Tainted Sincerity

1 Stepping out of the OBGYN clinic, Liam pressed a crumpled twenty-dollar bill into my hand. "Take the bus home, Elena. I can't let your bad luck near Jenny and her baby." "Who is Jenny?" I asked, stunned. He avoided my eyes, handing me a polaroid of him embracing a heavily pregnant girl. "Five years ago, when kidnappers held you hostage for three months, Jenny stayed by my side through my darkest time. She's pure. She doesn't demand a title. You can't expect me to spend my life bound out of pity to a defiled woman." A ringing filled my ears. "A defiled woman?" I whispered. Guilt and exasperation crossed his face. "I married you. I'll support you for life. That's enough compensation. If you're lonely, find a side guy. Just don't get pregnant again." In the backseat sat the pastel baby clothes we'd picked out that morning. Now they felt like needles in my bones. Shivering, I crumpled my ultrasound report into a ball. Five years ago, after we started dating, we were kidnapped. I bit through ropes until my gums bled so Liam could escape first. Three months later, he rescued me from a ditch, sobbing he'd treat me like a queen forever. But the man who pulled me from the abyss was now shoving me into hell. The love I thought I'd found was a trap he'd built for another woman. … I took a step back, desperate to run away from him, but the heel of my shoe caught on my dress. I slammed hard onto the concrete. Seeing me fall into a growing puddle of my own blood, Liam's eyes instantly went red with panic. "Honey! Are you and the baby okay?" He gently lifted my bleeding leg, blowing softly on the scraped skin. "Honey, hold on. I will take you back inside to get this bandaged." I looked down at him and burst into a tearful, mocking laugh. He loved me so much. He could act so deeply devoted over a simple scrape on my knee. Yet for years, he had been sleeping with another woman, getting her pregnant, building an entire life with her in the shadows. When he was in her bed, the thought of his legal wife never even crossed his mind. His devotion was a masterclass in acting, and I had played the fool for five entire years. I shoved his hands away. "I am fine." "Don't waste your energy on me. Go keep your precious Jenny company." He refused to listen. He scooped me up in his arms and rushed me back into the hospital. I stared at the sterile white walls. I used to be terrified of blood draws and checkups. I always begged him to hold my hand. But this time, I noticed his eyes were entirely glued to his phone screen. A soft, incredibly tender smile played on his lips as he texted her. Suddenly, a profound sense of clarity washed over me. I walked out of the surgical room alone. My four month old baby was gone. After the doctor gave me the post op instructions and left, I buried my face into the stiff hospital pillow. Only then did I allow myself to scream and cry until my throat went raw. I pressed my trembling hands against my newly flat stomach, my heart shattering into a million jagged pieces. This was the baby I had prayed for every single night. Both our families were supposed to celebrate and take a massive portrait together next week. Now, all that remained was a chilling, violent trauma. I closed my eyes and forcefully swallowed the rest of my tears. Liam loved his Jenny. They had their own little miracle now. Even if my poor baby had been born, they would have only inherited my miserable, tragic fate. Liam, you blinded me with fake love, but the illusion is shattered now. I will not play the pathetic victim in your twisted game anymore. Every single drop of agony you poured onto my soul, I will make you swallow it back tenfold. The door to my private room clicked open. A figure with a swollen belly swayed inside. "Oh, look who it is. If it isn't Elena. Liam told me you finally found out he knew about the thugs playing with your body. I just came to offer my condolences." "Get out," I hissed, my voice absolute ice. "I don't need your fake pity." "Elena, please. I am a licensed therapist. You need to trust me." Jenny leaned closer, the sweet mask melting away to reveal pure, venomous hatred. "I heard you just scraped that bastard out of your womb. Good for you. You actually have a spine." I glared at her, my fingernails digging so hard into the mattress they left bloody half moons. "It really is you, Jenny. Why couldn't you just leave me alone? All you wanted was Noah, right? I stepped aside. I let you have him! Why won't you let me live?" "So you finally figured it out," she chuckled, entirely unbothered. "Why won't I let you live? You touched my man. You even carried his child. Just looking at you makes my skin crawl. What is wrong with taking a little revenge?" My chest heaved. "You are a