Chapter 2

The first thing my husband did when he came home was hand me a bowl of medicine to make sure I never got pregnant.

Sitting frozen on the living room sofa, I had already hidden my ultrasound report deep inside my drawer.

When the front door opened, Bennett walked in and took off his expensive suit jacket before heading straight to me.

He knelt on the floor and took my cold hands in his and blew hot air onto my fingers to warm them.

"Your hands are freezing, Nora," he said softly, kissing my knuckles. "I cancelled my evening meeting. I will cook dinner for you tonight."

I looked down into his dark, warm eyes.

For eight years, Bennett had treated me like a fragile treasure.

He never raised his voice at me.

He bought me fresh roses every week.

He held me tightly every time I woke up from a nightmare.

Everyone said he was the perfect, devoted husband.

Because he was so flawless, I never doubted him.

I never suspected the man kissing my hands was actually destroying my life.

Thirty minutes later, he walked out of the kitchen.

He held a small porcelain bowl.

Dark, bitter liquid steamed inside it.

Eight years ago, I survived a terrible car crash and lost our first baby.

Bennett told me my body was severely damaged. He said the doctors prescribed this special medicine to heal my womb.

I wanted to give him a child so badly.

So, I drank this bitter liquid every single day for eight years.

"Time for your medicine, sweetheart," Bennett said.

I took the bowl from his hands.

"I want a glass of water first," I said.

Bennett nodded and walked back to the kitchen.

I quickly poured the dark liquid into a small glass bottle.

I hid the bottle deep in my pocket.

When Bennett returned, I held up the empty bowl.

"Good girl." he smiled. He leaned in and kissed my forehead.

The next morning, Bennett went to the office.

I drove straight to the hospital.

I gave the small bottle to Miles Carter.

Miles was a gynecologist. He was also my old college friend.

I sat in his office. My hands were shaking.

Miles walked in with a lab report. His face was very pale.

"What is in it, Miles?" I asked.

"Nora..." Miles hesitated. He placed the paper on the desk. "It contains high doses of contraceptive ingredients."

The room spun around me.

"Birth control?" I asked. "Is it... is it a recent addition?"

Miles shook his head slowly.

"Based on your blood test results, you have been taking this drug for years."

I grabbed the edge of his desk. My knuckles turned white.

"But eight years ago..." My voice broke. "The crash ruined my body. I lost my ability to get pregnant."

Miles walked over. He gripped my shoulders.

"Nora, your reproductive organs are healthy. You never lost your ability to get pregnant."

The air left my lungs.

My eight years of guilt. My eight years of feeling like a broken woman.

It was all a lie.

That night, I stood by the dark kitchen window.

Warm arms wrapped around my waist from behind.

Bennett rested his chin on my shoulder.

"Why are you crying, my love?" he asked softly.

His voice was so gentle. So full of worry.

I looked at our reflection in the dark glass.

I finally understood.

Each time he coaxed me to drink that medicine, he knew what he was doing.