Chapter 3

Olivia smiled, lowering her head to nuzzle the baby's cheek in Nathan's arms.

The three of them were so close, and it was like they'd built a little world no one else could step into.

My hands clenched at my sides before I even realized it. Nails digging in so hard that they left crescent marks in my palms.

Nathan was still trying to convince me.

"Olivia's still recovering, and I really can't let her take a cab in this cold with the baby. You drove here, right? Give me your keys, I'll take them home," Nathan said.

He reached out his hand, as if it was only natural for him to take what was mine.

Suddenly, I remembered all those times I'd asked Nathan for a birthday present. He always gave me that impatient look, questioning why I thought I had the right to ask him for anything.

Bitterness seeped into my bones.

I forced a sarcastic smile. "Didn't you crash my car?"

Nathan frowned, picked up his own coat, and passed it to Olivia, then turned to me, bossing me around.

"Just go outside and hail a cab. When it gets to the hospital entrance, call me," he said.

Everything he did just showed how much he doted on Olivia.

How many times did I drag myself through freezing nights, all for the life we were supposed to build together? The rare times I asked him to pick me up, he always refused.

He'd always say I was being dramatic. "How cold could it really be? If you're cold, just wear another layer. Why do you always have to trouble others?" That was Nathan for you.

But everything I did was for the life and dreams we were building together.

It was like everything I did was just expected. He never even thought about it, just took my devotion for granted and then poured all his care into someone else.

I guess I was just too blind to see it before.

I didn't agree with his request. Instead, I used work as an excuse and left the hospital.

As I got into the car, I saw in the rearview mirror that Nathan and Olivia were going out together, carrying the baby between them.

Nathan kept his hand protectively over Olivia's head, like he was afraid even a breath of wind might touch her.

I looked away and told the driver to step on it.

After wrapping up work, it was almost ten. I stretched, picked up my phone, and only then did I notice Nathan had messaged me half an hour ago.

Nathan: [The baby's running a fever. Olivia can't handle it alone, so I'm staying to help out. I won't be coming home tonight.]

I stared at the message for a long moment, lost in thought. It took me more than ten minutes before I finally replied.

I: [Alright, take care of them. And from now on, you don't need to come back.]

After sending that message, I went home and spent the night packing up all of Nathan's things, dumping them by the door.

Exhausted, I finally crashed into bed at three in the morning.

The next morning, I was woken up by the ringing of my phone.

As soon as I answered, Nathan's voice came through, laced with anger.

He was so angry. "Sophie, have you lost it again? I just stayed at Olivia's to help with the baby for one night. What do you mean, I don't need to come back? Is this really worth fighting over?

"Isn't today the day we're supposed to try on wedding dresses? Just get to the bridal shop. Don't make me lose my temper again."

Before I could say a word, he'd already hung up.

After all that, I figured I might as well go to the bridal shop.

I'd pulled every string I could to get my hands on that designer gown. No way was I skipping out without at least taking a look at it.

But when I got to the bridal shop, the wedding dress that was supposed to be in the display case was now on Olivia.

Nathan was dressed to the nines, cradling the baby, his eyes full of tenderness as he watched Olivia spin around in my dress.

Seeing them looking like a picture-perfect family stopped me cold.

I marched straight up to Olivia, my voice sharp. "That's my wedding dress!"