psychopath. You will rot in hell for this." "Let me tell you a little secret before I go," she whispered, leaning right next to my ear. "Do you honestly think your father died of a broken heart? Oh, honey, no. Liam knew your dad loved you more than anything. If the old man stayed alive, Liam never would have had the chance to play the grieving hero and manipulate his way into your bed." "To secure your fortune and your heart as fast as possible, Liam didn't hesitate. He pulled the plug on his own benefactor's oxygen machine with his own two hands." My entire body convulsed. I stared at her smug, radiant face, my blood boiling into pure acid. My mind flashed back to the day I woke up in the hospital, only to see my father's lifeless, desperate face. I had spent years agonizing, believing he died hating me for being reckless and getting kidnapped. I thought it was my fault. "I will kill you!" I screamed. I ripped the IV from my arm and lunged at her, my hands locking violently around her throat. But a split second later, a heavy boot slammed into my ribs, kicking me off the bed. Jenny immediately burst into theatrical sobs, shrinking into Liam's broad chest. "Liam! I just wanted to give her a free grief counseling session, and she tried to murder me!" "Elena, are you out of your fucking mind?! Jenny came here out of the goodness of her heart, and you bite the hand that feeds you?!" He kicked me again just as I struggled to grab the edge of the bed. The IV pole crashed to the floor. Glass shattered everywhere, cutting into my skin, staining my hospital gown with fresh dots of crimson. "I am the one biting the hand that feeds?!" I screamed, pointing a bloody finger at Liam. "You two are the monsters! You killed my father! You lied to me for years, got me pregnant, and broke my soul! You are absolute garbage!" "Elena Bennett!" Liam roared, his face contorting with rage. "Have I been too soft on you?! Is that why you think you can push me around?!" "Your father's death has nothing to do with us! You killed him by being a reckless whore! Out of everyone in this hospital, you are the only one psycho enough to physically attack a pregnant woman. You only have your own filthy temper and zero morals to blame!" He looked at me with such intense disgust I thought he might actually strangle me himself. "No wonder the tabloids called you the kidnapper's willing playmate. A dirty, cursed bitch like you ruins the life of anyone stupid enough to stand near you." He tenderly wiped a tiny red mark on Jenny's neck, refusing to even look at my bleeding body on the floor. "You scratched Jenny. Apologize right now." I raised my hand. Blood was still dripping steadily from where the IV needle had ripped out of my vein. "Liam Davis, mark my words. I was blind to ever look at you!" Liam froze for a split second. A microscopic flicker of guilt crossed his eyes. Jenny caught it instantly. Pure jealousy twisted her features. She clutched her stomach, whimpering in pain. "Liam, I am fine. But I think Elena's screaming scared the baby." Liam snapped back to reality, staring at me with a complicated, dark expression. "Get over here and apologize." He sounded like he was coaxing a child, but the threat was razor sharp. "Jenny is carrying a child. She needs a stress free environment. Stop bullying her, Elena. She is a victim of your psychotic jealousy. She owes you absolutely nothing." When I remained entirely motionless, his voice dropped an octave. "Don't forget. I am the one paying for your parents' shared cemetery plot. If you don't want them to be disturbed in the afterlife..." A hollow, agonizing laugh clawed its way out of my throat. How pathetic my devotion had been. I raised my bleeding hand, and while Liam watched in absolute shock, I slapped myself across the face with everything I had. The stinging pain flared across my cheek. I tasted copper as my lip split open. "Enough!" Liam roared. "How is this enough?" I smiled, my teeth stained with blood. "I am still not satisfied. There is a fruit knife on that table. Why don't you stab me a few times? Do it for your precious Jenny." "You are insane. You are completely fucking insane." He spat the words out, wrapped his jacket around Jenny, and stormed out of the room. I started laughing. I laughed so hard my vision blurred into a sea of tears. The world was entirely mad. He was the one who cheated, manipulated, and murdered, yet I was the one labeled a lunatic. To punish me for upsetting Jenny, Liam slammed the hospital door wide open on his way out. Nurses and patients peered into the room, their eyes filled with morbid curiosity and disgust. I knew exactly what he was doing. He knew I suffered from severe PTSD regarding public scrutiny. He wanted me to break down in terror