Chapter 3
"Darryl, do you really think you've done nothing wrong?" I asked, my voice steady but cold.
He froze, caught off guard by my question.
I looked at him, making sure he heard every word. "You knew she was after our family, knew she got pregnant by stealing the sperm from you, and yet you still gave her hope. You let her get attached to you, even stayed by her side when she gave birth. And now you're willing to send her overseas?"
"I'm sorry. It's all my fault. But Rosalie, the baby's already here. It's a life, and we can't just ignore it," he said, his voice low and heavy.
"And what about me?" I demanded, my voice rising.
My voice cracked as I lost control. "Have you ever thought about me? Don't you know why I can't have kids? Don't I deserve to be cared for too?"
He swallowed hard, but didn't say a word.
I looked at him, my eyes stinging with tears. "You said she was too weak and needed proper rest. Fine, we could've spent money on a hospital, a high-end postpartum care center, or even booked a nice hotel and hired several nannies.
"But you wouldn't do it. The moment she said she only trusted you, you caved in, surrendered our home to her, and threw me out."
"Ask yourself honestly. Do you really want the baby, or is it her and the child you can't let go of?"
He stared at me, his silence almost cruel.
Just then, his phone rang.
He checked the caller ID, paused, then answered.
"Darryl, I'm feeling dizzy, and my wound's opened up again. Can you come over?"
It was Bella's voice, sounding hurt and vulnerable.
Darryl went quiet for a few seconds, shot me a look, then stared down at his phone, as if he was torn between two choices.
"Rosalie, I need to go see her. After all, she just gave birth," Darryl said, his voice low and apologetic.
I didn't say anything, just watched him get up and rush out.
As the door closed behind him, I let out a quiet, self-mocking laugh.
All my tears couldn't compare to a single call from Bella.
I knew he'd probably never marry Bella.
But he'd always be at her beck and call, letting her disrupt his life over and over.
If I didn't get a divorce, how much longer could I put up with this? Three months? Three years? Or would I have to live like this forever?
I called my lawyer and had the divorce papers drawn up.
When I woke up, my phone was ringing nonstop.
"Rosalie!" Darryl's voice roared through the phone. "If you've got a problem, come at me!"
Before I could even get a word in, he snapped, "Why did you send those emails to Bella, ratting her out for stealing from the gene bank? She's already struggling with postpartum depression! Are you trying to push her over the edge?"
I froze, completely taken aback.
I never sent any emails at all.
But he didn't even ask. He just pinned it all on me.
This was the first time he'd ever lost his temper with me.
"Rosalie, the doctor said her emotions are all over the place after having the baby. She almost tried to end it all last night. If we hadn't caught her in time, she would've been gone!
"She's a real, living person. Can't you show some compassion for once?" Darryl shouted, his voice shaking with anger.
"Believe it or not, I'm not the one who did it, and I'd never sink that low," I said.
"Rosalie, please, no matter what, just come see her when she's discharged and apologize. Do it for me, okay? Only if you come, she'll finally be able to let go of all that weight on her mind..." Darryl pleaded.
Darryl was probably crying now, his voice breaking over the phone.
I wiped away the tears that had slipped down my cheeks and finally nodded. "Okay."
I never did apologize, but it was clear our relationship was long overdue for an ending.
I showed up at the hospital just like I said I would.
Darryl saw me and gave me a nod. "Rosalie, thanks for coming."
When Bella saw me, she got all worked up. Her eyes went red in a flash, and she tried to get up, her movements shaky with emotion.
"Rosalie, please don't report me. I can't bear to lose my baby. Please, just give me and my child a little more time..." she begged, her voice trembling.
As she spoke, she fell to her knees before me, trembling all over.
The nurse, startled, rushed over and held her down. "You just had a C-section. You can't kneel!"
Verena, Darryl's sister, hurried to help her up, her voice sharp with blame. "Rosalie, how can you be so cold now?"
People around us shot me dirty looks. I just stood there, doing nothing, but somehow I was the villain, cold and unforgiving.
At least Darryl still cared about saving face.
He led me out to the car first.
As we got in the car, Verena was probably just trying to ease the tension.
She handed me the baby. "Rosalie, why don't you hold the little one? He's been especially sweet today."
Before I could even react, the baby was already in my arms.
He really was so soft and cuddly.
For a second, my heart softened.
But before the car even left the hospital, the baby in my arms started squirming and suddenly began wailing, loud and shrill.
"What's wrong?" I asked, worried.
Bella's face changed instantly, and she started crying. "He's got a rash again! Is it another allergy? The nurse said he's allergic to perfume. Verena gave her a whole body of rashes just a few days ago, and they have only just cleared up!"