His voice cut through my shame.
He started the engine.
His eyes stayed forward as the car pulled away from the estate.
“You were pregnant.”
The words landed like a blow.
“And you didn’t tell me.”
My chest constricted.
Fresh tears welled immediately.
“I didn’t know,” I rushed out. “I swear to you—I didn’t know.”
My voice cracked.
“I only realized after they started hitting me. After the pain got worse. My body started reacting... differently.”
My hands trembled in my lap.
“My father—he must have been watching. He knew before I did. He saw the signs.”
My throat closed.
“I lost our baby again.”
The confession shattered me.
“Just like before.”
“Just like the first one.”
Ruslan’s fingers tightened around the steering wheel so hard his knuckles turned white.
His jaw worked.
I saw restraint.
I saw anger. I saw guilt.
“And I caused it again,” he said quietly.
The admission surprised me.
His voice wasn’t defensive.
It was self-blame.
“I left you.”
I shook my head immediately.
“No.”
He glanced briefly at me in the rearview mirror.
