Chapter 2

Be generous?

I wanted to cry, but I almost laughed.

The man who had walked through six years of my life with me felt like a stranger right now.

When I stayed silent, Noah sighed and came over. He asked, "How's your hand? Do you want me to take you to get it looked at?"

I took a step back, shaking my head, not wanting him to come any closer.

"No, I just need some time alone," I said quietly.

I sat down by the flower bed outside the gallery, took out the pregnancy report, and kept looking at it again and again.

I was pregnant.

I'd come back early, planning to give him a surprise.

But now, the surprise was nothing but a bitter shock.

With a self-mocking laugh, I ripped the report to shreds and tossed it into the trash can nearby.

*****

Noah didn't come home that night.

He finally dragged himself through the door the next morning, with dark circles under his eyes.

When he saw me sitting on the couch, Noah massaged his temples, looking completely worn out.

He sat down beside me, sounding a little frustrated.

He said, "Claire, you know Talia. I grew up with her. Her parents treat me as their own. With her memory gone, I couldn't turn her down. But you know you are my love. That wedding with her is just a formality, nothing real."

I stared at the glass of water on the table, lost in thought.

When I didn't respond, he raised his voice a little and asked, "Claire, are you even listening to me?"

I finally looked at him, replying coldly, "So the first thing you say to me after coming home isn't about my injury, but about asking me to be okay with your wedding?"

Noah was at a loss for words for a moment, then tried to explain, "That's not what I meant, Claire. After all these years together, don't you know me? Talia's like family to me."

He pretended to care, looking at my wrist and asking, "How's your injury? Does it still hurt?"

"Noah, do you really just see her as family? Are you just trying to help her fulfill her wish?" I stared at his face for a long time, and finally let my guard down as I spoke.

Before he came back, I spent the whole night wrestling with my thoughts and decided to give him another shot.

This wasn't just about us; it was for the little one growing inside me.

The doctor said it was hard for me to conceive, and if I lost this baby, there might never be another chance for me.

I didn't want to let go of this tiny life, and I didn't want my child to be born without a dad around.

"Of course," Noah's eyes lit up as he grabbed my hand, saying with all the conviction he could muster. "Don't worry. Once the wedding's over, there won't be anything between her and me. You're my only wife."

With that, he whipped out his phone, practically itching to share the news with Talia.

"Talia, Claire said yes. See? I told you she'd agree. Don't cry, okay? I'll take you to try on wedding dresses in a bit," he said, unable to hide the smile on his face.

Talia said, her voice sweet as honey, "Can Claire come with me? Girls have such a unique eye for these things, and I'd love for her to help me choose.

"Is that okay? Claire wouldn't mind, would she?"

"Of course," Noah replied. He just agreed right away; he didn't even ask me.

After he hung up, Noah hugged me and said, "I'm sorry, I know this is tough for you. One day, I'll give you a wedding that's truly yours."

My heart felt so bitter, tears stinging my eyes, but I could only tell myself, "Hang in there, once the wedding's over, things will get better."