Chapter 2
When Bianca had a sudden stomach issue and Carter rushed her to the ER, he stayed a gentleman, touching only as needed.
He knew her fingerprint code and tracked her period.
A distillation flask once exploded, causing second-degree burns on my arm.
Carter teased me for being soft while patching me up.
"If you can't handle pain, why do science?" he said.
I always knew Carter was a research maniac and assumed that was his default with everyone.
But when Bianca, another scientist, was slightly hurt...
If she barely scratched her finger on a test tube brush, he'd freak out.
He murmured softly, trying to comfort her unconsciously.
He'd let her cry on his shoulder, even if her tears soaked his shirt.
He couldn't say a harsh word to her.
When did this start?
I closed my eyes to remember.
At Carter's brother's funeral, Bianca cried until she passed out in his arms.
His eyes showed only heartache.
From that day, Carter cared for Bianca, his "sister-in-law."
Bianca was pregnant.
Carter was more excited than when he first learned I was expecting.
He was always calm, but now he grinned like a kid with a new bike.
He didn't care I was still pregnant.
He grabbed me, spun me, and shouted.
"Nia, I'm so happy! Bianca's pregnant!
"This baby is all my brother left me.
"Bianca won't have to cry or feel hopeless every day.
"Even for this baby, she'll find strength to keep going."
I just nodded, dazed.
I didn't dwell on it. Carter was so happy he was crying.
Was it because his late brother left a child to remember him by?
Or was it because Bianca finally had a reason to live?
I just knew it.
From then on, Bianca came first from then on.
He used "taking care of his sister-in-law" to trap me.
Every thread of that net exceeded family but never became love.
Carter believed that staying physically "pure" made his constant attention and favoritism toward Bianca harmless.
Trapped, I wasn't allowed any jealousy or envy.
If I did, Carter would just frown and call me childish.
"Even if Bianca wasn't family or pregnant with my brother's baby.
"Even as just a coworker, she lost her husband and is raising his only child alone.
"We should still care for her.
"You're both pregnant. Can't you empathize with her?"
Even my colleagues tried to reason with me.
Someone said, "Carter has always been good to you. We all see it.
"Remember your pancreatitis? He told you to toughen up but looked pale with worry. He stayed awake by your side for three days and nights.
"He skipped the key annual university conference and lost a month's pay. Bet he never told you.
"Don't overthink it. Carter's priorities are clear; he's protecting Bianca because she was his brother's wife.
"Once Bianca has the baby, Carter will stop fussing over her."
I thought they had a point.
So, I simply went along with it.
Day after day, I just kept enduring it.
I stayed silent until Bianca suddenly accused me of giving her something that could cause a miscarriage.
I was pregnant too. Why would I risk that?
She didn't have a single piece of proof.
Carter didn't blink and immediately sided with her.
I stayed silent until Carter gave my hard work to Bianca just to please her.
All because she happened to complain casually.
"If Nia hadn't given me that medicine, I'd be doing my experiments, not stuck in the hospital. That chemistry award would be mine," she said.
I won't put up with it anymore.
But I made a choice, one last chance, for Carter, for us, for the ten years that bound us.
I locked eyes with Carter, refusing to look away.
"I finally finished this project after nearly a year.
"Over 300 days, even pregnant and on Christmas Eve, I never slacked and lived in the lab.
"You gave it all to Bianca without a second thought over baseless accusations.
"How could you do this to me?"
The more I spoke, the more upset I became, my eyes filled with tears.
Carter's eyes softened briefly but he didn't budge.