Chapter 4
The rain kept falling all night. Savannah could not sleep.
She lay on the cold bed, staring at the ceiling, her hand on her stomach. Her heart was beating too fast, her tears had already dried but the pain refused to go.
Cassandra’s words kept replaying in her head.
“Drag her out if she refuses to leave.”
Her chest hurt every time she thought of it. Nathaniel’s cold voice added more fire.
“She won’t last much longer.”
She turned on her side and looked at the empty space beside her. Nathaniel never slept here anymore. He never touched her, never cared. Now she knew why. He had Cassandra. He had no reason to keep her around.
Her hand rubbed her belly slowly.
“My baby, I will not let him throw us out. I will not let her win.”
For the first time, she thought of something she had never allowed herself to think before. Leaving. Running. Starting again somewhere he could never find her.
The thought scared her. She had no family, no money, no power. Nathaniel controlled everything. If he wanted, he could crush her like dust.
But then she touched her stomach again. The baby kicked softly, as if answering her heart. Her lips trembled.
“For you… I will do it. I will leave. We will survive.”
She got up quietly. The mansion was silent. The maids had all gone to their quarters. Only the sound of rain against the windows filled the air.
She opened her closet and pulled out a small bag. She began to fold a few clothes, her hands shaking. She was too scared, but she forced herself to keep going. She hid the bag under the bed.
Next she opened the drawer where Nathaniel once left money for her. Most of it was gone. He had stopped giving her allowance long ago. She searched every corner, every box, every envelope. Finally, she found a small bundle of cash. Not much, but maybe enough for a ticket to anywhere.
Her fingers clutched the money tightly. It felt like hope. It felt like a way out.
But her mind kept running with fear. What if he caught her? What if he dragged her back? What if Cassandra found her and laughed in her face?
Her breath came fast. She sat on the floor, shaking, whispering to herself.
“You can do this, Savannah. You have to. For the baby. For us.”
The next morning, she moved through the house quietly. The maids were gossiping again, whispering cruel words as she passed.
“She looks so pale.”
“No wonder he doesn’t want her.”
“Cassandra is more of a wife than she is.”
Savannah pretended not to hear. She walked past them with her head high, even though her heart was breaking inside.
That night, Nathaniel returned late again. Savannah stayed in the living room, her bag still hidden under the bed upstairs. She told herself she would wait for the right moment. She needed him to go on another business trip, or maybe she could leave in the middle of the night when he was too tired to notice.
But the way he looked at her that night made her heart stop.
His eyes were sharp, studying her too long. He poured himself a drink, then leaned on the wall, watching her in silence.
“You look different,” Nathaniel said finally, his voice low and cold.
Savannah’s hand shook as she held her glass of water. “I’m fine.”
His golden eyes narrowed. “You are hiding something.”
Her throat tightened. She forced a small smile. “No. I’m not.”
He stepped closer, his tall frame casting a shadow over her. “Don’t lie to me, Savannah. You’re too bad at it.”
Her heart raced. She looked down, afraid he could see the truth in her eyes. She pressed her hand against her belly again, trying to calm herself.
Nathaniel noticed the movement. His eyes dropped to her stomach, then back to her face.
“You still think carrying my child will make me change my mind?” he asked coldly. “Don’t be foolish.”
His words cut deep. Her lips trembled but she said nothing.
Later, when he finally went upstairs to his study, Savannah rushed to the bedroom. She pulled the bag out from under the bed. She added the last few things she needed—her documents, the money, some clothes.
Her hands were shaking badly. She could hear her own heartbeat in her ears. She told herself she would leave tonight. She could not wait anymore. She had to run before he threw her out like trash.
But as she zipped the bag and turned toward the door, her heart froze.
Nathaniel was standing there.
Tall, cold, unreadable. His golden eyes locked on the bag in her hand.
The silence was heavy, the storm outside raging louder.
His voice cut through the air like a blade.
“Savannah… where do you think you are going?”
Chapter 5
The silence in the room was heavy.
Savannah froze, her hand still clutching the bag. Nathaniel’s tall frame blocked the door, his golden eyes fixed on her like fire that refused to burn out.
Her lips trembled. “I…”
Her voice failed her.
Nathaniel stepped closer, his shoes clicking against the floor. He looked at the bag in her hand, then at her pale face. His jaw was hard, his voice low and sharp.
