My BFF’s “Gift” for My Daughter? She’s Pregnant With MY Husband’s Baby! Chapter 24
I shook my head fast. “Been taking too many iron supplements lately. You know, for the anemia.”
He opened his mouth to say something when Summer came running out.
“Perry! Payton’s having an allergic reaction! I’m freaking out here-”
Perry glanced at me. Then bolted back inside.
The second he was gone, I doubled over coughing. Hand came away covered in blood.
After I dumped that trash, I swung by the hospital for pain meds.
Doctor tried the chemo talk again. I smiled.
“Chemo buys me six months. Six painful months. I’ve suffered enough while I’m alive. Let me go easy when it’s time.”
He looked at me like he wanted to argue. Didn’t.
I stayed at the hospital overnight.
Got home the next day. Everyone was sitting on the couch looking furious.
“Charlotte, how could you DO that?” Mom’s eyes were red. She was screaming.
Wait-did they find out I’m sick? That I quit treatment?
I walked closer. Confused as hell. “What’s going on?”
Perry’s face was stone cold. “Payton almost died yesterday. Peanut allergy.”
“You KNEW Summer’s allergic to peanuts. But you put peanut butter in the food anyway.”
I looked at Summer. She wouldn’t meet my eyes.
Unbelievable. She used her own kid to frame me.
“I didn’t put peanuts in anything.”
My flat denial made Mom snap. She shot up and slapped me so hard the sound echoed through the whole room.
Everything spun. I hit the floor. Barely managed to swallow down the blood pooling in my throat.
Dad moved to help me. Mom grabbed his arm.
“We spoiled her rotten. Now she hurts people and won’t even own up to it.”
Tears hit the floor. Mom kept going.
“I wish I’d never raised you at all.”
She stormed out. Dad chased after her.
Long silence. Then Summer crouched down next to me. All sympathetic.
Chele Drognant With MY Husband’s Baby!
“Charlie, Payton’s still unconscious. But it’s okay. I know you didn’t mean it.”
Perry scooped her up-her eyes all red and swollen. Voice went soft:
“Summer baby, you’ve been up all night. Go get some sleep.”
After they left, I dragged myself up. Fumbled for my pain meds and swallowed two.
“What are you taking?”
Perry’s voice from behind me.
I didn’t answer. He grabbed my hand. Eyes went wide.
“Charlotte, when did you get this thin?”
He shoved that concern down quick. Got angry instead:
“Payton’s innocent. I don’t care how much you hate me-you come at ME. Not a kid.”
I’m innocent too. How come nobody sees that?
“I don’t hate you. And I didn’t try to hurt anyone.”
I grabbed a few things and headed for the door.
Opened it. Mom was standing there crying.
Saw my bag. Froze.
“Where are you going?”
Then immediately got mad again. “Fine! Leave! Don’t come back till you apologize!”
I checked into the hospital. Had just enough cash for one month.
Days crawled by. My hair started falling out.
I walked through every park in the city.
Then Perry called.
“Charlie, you doing okay out there? Mom and Dad are worried. Come home. Tomorrow’s your birthday. Let’s celebrate together.”
I looked at myself in the mirror-basically just bones now. Kept my voice steady:
“You take care of them for me. I’m good where I am.”
That night, pain started clawing through my bones.
Reached for the pill bottle on the nightstand. My fingers were too weak. It clattered to the floor. White pills scattered everywhere.
Blood flooded my mouth. I clamped my hand over it. Red seeped through my fingers onto the white sheets.
At least I won’t have to celebrate another birthday.
My vision blurred. Went dark.
Everything stopped.
#C!&* £on Me Deuchter? She’s Dromant With My Husband’s Baby!
