Damien Shaw's blood ran cold. Rage boiled up inside him, hot and consuming. Harriet had lied to him, had deceived him at the most fundamental level. She had acted like Damien was the unfaithful one when she found out about Melissa, but she was carrying another man's child?
Damien's fists clenched involuntarily, his knuckles turning white. How could she?
Another buzz on his phone. A call from the hospital. "Mr. Shaw, you need to come to the hospital immediately. It's about Harriet. She's... something's happening to her."
Damien didn't even respond. He turned on his heel and headed for the exit, his mind racing. What now? What could possibly be happening now?
The drive to the hospital was a blur. His mind was a chaotic mess. When he arrived, he practically ran through the sterile corridors, his footsteps echoing off the cold, white walls.
One part of him was going crazy at the fact that something might be happening to Harriet and he wasn't sure why he felt that way. Another part of him begged for him to loathe her because she betrayed him. Both feelings clashed, turning to rage.
This time, the betrayal was a two way street.
As Damien approached Harriet's room, he heard a commotion. The door was slightly ajar, and he pushed it open to find Harriet thrashing on the bed, her eyes wild and unseeing. Nurses and doctors surrounded her, trying to restrain her without causing harm.
"What's happening?" He demanded, his voice sharp.
Dr. Reynolds, the attending physician, turned to him. "Mr. Shaw, we believe Harriet is experiencing a severe psychological breakdown. This behavior is likely the result of trauma. Something drastic must have happened to trigger this. We need to admit her to a mental institution for at least three months to ensure she gets the proper care and treatment."
Damien stood there, his anger boiling over. This was too much. First, the betrayal with the child, and now this. His head throbbed as he watched the nurses trying to hold Harriet down. This woman lied to him and was currently carrying another man's child. The thought made a sickening feeling rise up his lungs and in that moment, he exploded.
"Do whatever you want," Damien snapped, his voice like ice. "If she needs to be in a mental institution, then put her there. I don't care anymore."
He turned and stormed out of the room, the door slamming shut behind him. The rage inside him felt like it was consuming him. This was the right thing to do. Harriet had lied to him, and now she was falling apart. Her family had abandoned her years ago and it was now his turn to.
Harriet Prescott was out of his hands now.
———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
When Harriet woke again, she was in a different place. The room was dimly lit, the shadows dancing eerily on the walls. Her head throbbed, and she felt disoriented.
The door creaked open, and she flinched. A nurse walked in. "Harriet, how are you feeling? You're in the psychiatric wing. Your husband... he thought it best for you to be here after your episode."
Harriet's heart sank. Melissa's plan had worked. She was trapped, helpless, and alone. How could Damien do this to her? Why would he agree to have them put her there? What about…their child?
"But don't worry, Harriet. You'll get transported to the mental institution soon and you'll get the best treatment." the nurse added.
Cold shivers darted through Harriet's spine as she realized the full extent of this betrayal. How was she going to get out of this? How could she prove her sanity when the world around her believed she was losing her mind?
As the nurse adjusted her IV, Harriet knew she had to fight. For her baby, for herself. As soon as the nurse was out of the room, she tried to sit up, but her limbs felt weak and unresponsive. But she persisted and swung her legs over the edge of the bed, willing herself to move.
Stumbling towards the door, Harriet reached out, but two nurses grabbed her, their grips firm and unyielding.
"Please, I'm not crazy!" She begged, her voice cracking as she desperately tried to free herself from their grips. "You have to believe me!"
"It's for your own good," one of them said softly, and before Harriet could protest further, she felt a sharp prick in her arm. The world around her blurred and darkened as she fell into unconsciousness again.
***
When Harriet woke, she was in a moving van, the rough, jostling motion made her head spin. The walls of the van were metal and cold, the small windows covered with bars. The smell of antiseptic and sweat filled the cramped space.
Around her were other patients, some muttering to themselves, others eerily silent. Her heart pounded. Tears streamed down her face as I realized the extent of her helplessness. The van hit a bump, and she winced, clutching her abdomen. The baby—her baby—needed her to be strong. But she felt anything but strong.
A sudden screech of tires tore through the air, followed by a bone-jarring impact. The van skidded, metal screeching against asphalt. The force threw Harriet against the side of the van, and she cried out in pain. The world spun around her, and everything went dark.
When her eyes opened again, the van was on its side. The metal groaned ominously, and the smell of gasoline filled the air. Harriet tried to move, but a searing pain shot through her leg. Panic surged through her as she looked around. Bodies lay motionless, blood staining the floor. Everyone else was dead. She was alone, trapped in a nightmare.
Her breaths came in short, painful gasps. She could feel herself slipping away. Was she going to die? So this was what death felt like? Like a feather, drifting away. She had heard people say that when you're at death's door, you'll see a movie of your life played back.
She could see hers right now. Images from her childhood flickering in her mind. She saw herself taking her first steps, her mother's arms outstretched, her face lit with joy. Painting potrait at the playground, picking flowers with her mother, the sun warm on her face. The warmth of her mother's embrace, the safety she felt with her.
This was it, this really was the end of Harriet Prescott.
The world started to fade and Harriet's senses started to dull. She clung to those memories, the only good memories in her final moments because every memory with Damien Shaw was cursed. She fell in love with the wrong person and this was her punishment.
Harriet could almost hear her mother's voice, soothing and gentle.
As the darkness consumed her, she whispered a silent goodbye to her unborn child. The pain eased, replaced by a strange, floating sensation.
And finally, she blacked out.