and beg for his forgiveness. But he didn't realize that the person I loved most had already butchered my soul. I didn't care about the stares of strangers anymore. I crawled to the bedside table, grabbed my phone, and dialed a number I had avoided for years. It was Stella, my old college roommate who was now a ruthless state prosecutor. For years, I was so drowning in shame over my kidnapping that I had cut off contact with everyone who actually cared about me. But now, after pouring out the horrifying truth into the receiver, I heard her crying on the other end. "Elena... none of that was your fault. I swear to god, I will make every single person who touched you pay in blood." Tears streamed down my face. By the time I hung up, my inbox chimed. She had sent me a digital boarding pass and a drafted divorce agreement. "Flight leaves tonight, El. Run from those demons." I pulled a black surgical mask over my face. Before leaving the hospital, I took a detour to the medical waste facility to retrieve the final birthday gift I was going to give Liam. Once everything was securely packed, I carried a beautiful, velvet wrapped gift box back to our penthouse. I printed the divorce papers, signed my name in crisp black ink, and placed them on the mahogany coffee table right next to the velvet box. I walked into the kitchen and spoke quietly to Maria, our longtime housekeeper. "This is a gift for Liam. Please make absolutely sure he opens it himself." Maria looked at my coat and suitcase, confused. "Ma'am, today is your birthday. Are you not staying for dinner?" I spaced out for a second, then a soft laugh slipped out. The laugh quickly turned into silent, heavy tears that dripped onto the velvet box. "I completely forgot it was my birthday. After all the chaos, I guess I finally get to deliver this gift on the right day." I wiped my face, my voice returning to absolute ice. "I am not coming back." I will never, ever step foot in this place again. This penthouse had devoured my happiness and my youth. I walked toward the front door, but a heavy hand slammed it shut. Assistant Carter stood there, blocking my path. I subtly pushed my passport deeper into my trench coat pocket. "Mr. Davis has prepared a birthday surprise for you. Please come with me, Ms. Bennett." His eyes were filled with unmistakable mockery and disdain. I knew he was already on Jenny's payroll. If I caused a scene now, Liam and Jenny would find a way to lock me up, and I would miss my flight tonight. "Lead the way," I said numbly, stepping into the waiting town car. The car pulled up to a massive luxury hotel convention center. I scanned the crowded ballroom with high alert, having no idea what Liam was plotting. Liam walked up to me in a tailored tuxedo, gently stroking my wrist with fake concern. "You lost so much weight. It took me years to get you healthy." I yanked my arm away, shivering in disgust. "What the hell are you trying to do?" "Are you still mad at me?" He sighed, reaching out to cup my cheek like a loving husband. "You were acting so reckless today. All I asked for was an apology, and you started hitting yourself. You terrified me, Elena. I had to get Jenny out of there before things escalated." I kept my lips pressed in a tight, pale line. Let him spin his delusions. "Still throwing a tantrum?" He tried to kiss my forehead, but I pushed him hard in the chest. A flash of genuine irritation flared in his dark eyes. "Alright, that's enough. The silent treatment gets really boring after a while." "You terrified Jenny today, but she is so forgiving. She even offered to host a public intervention to help cure your PTSD." "I don't want it." I stared at the massive LED screen on the stage. It displayed a glamorous portrait of Jenny with bold letters: CONFRONT YOUR SHADOWS - Live Trauma Therapy Masterclass with Celebrity Psychologist Jenny Liu. At the bottom of the screen was a smaller dedication: Special thanks to Mr. Liam Davis for his generous sponsorship. A heavy, suffocating dread pooled in my stomach. I turned to walk out the double doors. "I appreciate her fake charity, but I decline. Have a great seminar." "Elena!" Liam's hand clamped around my wrist like a steel vice. "This isn't just a business seminar. This is my birthday gift to you." "Once Jenny cures your mental block, you can finally go back to being a normal woman. Isn't that what you want?" He grabbed both my shoulders, forcing me to look into his manic eyes. "Just listen to me. Jenny is the best in the country. She will fix you." A twisted, terrifying hope sparked in his face. "After your dad died, you always said you just wanted a real family. Once you are cured, we can try for another baby. A family of three. Isn't that everything you ever dreamed of?" "Let me