Chapter 3

I didn't know when I passed out.

When I woke up, the news hit me like a freight train: I had been pregnant. And I had just lost the baby.

I rested a hand on my flat stomach. I didn't feel the devastating grief I thought I should.

I had never expected this baby, so losing it didn't feel like a loss.

All I felt was a profound, exhausting sense of absurdity—like fate was playing a cruel joke on me.

A nurse pushed the door open to check my vitals.

"You're awake. When you were brought in, we couldn't reach any of your emergency contacts. The attending doctor covered your initial fees."

She pulled a phone from her pocket and handed it to me. "Now that you're up, you should make a call."

Noah's number was burned into my memory.

The call connected quickly, but it wasn't Noah who answered. It was a sickly-sweet female voice.

"Hello? Noah's really busy right now. Call back later."

My throat tightened. "Okay."

She recognized my voice and let out a soft, mocking laugh.

"Oh, it's Claire. Noah said he's not taking your calls anymore. Please stop bothering us."

Just as she was about to hang up, I forced the words out. "Wait. I just need to speak to him for a second."

Before I could continue, Mia suddenly burst into theatrical sobs.

"Noah! Does Claire have feelings for you? She knows we're together, but she keeps trying to get between us! If you want her, just tell me..."

I heard Noah sigh heavily in the background.

"Mia, stop. She was just my brother's girlfriend."

The nurse shot me a look of pity, cleared her throat softly, and turned away to give me privacy.

I gripped the hospital blanket, trying to breathe through the sharp pain radiating from my core.

Before I could say another word, Noah ended the call.

I stared at the black screen for a long moment. Then, I dialed Marcus.

The D&C procedure was quick. I was treated and discharged the same day.

Back at my apartment, I hired someone to fix the shattered window. Then, I tucked the hospital discharge papers into the drawer of my nightstand.

That drawer held everything precious to me.

My parents' belongings, Ethan's keepsakes, the medical record of a pregnancy that no longer existed, and the four-leaf clover pendant Noah had given me when I was sick three years ago.

I opened Ethan's box and whispered to him about how much Noah had changed over the years.

Then, I closed it and slid the drawer shut.

"Ethan, it's time I start living my own life."

I locked the drawer, packed my bags, and booked a flight to Paris for five days later.

For those five days, I locked myself in the apartment and painted. Noah took Mia on a getaway upstate. Every now and then, I'd receive anonymous texts with photos of them looking happy and in love.

I knew it was Mia.

Noah called a few times. I didn't answer a single one.

On the morning of the fifth day, I received a call from an unknown number.

"Claire, Noah proposed to me."

It was the third time Mia had reached out to provoke me. I hadn't engaged before, and this time, I only gave her one word.

"Okay."

A second later, a photo of a diamond ring on her finger popped up on my screen.

A wave of bitterness surged in my chest, but I swallowed it down. I typed back: Congratulations.

Then I hung up and drove to JFK Airport.

Right before boarding, a text from Noah came through.

[Claire, why aren't you home?]

That was followed by back-to-back phone calls.

I ignored them all.

Just before my phone died, I finally called him back.

"Noah, have a good life. Goodbye."

A hoarse, furious roar instantly exploded through the speaker.

"I saw your nightstand drawer! Are you running because you're terrified I'd find out you got pregnant and lost the baby?! Do you feel guilty for betraying my brother?!"

I had my AirPods in, and his screaming made my eardrums throb.

I turned the volume down. Listening to his unhinged accusations, a cold laugh escaped my lips.

"Noah, did you forget? Ethan and I were never married."

"I was just his girlfriend. Even if I got pregnant and miscarried, I don't owe your dead brother an explanation."

I paused, letting the silence stretch for a lethal second.

"Besides, do you really not know who the father was?"

Chapter 3

I didn't know when I passed out.

When I woke up, the news hit me like a freight train: I had been pregnant. And I had just lost the baby.

I rested a hand on my flat stomach. I didn't feel the devastating grief I thought I should.

I had never expected this baby, so losing it didn't feel like a loss.

All I felt was a profound, exhausting sense of absurdity—like fate was playing a cruel joke on me.

A nurse pushed the door open to check my vitals.

"You're awake. When you were brought in, we couldn't reach any of your emergency contacts. The attending doctor covered your initial fees."

She pulled a phone from her pocket and handed it to me. "Now that you're up, you should make a call."

Noah's number was burned into my memory.

The call connected quickly, but it wasn't Noah who answered. It was a sickly-sweet female voice.

"Hello? Noah's really busy right now. Call back later."

My throat tightened. "Okay."

She recognized my voice and let out a soft, mocking laugh.

"Oh, it's Claire. Noah said he's not taking your calls anymore. Please stop bothering us."

Just as she was about to hang up, I forced the words out. "Wait. I just need to speak to him for a second."

Before I could continue, Mia suddenly burst into theatrical sobs.

"Noah! Does Claire have feelings for you? She knows we're together, but she keeps trying to get between us! If you want her, just tell me..."

I heard Noah sigh heavily in the background.

"Mia, stop. She was just my brother's girlfriend."

The nurse shot me a look of pity, cleared her throat softly, and turned away to give me privacy.

I gripped the hospital blanket, trying to breathe through the sharp pain radiating from my core.

Before I could say another word, Noah ended the call.

I stared at the black screen for a long moment. Then, I dialed Marcus.

The D&C procedure was quick. I was treated and discharged the same day.

Back at my apartment, I hired someone to fix the shattered window. Then, I tucked the hospital discharge papers into the drawer of my nightstand.

That drawer held everything precious to me.

My parents' belongings, Ethan's keepsakes, the medical record of a pregnancy that no longer existed, and the four-leaf clover pendant Noah had given me when I was sick three years ago.

I opened Ethan's box and whispered to him about how much Noah had changed over the years.

Then, I closed it and slid the drawer shut.

"Ethan, it's time I start living my own life."

I locked the drawer, packed my bags, and booked a flight to Paris for five days later.

For those five days, I locked myself in the apartment and painted. Noah took Mia on a getaway upstate. Every now and then, I'd receive anonymous texts with photos of them looking happy and in love.

I knew it was Mia.

Noah called a few times. I didn't answer a single one.

On the morning of the fifth day, I received a call from an unknown number.

"Claire, Noah proposed to me."

It was the third time Mia had reached out to provoke me. I hadn't engaged before, and this time, I only gave her one word.

"Okay."

A second later, a photo of a diamond ring on her finger popped up on my screen.

A wave of bitterness surged in my chest, but I swallowed it down. I typed back: Congratulations.

Then I hung up and drove to JFK Airport.

Right before boarding, a text from Noah came through.

[Claire, why aren't you home?]

That was followed by back-to-back phone calls.

I ignored them all.

Just before my phone died, I finally called him back.

"Noah, have a good life. Goodbye."

A hoarse, furious roar instantly exploded through the speaker.

"I saw your nightstand drawer! Are you running because you're terrified I'd find out you got pregnant and lost the baby?! Do you feel guilty for betraying my brother?!"

I had my AirPods in, and his screaming made my eardrums throb.

I turned the volume down. Listening to his unhinged accusations, a cold laugh escaped my lips.

"Noah, did you forget? Ethan and I were never married."

"I was just his girlfriend. Even if I got pregnant and miscarried, I don't owe your dead brother an explanation."

I paused, letting the silence stretch for a lethal second.

"Besides, do you really not know who the father was?"