I quickly turned away to avoid the camera and stood up to leave.
I was standing on the balcony getting some air when James followed me out, his voice uncertain.
“I didn’t know Sophie would be streaming. Everything they say in the chat isn’t true. I’m just playing along for her stream. I’ve asked her to stop.”
I nodded indifferently and went back to the party.
The host was on stage talking about the company’s future.
Sophie approached me with a champagne flute, tapping it against my drink with a sweet smile.
“Hey Rach, my followers all say James and I are perfect together. Who do you think he likes more, you or me?”
I turned away. “You should ask him that, but I think he prefers you.”
Sophie leaned in closer, eyes narrowing as she giggled. “Really? I think so too.”
Something felt wrong. I tried to step back, but Sophie had already thrown herself to the floor.
Before I could react, someone shoved my shoulder hard. My lower back slammed into the table edge, drinks spilling everywhere.
Sudden, intense pain shot through my abdomen, making me dizzy.
I clutched my stomach, steadying myself against the table as I felt something warm running down my legs.
James rushed to help Sophie up, yelling at me in front of everyone. “Rachel, when will you stop being crazy? You…”
Then he saw the blood. His eyes widened in realization, his voice shaking. “You’re… you’re pregnant?”
James frantically pulled out his phone to call an ambulance.
Sophie grabbed his hand, then reached into her purse and offered me a pad, acting concerned.
“Did you leak through, Rach? Here, take this.”
James stopped dialing and stared at me for a moment before throwing Sophie’s pad at me, mortified.
“Go clean yourself up. Stop embarrassing everyone.”
Then he left, holding Sophie’s hand.
With Sophie around, we couldn’t even maintain a facade of harmony.
I forced myself outside and called my best friend, fighting through the pain.
“Nina, can you take me to the hospital?”
I closed my eyes, my voice cracking. “I think I’m having a miscarriage.”
As I finished speaking, intense dizziness hit me. I heard hurried footsteps and an anxious voice nearby as my vision went black and I collapsed into warm arms.
