Chapter 2

Back then, I'd call William without a second thought. Because I knew he was the only person in the world I could really rely on.

But it was not like that anymore. He got someone special now.

No matter how complicated my feelings for him get, I'd never do anything to come between them.

I turned and headed for my bedroom, keeping my voice low. "I'm not going. Go back to your girlfriend, okay? I can handle myself."

But before I could even finish, William grabbed my wrist and dragged me out of the room.

His grip was so strong it hurt, and I instinctively tried to break free.

"What are you doing? I said I'm not going," I cried out.

His brows knitted. Clear annoyance was written all over his face.

I fought him with everything I had, but William finally snapped. He scooped me up bridal-style, locking me tight in his arms.

On his way out, he didn't forget to snatch the blanket off the couch.

Outside, the blizzard was relentless. I was bundled up in the blanket, but snow piled up on William's coat in no time.

Suddenly, I started worrying about him. What if he caught a cold in this crazy snowstorm?

Thinking that, I stopped fighting and just snuggled into his arms, letting him hold me.

But we'd barely taken a few steps when William suddenly stopped in his tracks, going completely rigid.

I turned my head and saw Emily standing not far away.

Her umbrella dropped to the ground, as her tears mingled with the falling snow on her cheeks. She was shaking, her voice breaking as she spoke.

"What's happening here?" Emily asked, her words trembling.

William heard her and immediately let go of me, putting me down.

I barely had time to steady myself before he hurried over to Emily and wrapped the blanket, which was still warm from me, around her shoulders.

I landed on the freezing ground, watching William rush to comfort Emily and get ready to take her home.

Before leaving, he glanced at me and said, "Sophia, you need to figure out where you're going to stay tonight. Emily and I need to go."

With that, they walked away without even looking back.

Just then, a sharp pain stabbed through my lower belly.

I glanced down and saw the snow beneath me soaked in blood, a stark red against the white.

After that, everything was a blur. I had no idea when I lost consciousness, only that the world faded away before I could even react.

When I finally came to, I was lying in a hospital bed. The doctor told me quietly that I'd had a miscarriage.

I reached out and touched my still-flat stomach, but inside, I felt nothing. No grief, no tears, just emptiness.

I never really expected to have this baby, so when I lost it, I didn't feel much sadness. I just felt like fate was playing a cruel joke on me.

Lost in my thoughts, I barely noticed when the nurse came in to do her rounds.

She glanced at me and said, "Your attending doctor paid for your treatment. You didn't have your phone with you when you came in, so we couldn't get in touch with your family."

Then she took a phone out of her pocket and handed it to me. "Since you're awake, go ahead and make a call yourself."

I knew William's number by heart, so I dialed it without even thinking.

The call was picked up right away, but it was a bright female voice on the other end. "Hi, William's busy right now. If it's important, call back later."

Bitterness welled up inside me, but I just replied, "Okay."

Emily must have recognized my voice, because she gave a mocking laugh. "Sophia, right? William said he wouldn't answer your calls anymore. Don't bother us again."

Just as she was about to hang up, I quickly said, "Wait. I just need to say a couple things to him."

To my surprise, Emily started crying. "William, does Sophia like you or something? She knows we're together, but she keeps trying to come between us. If she really likes you, I'll back off."

William sighed, sounding calm. "Emily, don't say that. Sophia was engaged to my brother."

I tugged at the blanket, forcing myself to breathe through the pain.

Before I could get a word in, William ended the call.

I just sat there, dazed, not even sure what I was feeling.

The procedure wasn't a big deal, so I got discharged that same day.

Back home, I stuffed the hospital papers into my bedroom desk drawer.

This drawer held all my most precious things. Those were mementos from my parents and Andrew, proof that my baby was ever here, and the one thing William brought back for me when I was ill.

I ran my fingers gently over Andrew's keepsake, noticing the dried bloodstain still clinging to it.

I quietly told these things about how William's been doing lately.

Finally, I put Andrew's keepsake back in the drawer and murmured, "Andrew, I think it's time I started living my own life."

I locked the drawer softly, as if I could seal away everything that ever happened.

Then I started packing my things and booked a flight for three days later, ready to say goodbye to this place and all its memories once and for all.

From then on, I buried myself in my art, letting every brushstroke carry the weight of my feelings.

As for William, he stayed with Emily, just like always.

My phone kept getting their lovey-dovey selfies. Obviously, Emily was rubbing it in my face.

William tried calling me a few times, but I ignored every single one.