Chapter 98

Philip's POV

I sat in my car, staring up at the balcony of Howard Thompson's mansion.Annie and Howard stood there together, holding hands as they looked at the night sky. They weren't kissing like the other night, but this simple moment seemed more intimate,more real.

I checked my watch - almost midnight. Two hours wasted watching someone else's lie instead of living my own.

Annie had changed. Before, she would desperately explain herself whenever I accused her of something. Now? She'd blocked my number.Howard stood between us like a wall I couldn't break through.

My knuckles turned white as I gripped the steering wheel. Annie finally had someone to protect her. The thought made my chest ache.

Howard put his arm around Annie's waist, and she smiled - a real smile I rarely saw during our marriage. A smile I never caused.

Why did I still attack Annie every time Sarah complained about her? Why couldn't I stop myself?

Had I always treated Annie this way? Made her feel accused, unheard,unprotected?

No wonder Howard said she'd never choose me again. Who would return to someone who hurt them so consistently?

I had everything a man could want - wealth, success, a child on the way.Yet here I was, hiding in the dark, watching my ex-wife like some pathetic stalker. Tears ran down my face. I knew I should leave her alone. If I truly loved her, I'd want her happiness, even without me.

But I couldn't stop coming here night after night. These brief glimpses of Annie were all I had left.

I wiped my tears away, disgusted with myself. Philip Baker crying over a woman who'd moved on. What had I become?

My phone rang. Sarah's name on the screen. I answered, already regretting it.

"Hello?"

"Annie encouraged people to cyberbully me..." Sarah's voice was controlled,calculated. "Didn't you stand up for me earlier? After you hung up,you never contacted me again. I want to know what happened."

"Do I look like an idiot to you?" I snapped, gripping the phone tightly.

"Is it because I've been treating you decently lately? You think that means I still love you? That you can manipulate me however you want?"

"Philip, I don't understand what you mean..." Sarah sounded confused,which only made me angrier.

"You understand perfectly," I said. "You started trouble with Annie online.When she defended herself, people criticized you. Then you told me Annie was cyberbullying you!"

I hit the dashboard with my free hand. "I believed you and confronted Annie! And what happened? I looked like a fool when I learned the truth!All because you lied to me!"

"Sarah, I won't believe a single word you say from now on."

Silence. I could practically hear her calculating her next move. "I'm sorry..." she finally said, her voice softening. "Being pregnant and criticized online made me emotional. If you don't like it, I'll change next time!"

"Really?" I couldn't hide my disbelief.

Suddenly, Sarah's tone changed completely. "Oh! Philip, come quickly! My stomach hurts terribly!"

Her voice rose in panic. "What if I'm miscarrying?"

Despite my anger seconds before, fear took over. I'd aIready lost Brian.This baby was my last chance at family.

"Don't worry, I'm coming right away!" I started the car.

"Okay," Sarah whispered.

I looked at the balcony one last time as I pulled away. Howard and Annie had gone inside, their peace undisturbed by my presence.

As I drove to Sarah's apartment, I cursed myself. Hadn't I just promised not to believe her lies? Yet here I was, rushing to her at the first mention of danger to the baby.

What is wrong with me? I ran a red light. At work, I made decisions based on data and logic. With women, I became completely irrational.

I found Sarah lying on her apartment floor,face pale.

"How are you feeling?" I knelt beside her.

"Not good," she whispered. "Take me to the hospital."

I remembered Annie after her fall - how I wasn't there, how I failed her.I couldn't make that mistake again. "It's going to be okay. I'm here," I lifted her carefully.

Sarah wrapped her arms around my neck, her head against my shoulder.

As I carried her to the car, I felt both worried and suspicious. Was this another trick? I couldn't risk it - not with my child's life at stake.

"T'll drive fast, but safely," I placed her in the passenger seat. "We'll get there in time."

Sarah smiled weakly. "I trust you."

I sped through empty streets, running yellow lights. We reached the hospital in minutes, and I carried Sarah straight to the emergency room.

"My wife is pregnant and having severe abdominal pain," I told the nurse,the word "wife" slipping out by habit. "She needs immediate attention."

The staff took Sarah for examination while I paced the waiting room,imagining the worst.

What if she loses the baby? I can't lose another child.

The hospital smell brought back memories of Annie's miscarriage - my absence, my failure. I checked my watch repeatedly, growing more anxious by the minute.

This time will be different. This time I'll do everything right.

The doctor finally approached me.

"There's nothing to worry about," he said. "Both mother and baby are perfectly healthy."

Relief flooded through me. "Thank you,doctor."

I helped Sarah to a seat, keeping my voice gentle. "We're fine. Nothing's wrong." She stroked her belly, smiling. "That's wonderful. I don't know how I would have faced you if something had happened."

"Don't talk like that," I said, genuinely relieved the child was safe.

Sarah's expression changed. "Actually, I think this is Annie's fault."

"If she hadn't responded to me online," Sarah said softly, "people wouldn't have attacked me. My stomach wouldn't have hurt... and you wouldn't have had to rush here so late."

She grabbed my sleeve. "Could you contact Anne and talk to her about this? I am pregnant. She should be more considerate. For the baby's sake!"

"Absolutely not! That's ridiculous!" I pulled my arm away. "If you want to avoid conflict with her, stop provoking her!"

"I can't do that!" Sarah's eyes filled with tears. "I love you, but you love her! Every time I see her doing well, I feel so jealous!"

Her voice dropped to a whisper. "I always wonder if I need to be as good as she is to deserve your love. But I can't be like her. So I try to bring her down... to make it seem like we're not so different. It helps me cope."

She started crying. "If you ask me to stop, I'll suffocate. Philip, please,for the baby's sake... help me."

I saw exactly what was happening. Sarah was using our unborn child to manipulate me into hurting Annie again. The thought made my stomach turn.

But what if she was right about stress affecting the baby? What if my refusal caused complications? Could I live with that?

I looked at Sarah's pregnant belly. I thought of Brian, who barely spoke to me anymore. I thought of the child Annie and I lost. How many more chances would I get to be a father?

I gave in. I borrowed a phone from someone nearby and called Annie.

"Who is this?" Annie sounded suspicious.

"It's Philip." I spoke quickly. "Please don't hang up. I have something important to tell you."

"What do you want?" Her impatience was obvious.

"When Sarah mentions you online, could you not respond?" I hated myself with each word. "Your response today got her criticized. It affected her baby... she almost miscarried."

As I spoke, shame washed over me. I was letting Sarah manipulate me into attacking Annie again. I was becoming the villain in Annie's life once more.

But my fear of losing another child overpowered everything else.I had failed Brian. I had failed Annie. This baby was my last chance at being a father.

I waited for Annie's response, my heart poundling. How had I sunk this low? When had I become a man who would hurt someone he claimed to love for a woman he didn't even trust?

The silence stretched on, a perfect judgment for what I had become.