Chapter 1
"I want an abortion. My husband doesn't love me."
At the hospital for a prenatal check-up, I overheard the pregnant woman before me pouring her heart out to the doctor.
She looked upset, listing how her husband had let her down.
Her husband had the same name as mine.
But her husband was a CEO of a public company; mine worked a regular nine-to-five job.
I didn't care and filled out the family info and phone number after asking about the prenatal check-up.
Then the doctor gave me a strange look.
"Ma'am, please provide truthful relative info," the doctor said.
"You can't copy the previous lady's information."
I froze, dumbfounded.
I instinctively glanced at the form the pregnant woman left on the desk.
The column for husband, including his name, phone number, date of birth, and household registration, was exactly the same as what I had filled out.
*****
Still shocked by the coincidence, I saw the pregnant woman ahead burst into tears again.
Unable to control her, the medical staff called her family.
As the call connected, a gentle male voice came through the speaker.
"What's wrong, sweetheart? Who upset you?"
The woman had just calmed when his voice made her cry again.
She shouted, "Who are you calling sweetheart, Shawn? You don't love me! I'm aborting the baby and divorcing you now.
"Once divorced, I'm leaving for a place you can't find me."
The guy instantly sounded panicked; his voice showed how much he cared.
He comforted, "Stay there, honey. I'm coming."
After hanging up, the woman sat quietly, her eyes red and puffy.
I was frozen, totally spaced out. That guy's voice sounded way too familiar.
An impossible thought crossed my mind.
But when I took a good look at her clothes, I shook my head.
She wore luxury brands my working-class husband couldn't afford.
"Here, take a new form. Don't mess up this time." the doctor said with a smile.
I kept comparing details, wondering if pregnancy was making me imagine this bizarre event.
The doctor beside me joked.
"You two must be destined—you filled out the same family info and even look alike."
The woman stared at me, wide-eyed in surprise.
Her curious eyes made my heart skip and left me nervously unsettled.
It felt suddenly beyond my control.
I forced a weak smile and reached for the pen when a worried voice interrupted.
"Raina, are you okay?"
I turned and saw the face I wake up to every morning.
I was about to call his name to stop him.
But he only had eyes for her.
He rushed over and hugged the woman like treasure.
"Raina, you nearly gave me a heart attack!" he said, worried.