Chapter 2

On the hospital bed lay a woman, her face pale, holding a newborn baby in her arms.

Spencer gently took the baby from her, handling it like it was made of glass.

"Don't hold her all the time. Your hand still hasn't healed," he said.

The woman smiled. "You've been holding her all the time, too."

Spencer looked down at the baby, and there was a gentleness in his eyes I'd never seen before.

"She's my daughter. Of course I'm going to hold her," he said.

I picked up her name from all the congratulations around me.

"Spencer, Olivia finally gave you a daughter. You finally got what you wanted."

"You three make such a perfect family. I'm so envious."

I remembered that Olivia Carter was a girl from the class next door. She used to come over to our table when Spencer and I were eating in the cafeteria.

Olivia looked up at him. Her smile was really sweet.

She said, "Honey, have you thought of a name for our daughter yet?"

Spencer paused for a moment, then said, "Her name is Sophia Thompson."

"Sophia with the 'p'?" Olivia asked.

"That's right," Spencer replied.

My heart clenched. I didn't even know why that name hit me so hard.

Maybe it was because back in class, when we passed notes, I'd always scribble my name, Tanya, in the corner of my notebook, and Spencer would write his name right next to it. Then he'd tap me on the head and call me childish.

I reached out, wanting to touch his sleeve. But when my fingers passed right through, it finally hit me. I was dead.

After Olivia finished feeding the baby, she fell asleep. Spencer gently placed the baby back in the bassinet, then got up and stepped outside to take a call.

He stood at the end of the hallway, speaking in a low voice. "Is everything taken care of?"

Whatever was said on the other end made his face go cold.

Spencer said, "Don't ever mention Tanya in front of me again. I don't care if she's dead or alive."

Seeing him say that so calmly, I felt an overwhelming emptiness.

I followed him back into the hospital room.

Olivia woke up and quietly asked, "Was that Vincent just now?"

Spencer replied with a quiet "yeah."

"Did he mention Tanya again?" Olivia asked, carefully studying his expression. "Today's the day our daughter was born. I don't want you to be upset."

Spencer didn't say anything.

Olivia bit her lip and said softly, "Honestly, I always thought she was really cold-hearted back then. Leia was in the hospital. Spencer, you barely held it together."

So everyone really believed I took off with the surgery money.

I clenched my fists so hard my nails were digging into my palms, but I didn't feel a thing.

The only thing that hurt anymore was my heart.

That night, Spencer sat alone on the couch, looking through his phone.

He opened his call log.

The number at the very top had no name attached.

But I recognized it instantly. It was my number.

The next afternoon, Spencer brought Olivia and the baby home.

Olivia lived in a spacious apartment, and the place was buzzing with activity. The nanny was holding the baby, the maternity nurse was tidying up, and Olivia sat on the couch, sipping soup and chatting with everyone.

Her phone kept buzzing nonstop.

I drifted over and saw the family group chat was blowing up.

The group was called "Thompson Family's Little Princess."

Someone sent a voice message: [Spencer, do you think your childhood friend from high school is gonna show up and stir up trouble again?]

Spencer replied with two words. [Let her.]

Olivia glanced up at him. "Spencer, do you still hate her?"

Spencer's hand paused on his cup.

"I've long forgotten about her," he said.

I almost laughed out loud.

If he'd really forgotten about me, he wouldn't have kept my number.

"That's good. I've always been worried she might come back for you someday. You're too soft-hearted, and I'm afraid you'll get hurt," Olivia said.

Spencer looked at her, his voice softened a bit. "I won't give her another chance."

I turned away. I didn't want to see any of it anymore.

That evening, Spencer got a call inviting him to a high school reunion.

Olivia had just given birth and couldn't go out, so Spencer wasn't planning to go either. But Vincent called and said their homeroom teacher had retired, and it was a rare chance for everyone to get together, so he should at least show up.

Spencer ended up going after all.

I sat in the passenger seat, watching the familiar streets roll by.

Seven years ago, when I went to see him, I traveled down this same road.

The private room was lively, and everyone got up to say hi to him.

Some called him "Mr. Thompson," others called him "Spencer," and a few joked that now that he was a dad, he seemed like a whole new person.

George Hooper, the homeroom teacher, came in leaning on his cane, scanning the room as he looked at everyone.

"You've all grown up. Shame, we're still missing someone," he said.

Someone at the table whispered, "Mr. Hooper, let's not bring up the unpleasant thing."