Unveiled: The Survivor's Triumph

I just had a miscarriage and shouldn't have to deal with more stress, but I had to tell Bella the truth as she really cared about me.

When the call connected, I was already crying. "Bell, I've lost everything, my child and my home. I'm homeless."

There was a pause, then a calm male voice. "Where are you?"

I stopped crying and checked my phone. I had called Ethan by mistake.

"Where are you? Is it where you just got off?" Ethan asked again.

I felt grateful but didn't want to trouble him more. Still, I was desperate, so I answered softly.

"Wait there, I'll be right over," he said and hung up.

In less than five minutes, Ethan's car pulled up. He rolled down the window, revealing his handsome face.

"Get in," he said, helping me with my suitcase and opening the passenger door. I got in.

Ethan's car was spotless, making me feel even more lost.

"Could you take me to East Avenue?" I asked.

My old home was in an alley off East Avenue, a remote area with old houses. I hadn't been back since I got married.

Arthur had promised I'd never suffer. While others hadn't hurt me, all my pain now came from him. I felt foolish for believing him. Thinking about it now, I felt like an idiot. Ethan smoked silently while my mind raced, and I aimlessly scrolled through my phone.

When I saw the eavesdropping app, my hand froze. Anger and hatred surged within me.

I opened the app, and the sounds of those bastards filled the car. I had forgotten to plug in my earphones.

Ethan glanced at my phone, a knowing smile on his lips, and took a deep drag of his cigarette.

I worried Ethan might think I was trying to seduce him. Hearing those sounds with a man I barely knew was mortifying. I wanted to throw my phone out the window. Seeing Ethan's reaction, I frantically pressed the volume buttons to mute the sound.

"Unique background noise," Ethan quipped after the car fell silent.

Since things were already awkward, I continued, "I just didn't expect them to be so brazen, not even giving me a shred of respect."

"Don't rely on men," Ethan advised, sounding both like a warning and comfort.