with a dozen witnesses watching his every single move.
The security guard immediately dialed 911, ordering Julian to step back and give me some air.
I lay on the cold marble floor, taking deep breaths and planning my absolute escape.
The ambulance arrived within five minutes, the paramedics rushing in with a stretcher to load me up.
Julian tried to climb into the back of the ambulance with me, playing the role of the devoted father-to-be.
I looked the paramedic dead in the eye and whispered that my husband’s presence was causing my blood pressure to spike.
The paramedic firmly told Julian he would have to follow us in his own car for the safety of the mother.
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As the ambulance doors slammed shut, I let out a massive, shaky breath of pure relief.
I had bought myself a tiny window of time, but the deadly game of cat and mouse had officially begun.
