---- Chapter 7 Serena's voice rose, drawing attention. "Olivia, please! Don't be upset! We can talk about this!" She was staging a scene, casting herself as the reasonable one, me as the hysterical, pregnant wife. Michael rushed over, his face a mask of concern, but his eyes were cold as he looked at me. "Liv, what's going on? Serena said you were accosting her." "She's lying, Michael!" | cried, the injustice burning. "She was taunting me!" "Olivia, calm down," Michael said, his voice firm, public. "You're making a scene. Serena is already distressed. You know how fragile she is after her... loss." He was still peddling that lie. Even now. Richard and his other associates gathered around, their expressions disapproving "Liv, maybe you should go home and rest," Richard suggested, his tone more placating than supportive. "You're clearly not yourself." They were all siding with him, with her. Gaslighting me. Collectively. The room started to spin. Another cramp, sharper this time. "I'm not the one who's lying," | said, my voice trembling. "You are, Michael. All of you." ---- Serena started to sniffle, dabbing at her eyes. "I just want peace, Michael. For our son." Michael put an arm around Serena, pulling her protectively to his side. He looked at me, his expression hardening. "You need to leave, Olivia. You're upsetting everyone. We can talk about this later, when you're more... rational." Rational. He dared to call me irrational. The finality of his dismissal, the public humiliation, it was a breaking point. The pain in my abdomen intensified, and | gasped. But in that moment of physical distress, a cold, hard resolve solidified within me. | wouldn't fight them here, in their carefully constructed theatre of lies. | wouldn't give them the satisfaction of my breakdown. | straightened up, meeting Michael's gaze. "You're right, Michael," | said, my voice surprisingly calm. "| am leaving." | turned and walked away, each step an effort of will. | didn't look back. | could feel their eyes on me, hear their hushed whispers. Let them whisper. Let them believe they had won this round. This wasn't just a departure. It was an escape. And | knew, with absolute certainty, that | would never willingly walk back into his life, or the toxic charade he called a family. ---- My character had changed in that moment. The trusting Liv was gone. A new, colder, more determined woman was taking her place.