Chapter 2
Early the next morning, I went to the hospital by myself.
The doctor looked over my test results, his brows knitting together.
"It wasn't easy for you to get pregnant. Are you sure?" he asked.
"Yes," I replied, digging my nails deep into my palm.
"Does your husband know?" the doctor asked.
I stayed silent for a few seconds.
"No, he doesn't," I answered.
The doctor looked up at me in surprise.
"He doesn't need to know," I said, forcing a stiff smile.
After making the appointment, I stepped out of the room and nearly crashed right into Charles.
He carefully steadied Chloe. He looked so tense that he was about to blow up. "Your stomach hurts this badly, and you still drank iced coffee on an empty stomach? Have you lost your mind?"
"I was busy." Chloe pouted, all sulky and aggrieved.
Charles darkened his face, but he still shrugged off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders.
"Do it again, and I'll chuck your coffee machine out the window," he threatened.
They walked right past me, barely noticing I was there.
Charles had already gone a few steps before he finally realized I was standing there.
"Evelyn?" he called out, sounding surprised.
He glanced at the Obstetrics sign, confusion flickering in his eyes.
My heart clenched.
At last, he walked over to me and asked, "What are you doing here?"
I clenched the appointment slip in my hand and replied, "I'm here for a check-up."
"What kind of check-up?" he pressed, not letting it go.
I opened my mouth, but nothing came out.
Suddenly, Chloe doubled over, gasping in pain.
Charles's expression changed in a flash, and he rushed back to steady her.
"Chloe, is it hurting again?" he asked, worry all over his face.
He hurried her away, barely sparing me another glance.
Right before leaving, he tossed a quick remark. "Send me your results after you're done. Don't try to tough it out if something's wrong."
I looked down at the slip in my hand and let out a laugh.
He left his own wife at the Obstetrics Department to comfort his secretary over a stomachache. I really wanted to see the look on his face when he found out I'd ended the pregnancy.
When I got home, Charles was in the living room, packing up Chloe's stuff for her move.
Snacks, blankets, and scented candles were piled all over the table.
I stood in the doorway, my chest tight with emotion.
When we got married eight years ago, we couldn't afford a couch.
The cold winter nights made it impossible to sleep. Back then, he'd hold me close and promise that once we had money, he'd buy me the best of everything.
But now, he wanted to give the most expensive blanket in the house to another woman.
Seeing me back, he asked offhandedly, "How'd your check-up go?"
I kept my head down as I changed my shoes.
"I'm having the surgery tomorrow," I replied.
He was busy packing boxes, not bothering to look up.
"What kind of surgery?" he asked.
My throat tightened. If only he cared a little more.
If he had shown a little more concern, maybe I would've told him.
Chloe's message suddenly popped up on his phone.
Charles grabbed his phone right away, a smile tugging at his lips.
"This little princess is complaining that the candle smells too strong," he said.
The last bit of hope in my heart shattered.
"Forget it," I said.
He finally looked up and asked, "Forget what?"
"Nothing." I turned and walked into my room.
Charles followed me, blocking my path irritably.
"Evelyn, what's up with you lately? Always giving me attitude. What did I do this time to set you off?" he snapped.
His words made my eyes burn with anger.
"You seriously don't know?" I shot back.
"Know what?" he fired back, his tone getting sharper. "Chloe just graduated. She's still a little girl. I look after her a bit, and you can't let it go.
"She wanted the code changed, so I humored her. She wanted milk tea, so I grabbed one for her. Why do you have to twist everything into something dirty?"
I was so angry that I felt cold all over. "She kissed you, and you still call that childish?"
Charles's face froze. "You saw that?"
"Unfortunately, I saw every bit of it," I said.
After being silent for a while, he let out a sigh of relief.
"She was so over the moon that she jumped into my arms. I didn't have time to react," he explained.
I stared at him and said, "But you held her."
"What, you wanted me to let her hit the floor?" Charles shot back.
His voice suddenly shot up. "Evelyn, you're thirty years old. Can you stop obsessing over every little thing with a young girl?"
My heart hurt so much that I could barely breathe.
That ring. That kiss. Getting blocked again and again. Getting locked out, over and over.
In his eyes, they were nothing.
I suddenly felt too exhausted to even bother arguing with him.
"Charles, I'm having surgery tomorrow. Can you keep me company?" I asked.
His anger eased a little.
"What time?" he asked.
My heart skipped a beat.
Right then, his phone buzzed.
Chloe sent a voice message. "Charles, the landlord said the movers won't come until tomorrow morning. There's no way I can handle it all by myself. Don't ditch me."
Charles frowned. "Chloe's moving tomorrow."
I stared at him. "So what?"
"Can you ask the doctor if you can move it to another day?" he said.
It felt like my heart was being ripped open.
"So, my surgery has to wait because she's moving?" I asked in a trembling voice.
Charles rubbed his temples, looking annoyed. "Here we go again. What's the big deal if your surgery is delayed?"
I was completely speechless.
"Fine," I said.
His expression softened. "Don't be mad. I'll be with you after I'm done."
I walked into the bedroom and locked the door.