“So it’s true,” he said. “You are running.”
Savannah’s throat tightened. She could barely breathe. She hugged the bag close, as if it could shield her.
“Nathaniel, I—”
“Don’t waste your breath,” he cut her off coldly. “You think I care if you walk out of here tonight? You think I will chase after you?”
His eyes narrowed. “Don’t fool yourself. I never wanted you. Leaving is the best thing you could do.”
Savannah’s chest burned. His words stabbed her like knives. But she stood still, tears sliding down her cheeks.
“Then let me go,” she whispered, her voice breaking.
Nathaniel’s lips curved into a cold line. “You can leave. But not like this.”
Her eyes widened. “What do you mean?”
He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a folder. He tossed it onto the bed. The papers slid across the sheets, the bold letters staring at her like fire.
Divorce Agreement.
Savannah’s knees weakened. She stared at the papers, her vision swimming with tears.
Nathaniel’s voice was like ice. “Sign them. Only then you can walk out of this house. If you dare leave without signing, I will find you, and I will drag you back here myself. Do you understand?”
Her chest heaved. Her fingers clutched the bag so tight her knuckles turned white.
She looked at him with wet eyes. “Why… why are you so cruel to me? What did I ever do to you?”
Nathaniel’s face stayed cold. “You exist. That is enough.”
Her tears fell harder. She felt the baby kick softly inside her belly, as if reminding her that she was not alone. She pressed her hand to her stomach.
His eyes flicked to her hand, then back to her face. He shook his head. “Don’t think your little trick will save you. Carrying my child doesn’t change anything. I won’t stay married to you.”
Savannah’s lips trembled. “You would throw your own blood away?”
Nathaniel’s jaw tightened, but his voice stayed sharp. “I never asked for this child. I never asked for you. Sign the papers and go before I lose the little patience I have left.”
Her chest hurt so bad she could hardly breathe. She looked at the papers, then back at him. “And if I refuse?”
His eyes darkened. He stepped so close she could feel his breath on her skin. His words came like thunder.
“Try me.”
Savannah’s body shook. She wanted to scream. She wanted to throw the papers in his face. But the fear was stronger. The memory of Cassandra’s words cut through her mind again.
“Drag her out. Throw her out.”
Savannah bit her lip hard, tasting blood. She could not let them destroy her. She had to think of her baby.
But signing those papers felt like dying.
She stared at Nathaniel, her tears streaming. “You won’t even ask why? You won’t even care what this marriage has done to me?”
His face didn’t move. “I don’t care. This marriage was never real to me.”
Savannah’s knees gave way. She sank onto the bed, the papers in front of her like chains waiting to lock her down.
Her fingers touched the pen lying on top. Her hands shook so bad she could hardly hold it.
She closed her eyes, whispering to herself. “If I sign this… I lose everything.”
Nathaniel’s voice cut through her thoughts. “If you don’t sign, you won’t leave. Ever. And when I throw you out, it will be on my terms, not yours.”
Her chest heaved. She looked up at him, her tears shining. For the first time, anger burned in her voice.
“You want me gone so bad?” she whispered. “Fine. But I will not let you destroy me. And one day, Nathaniel Steele, you will regret this.”
His eyes narrowed, but before he could answer, she slammed the pen back onto the papers, untouched.
“I will not sign tonight,” she said, her voice shaking but firm. “Not tonight.”
Nathaniel’s face hardened. His jaw clenched as he stepped even closer. “You think you can delay me? You think you can play brave?”
His cold hand grabbed the bag from her arms and threw it across the room. Clothes spilled onto the floor.
“You don’t leave this house until you sign,” he said darkly. “That is my last word.”
Savannah gasped, her body trembling. Her tears flowed faster.
Nathaniel turned and walked out of the room, his tall frame disappearing into the hallway. His voice echoed back, cold as stone.
“Don’t test me, Savannah. I will break you if I have to.”
The door slammed shut.
Savannah sat on the bed, broken, shaking, her eyes on the papers. Her chest burned with pain, but inside, a small fire refused to die.
She whispered to her baby, “I will not give up. Not now. Not ever.”
Her tears fell onto the divorce papers.
And in that moment, she made a choice.
She would fight.
Even if it killed her.
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