Chapter 3

The day I was supposed to leave for the rural teaching program came faster than I expected.

After I was discharged from the hospital, I decided to stop by the school office first to pack up the things I needed to take with me.

The moment I walked into the office, Sophie spotted me. She'd deliberately placed the herbal supplements on her desk where everyone could see them, and she put on this overly friendly smile as she walked over.

She said, "Emma, you just had a miscarriage, so your body must be really weak right now. Do you want me to share some of these herbs with you?"

She paused, glancing at the packages like they were precious treasures. "I don't have much left though, but when Ryan brings me more next time, I'll make sure you get some first."

The way she flaunted it wasn't even subtle, but I couldn't bring myself to care anymore.

I'd played blind for eight years, and I wasn't going to keep doing it.

I finished packing my things and headed out, but I ran straight into Ryan in the hallway.

The second he saw me, his first instinct was to hide the bag of herbal supplements he was holding behind his back.

"Emma, why didn't you tell me you were getting discharged? I would've picked you up," he said, forcing a smile onto his face.

But then his eyes dropped to my left hand, and when he noticed my ring finger was bare, his expression shifted to panic. "Where's your wedding ring?"

I glanced down at the pale band of skin where the ring had been and shrugged. "I probably left it at the hospital."

The fact that he even had to ask proved he hadn't been home at all these past few days. If he had, he would've seen the ring sitting right there on the table where I'd left it.

We'd been together for eight years, and we were supposed to get our marriage license right after the wedding ceremony.

However, after Ryan ran out on our wedding, he never mentioned getting the license again. Even now, he was still just my fiancé—nothing more.

When he realized I hadn't taken off the ring myself, Ryan's expression softened considerably.

His voice dropped low as he said, "I know losing the baby was my fault. We'll have plenty of kids in the future, I promise. The moment you get pregnant, we'll go get the license right away. Deal?"

I smiled and agreed. Setting aside the fact that I'd already decided to leave him, the miscarriage had left me with slim chances of ever getting pregnant again.

Ryan had no idea. He just assumed I was the same as always—that if he softened his tone even a little, I'd forgive him for anything.

I stepped aside to let him pass, but Ryan hesitated. Finally, he steeled himself and said, "The school's selecting outstanding teachers soon. You've already won that award so many times—could you maybe let Sophie have it this time?"

I didn't want to argue with him. My flight's check-in time was approaching fast. "Fine. I'll do it."

Ryan's face lit up with a smile. He hadn't smiled at me like that in forever, but now he looked genuinely thrilled. "Emma, Sophie is my sister, and she's your sister too. After we get married, she'll be family, so you should cut her some slack, okay?"

He opened his mouth to say something else, but Sophie pushed open the office door and hurried over to his side.

She wrapped her arms around his and whined, "Ryan, I've been waiting forever. Come help me rub my stomach—this heating pad isn't working like your hands do."

Ryan shot me an awkward smile, but he didn't put up a fight. Sophie pulled him straight into her office, and he went willingly.

I was just about to leave when Kennedy's call came through.

I thought he was calling about the rural teaching program, but the second I answered, I heard the anger simmering in his voice.

"Emma, did you know Ryan already married with someone else three years ago?"