Dread flooded my chest. I threw myself at the door and pounded on it with both fists:
"Ezra! What are you doing? Open this door!"
His voice came through muffled, thick with something I couldn't name:
"You know Denise is pregnant. She's still young. If she keeps the baby on her own, her reputation will be ruined for good. I already promised her that once she gives birth, we'll take the child in and raise it as ours..."
"I know you resent Denise. And to make sure you won't mistreat the baby in the future... I can only make it so you can't have children of your own. Without a child of your own, you'll pour everything into that one."
The cold spread through me like poison. I screamed until my throat burned:
"You've lost your mind, Ezra! You want to make it up to her? Fine! Divorce me and do whatever you want! But what gives you the right to destroy me? What gives you the right to ruin my body just to prop up your love story with her?!"
His voice dropped low, almost gentle:
"You owe Denise this... You've always owed her. You owe her and the baby a life..."
"Shelagh, I promise, after this, I'll cut ties with Denise completely. I'll be good to you for the rest of our lives..."