Chapter 3

"Just wait a little longer. Once we buy a house, once your family accepts me, once the pressure isn't so crushing, I'll take time off and travel the world with you."

Every time, I felt guilty and thought I was being childish. He was working for our future, yet I was making selfish demands. Whenever he came back, he always brought a travel magazine from that country. "Honey, keep them for now. Every place on that map is somewhere I owe you. One day, I'll go through every single one of them with you."

I treasured every word, thinking it was a special kind of romance meant only for me. Turns out he only wanted me to collect souvenirs of the places he'd visited with another woman.

When she saw the bleak little smile on my face, she looked a bit embarrassed. "Sorry, sis. Am I talking too much? I don't have many friends in Rivergate City, and I felt like we clicked, so I just kept talking. Why don't we start the lesson now?"

She led me into the yoga room, and the things inside made my face burn. She took out a mask and handed it to me, her cheeks turning red.

"There are surveillance cameras in here. My husband likes watching our private videos afterward. But he's a clean freak and hates other women appearing in a place this intimate, so could you please wear the mask? Otherwise, I'm worried he might take it out on you."

I numbly took the mask, my eyes red as I stared at the equipment in the room. I even recognized right away that the blanket on the yoga mat was one I had embroidered by hand. The moment I imagined the two of them rolling around on it, my stomach churned violently.

Just then, there was a knock at the door, and Emily answered softly, "Come in."

I followed her gaze, and the yoga block slipped from my hand. The one at the door was Michael's mother, the very woman who used to say I was the only daughter-in-law she'd ever accept. She didn't recognize me with the mask on. "Emily, the weather's nice outside. Can I take the baby out for a little walk?"

Emily smiled and nodded. "Of course, Mom. George is your grandson. Take him however you want. I won't be upset. I'll only be grateful. Your legs aren't great, so let the nanny go with you."

The old woman grinned at the baby in her arms. "Emily, our family really hit the jackpot when we got a daughter-in-law like you. I made you some bird's nest soup. Drink it after your lesson. And make sure the teacher has a bowl too. She's putting in a lot of effort for you."

Emily agreed, then looked at me apologetically. "Sorry, sis. That's my husband's mom. She loves her grandson and worries I'll feel left out. Sorry for interrupting your class again."

I dug my nails into my palm and asked bitterly, "You... have a child?"

She nodded. "Yeah. He turns one the day after tomorrow. My husband booked his first birthday party at the Intercontinental Hotel. If you don't mind, you should come join the fun."

It felt like my heart was being ripped apart. The day after tomorrow would also mark one year since my second miscarriage. After what happened with my first pregnancy, I had been especially careful the second time. Healthy food, healthy routine—and even then, I was still knocked to the ground by a car on the way to a prenatal checkup.

Less than ten minutes later, Michael rushed to the hospital, and the second he saw me, he grabbed me and sobbed. He said that no matter what, this time he'd stay by my side. Losing my baby again made me want to die, but seeing him cry so hard his shoulders shook made me think life was still worth living.

"When my son was born, my husband cried his eyes out and practically booked out the whole maternity floor at Seaside Medical Center. For ten whole days, the only other patient they let in was a woman who'd lost her baby after getting hit by a car, and her husband wasn't around. My husband felt bad for her, so every day he even brought her the soup I couldn't finish. I wonder how she's doing now."