Chapter 2
Sophie followed and waited outside the restroom for me.
"Evelyn, are you pregnant?" she asked.
After washing my face, I stared at my pale reflection in the mirror and nodded.
Sophie gasped. "When did you find out?"
"Three days ago," I said. "I'm already six weeks along."
"Does Mr. Cross know?"
I shook my head. "No, and I'm not planning to tell him."
"Why not?"
I gave a bitter smile. "You have no idea how much he hates children."
Sophie frowned. "But this is your baby. It belongs to both of you. It's different."
"Not to him." I took a deep breath. "He said that if I ever got pregnant, I should get an abortion."
"He actually said that?"
"Those were his exact words."
Sophie fell silent for a moment. "So what are you going to do?"
"I don't know." I was at a loss. "I want this baby, but I'm even more afraid of losing him."
"Evelyn, you can't give up your right to be a mother for a man."
"But I love him."
Sophie sighed. "Love shouldn't cost you your sense of self."
We returned to our table, but I didn't touch the coffee again.
Sophie ordered me a lemonade instead.
"Have you considered that he might change his mind for you?"
I shook my head. "He won't. You don't know him like I do."
"So you're going to keep hiding it from him?"
"I don't know how long I can."
Just then, my phone chimed.
It was a WhatsApp message from Adrian: [Where are you?]
I replied: [Shopping with Sophie.]
Adrian: [What do you want for dinner? I'll make a reservation.]
Seeing his message only made me feel worse.
He treated me so well, yet I was lying to him.
I replied: [Anything is fine. You choose.]
Adrian: [Then let's go to that Italian restaurant you like.]
I put down my phone. Sophie looked at me. "Was that Mr. Cross?"
"Yeah. He wanted to know what I'd like for dinner," I said.
"It's obvious he really cares about you."
"But not about the baby I'm carrying."
Sophie took my hand. "Evelyn, you'll never know how things might turn out unless you try."
"I'm scared."
"Of what?"
"That he'll leave me."
"And what happens when you can't hide it anymore? If he finds out you lied to him, the consequences could be even worse."
I knew Sophie was right, but I still couldn't bring myself to do it.
We spent the afternoon walking around the mall. When we passed a baby store, I couldn't help stopping.
The window display was filled with adorable baby clothes, tiny shoes, and toys.
I pictured my own baby wearing those tiny outfits.
Sophie stood beside me. "They're adorable, aren't they?"
"Yeah." I nodded, my eyes stinging with tears.
"Evelyn, please don't give up. This is your baby. You have the right to decide whether to keep it."
I took a deep breath and nodded.
Maybe Sophie was right. Maybe I needed to be brave for my baby.
That evening, candlelight flickered across our table at the Italian restaurant.
Adrian ordered all my usual favorites, but I had no appetite.
"Why aren't you eating? Don't you like it?" he asked.
"It's fine. I'm not very hungry," I said.
He set down his knife and fork and studied me. "Evelyn, you haven't been yourself these past two days."
My heart tightened. "What do you mean?"
"You've been distracted, you barely eat, and..." He paused. "You didn't even drink coffee today."
I lowered my head, unsure how to answer.
His voice softened with concern. "Are you feeling sick?"
"I might be coming down with a cold," I lied.
Adrian frowned. "Then we'll see a doctor tomorrow."
A doctor. Not again.
My hand drifted to my stomach without thinking.
"What's wrong? Does your stomach hurt?"
His full attention was on me, making me nervous.
"No. I feel a little bloated."
Adrian called the server over. "Could you bring us a light soup instead?"
Watching him fuss over me filled me with warmth and pain at the same time.
He cared so much about me, but would he still act this way if he knew I was pregnant?
"Adrian..." I began suddenly.
"What is it?"
"If... I mean, if we had a baby, what would you do?"
His hand froze in midair, and his expression turned serious.
"Evelyn, we agreed on this. No children, at least not now."
"I'm only asking hypothetically."
"No what-ifs." His voice turned cold. "I don't want children. Not now, not ever."
His words pierced my heart.
"Why?"
"Why?" He gave a cold laugh. "Because children ruin everything."
"Not every child..."
"Evelyn." He cut me off. "This conversation is over."