“What were you hoping to achieve?” I ask.
“Isn’t it obvious?” she asks. “Revenge.”
“For what? Because Anton wanted to divorce you?”
Her eyes narrow, her blue eyes flaring.
“He would never have divorced me,” she says. “That was just a threat made in anger. He would never have left me.”
“And you call me the gullible one.”
Her hand moves so fast that I only realize she’s struck me when the pain sears across my left cheek.
She squeezes my face in one hand and brings it forcibly to hers. “Like I said, I know him better than you ever will. That was how we were. Passionate and fiery. We fought hard and we fucked harder. Did he ever tell you that?”
I flinch, but say nothing.
She laughs. “No, why would he? That wouldn’t have helped to get you into his bed. Because that’s all he really wanted from you, Jessa. He wanted to fuck you. He would have forgotten you soon enough.”
“He asked me to move in with him.”
I should keep my mouth shut, but anger is overruling my sense of self-preservation.
“Because you’re carrying his baby,” Marina snarls. “Do you think he would have made the offer if your womb was empty?”
I shake my head. “He has… feelings for me.”
Marina throws back her head and laughs. “You poor, deluded little lamb. You’re not interesting enough to hold his attention. Trust me.”
My vision blurs again. But this time, the white spots turn dark. Marina takes on a shapeless form and I feel my consciousness start to slip.
No. If I pass out now, she’ll kill me. She’ll kill my baby.
I try to keep my grip on reality. I force my eyes open. But even then, I can’t see anything clearly. There’s only foggy shapes and searing light and a lot of fear.
“You’re a novelty, Jessa,” Marina continues. “You’re a pretty little distraction. He’s had women like you before and they’ve never lasted.”
I slump to the side. I can’t hold up the weight of my own head anymore.
“Don’t fight it,” she says in her calming tone. “There’s no point.”
No, no, no, no, no…
I hear the screech of a ringtone, loud and demanding.
“What is it?” Marina snaps, answering her phone. “What?” She sounds furious, but even in my hazy state, I recognize that she sounds scared, too. “How long?”
I close my eyes, feeling the fight leave my body. Marina drops me to the ground and stomps away. Her footsteps fade out, and then there’s only silence.
I lie there for a long time. Minutes? Hours? I can’t be sure. The whole time, I’m willing my eyelids open, begging and pleading with my body to cooperate. It’s an epic fight, but I manage to get them parted. Just a crack.
Just enough to see a face hanging over me.
Marina’s?
No.
Another face. Familiar. Comforting. Beautiful.
I must be dead. That’s the only reason I can think of for why I’m seeing Anton.
Tears slip from my eyes. I’m not sure if I’m sad or relieved. But if he’s here with me… death won’t be so bad.