go!" I thrashed violently, but two of his massive bodyguards grabbed my arms and dragged me forcefully toward the stage. Blinding spotlights hit my face. Hundreds of elite guests turned to stare at me. Jenny stood at the podium, her voice echoing through the microphone with theatrical passion. "Ladies and gentlemen, this is our case study for today. You might recognize her from the tabloids. After being abducted and willingly playing house with violent criminals for three months, she was found discarded in the woods half naked. Our tragic protagonist, Elena Bennett." "That is a lie!" I screamed into the blinding lights. "Let me go!" "Denial. Blaming the world while refusing to acknowledge her own promiscuity and lack of morals. This is a classic defense mechanism," Jenny analyzed from her pedestal, dripping with condescension. "The only way she can heal is by confessing her sins. So, we must force her to confront her shadows." The massive LED screens flashed to life. They played the leaked livestream footage from the kidnappers' den. The camera zoomed in on my bruised, crying face, magnifying my absolute terror for a room full of strangers to dissect. Whispers of disgust rippled through the crowd. They ignored my screaming. They pulled out their smartphones, recording me while offering their own cruel commentary. "I'm saving this video. This chick is a total freak." "Good thing her dad died early. If he saw this, the shame would have killed him twice." "Stop it!" I collapsed to my knees, pressing my hands hard over my ears, shaking uncontrollably. "Elena, admit it! Admit you are a filthy whore! Admit you willingly slept with those men!" Jenny's voice sounded like a demon echoing from the depths of hell. "It wasn't me! It was you! Let me go!" I fought wildly, trying to crawl off the stage, but the bodyguards pinned me to the floor. My silk dress ripped during the struggle, exposing my shoulder. I tried to cover myself, but a bodyguard intentionally yanked my hands behind my back. "Liam! Please, make them stop! I am begging you!" I sobbed. Liam stood up from his front row VIP seat. He took a panicked step toward me, but stopped, looking up at Jenny with a torn expression. Through his earpiece, his voice sounded strained. "Elena, be a good girl. Just apologize." "I did nothing wrong! Why should I confess to a lie?!" My tears soaked into the stage carpet. "This seminar is crucial for Jenny's career. If she proves this shock therapy works, she gets her national medical board certification." He sounded desperate and impatient. "Just cooperate. Apologize, and this will all be over." My blood turned to freezing ice. The sound of my own recorded screaming faded into the background. Liam's cruel ultimatum rang in my ears. "If you don't confess, you can stay on that floor forever." The last tear fell. I stopped fighting. I knelt properly on the floor, looking up at Jenny's triumphant face, and spoke slowly. "I confess. I am a whore. I am a slut. I am the reason my parents are dead." Jenny smirked, her eyes gleaming with wicked satisfaction. "Excellent. Phase one is complete. Phase two is atonement. Only by vocalizing your deepest guilt can the shadows truly recede." She put on a mask of fake sympathy. "Unfortunately, Ms. Bennett's family is entirely dead. She has no one to apologize to." "However," she tapped her chest, playing the gracious saint. "I suppose fate works in mysterious ways. After your father passed away, his heart was miraculously matched and transplanted into my chest. Why don't you apologize to me? Consider it an apology to your father's heart." She smiled down at me, venomous and victorious, waiting for me to bow my head and let her crush my dignity into the dirt in front of the entire city. I looked at her, my face devoid of all emotion. "There is no need for all that." I turned and threw myself off the elevated stage. My body slammed against the solid marble floor. Pain exploded through my bones. Blood blossomed around my mouth. The crowd erupted into horrified screams. I spat out a mouthful of warm blood. "Is this... enough of an apology?" "Enough!" Liam charged forward, violently wrapping his suit jacket around my trembling body. His eyes were bloodshot. His hands were shaking uncontrollably as he pulled me to his chest. "Get the car! We are going to the hospital right now!" "Liam! My stomach hurts so much!" Jenny wailed into the microphone. "She traumatized me! The baby!" Liam's arms instantly turned to stone. It only took one second. He shoved my bleeding body into the arms of his assistant and sprinted toward the stage without a single backward glance. The very last thing I saw before the darkness took me was Liam pulling Jenny into a passionate, desperate kiss to calm her nerves.