Chapter 3

"We really need a family photo in the house. Every time I see it, I feel overflowing with happiness, and it gives me so much energy for work," Dylan said.

I stared at him, thinking he was so insincere.

At breakfast, I didn't see Ellis.

"She's off today and said she wanted to sleep in," Dylan said.

I nodded, thinking, 'She must've been exhausted last night.'

Dylan went to work, Jaxton went to kindergarten, and I went to the hospital alone.

"Miss Bradley, you've really been through a lot this past year trying for a second child. Are you sure you want to go through with the procedure?" the doctor asked.

I gently touched my belly, knowing this baby didn't come easily, but it just wasn't the right time.

I fought back the tears and nodded firmly.

"I've made up my mind. Please go ahead and schedule it," I said.

The doctor looked at me with a knowing expression, but didn't try to persuade me otherwise. She'd seen all kinds of cases, and mine was pretty common for her.

"I can schedule the procedure for three days from now," I said.

"But your health isn't in the best shape, and there's a chance you might have trouble conceiving in the future after this," she added.

I knew Dylan adored kids. When Jaxton was born, he couldn't wait to tell everyone the good news, and even sent me 999 roses to thank me for all I'd gone through.

Later, he brought up having another baby.

Thinking back, it was at a company party. Dylan and I were there together, and we ran into the CEO and his wife.

I already knew Kaya Hinton from my volunteer work at the orphanage. She came to donate, and that's how we met.

"Dylan, we should have another baby. More kids, more blessings," the CEO said.

It was like that one comment from the CEO was all it took for Dylan to start begging me for a second child.

Looking back, every time he showed he loved me, it was so open and passionate, like he wanted the whole world to know.

Everyone knew Dylan was head over heels for his wife. At work and with clients, he was famous for being so family-oriented. The kind of guy everyone trusted to do business with.

In the six years we had been married, he went from just a junior manager all the way up to deputy general manager of the whole group.

Just like that fortune-teller said, I was the kind of wife who brought her husband good luck.

I used to think he loved me, loved our kids. Turns out, all along, he only cared about himself.

I was nothing more than a piece in the picture-perfect life he wanted everyone to see.

There was a number saved in my phone, and I kept hesitating whether to reach out to him.

Did I really want Dylan to suffer punishment?

But I just couldn't bring myself to do it.

When I got home, Ellis was in the middle of a yoga session.

Her fitted yoga outfit showed off just how energetic she was. She was absolutely bursting with energy.

"Hey, wanna join me for some yoga?" Ellis called out.

"No, I'm just gonna go rest," I replied.

Ellis came over and grabbed my hand, trying to pull me onto the mat.

"Come on, exercise is supposed to help with getting pregnant!" she teased.

As soon as Ellis mentioned getting pregnant, all I could think about was what went down between her and Dylan last night.

I pulled my hand away from her, irritation bubbling up inside me.

"I don't need it!" I snapped.

Ellis suddenly stumbled backward and crashed hard onto the floor.

I barely touched her. There was no way she should've gone down like that.

At the doorway, Dylan came rushing in, Jaxton in tow, looking panicked. "Ellis!"

Dylan shoved me aside so hard that I slammed right into the corner of the table. A sharp pain shot through my belly, and I doubled over, clutching my stomach.

Dylan picked Ellis up in his arms.

"Ellis, are you okay?" he asked, his voice full of worry.

Ellis's eyes welled up with tears, hurt and aggrieved.

"Amina, why did you push me? I just mentioned yoga might help with getting pregnant. I wasn't trying to insult you or anything," Ellis said, her voice trembling.

Dylan shot me a fierce glare.

"Amina, apologize to Ellis! She's spent months making you all those special meals to help your health, and this is the thanks she gets?" he snapped.

Jaxton clenched his little fists and glared at me, just like the grown-ups.

"Mom, you shouldn't do that! Why did you push Ellis?" Jaxton said.

Dylan grabbed my arm, his hold rough and full of frustration.

"I'm talking to you!" Dylan barked.

I was doubled over, clutching my stomach, sweat breaking out all over my forehead. I could hardly think straight from the pain. Dylan saw that something was wrong.

"What's wrong with you?" he asked.

Ellis suddenly pointed at the blood pooling on the floor.

"Whoa, I'm bleeding?" she cried out.

"My stomach hurts so bad," she groaned.

Dylan's eyes were glued to the blood on the floor, and his head buzzed with shock.

"No, it can't be... Did you really just lose the baby?" he stammered.

Jaxton clapped his little hand over his mouth, eyes wide in shock.

"Is my brother gone?" he whispered, his voice trembling.

Dylan picked Ellis up in his arms and hurried toward the garage.

"Jaxton, stay here. Don't go to the hospital," Dylan said.

"No! I want to see Ellis. I'm worried about her!" Jaxton protested, his voice trembling.

Both Dylan and Jaxton went with Ellis to the hospital right away.

I just lay there on the floor, pain ripping through me, and felt something warm leaking out down below.

I tried to push myself up, and Brooke Shaw hurried over to help me.

"Brooke, take me to the hospital," I said.

I was wheeled into the operating room.

The attending doctor just kept shaking his head when he saw me.