Chapter 2

I looked at the man in front of me, watched him side with another woman as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

Unbidden, my mind flashed back to our sophomore year of college.

Back then, Chloe was still my inseparable best friend.

She always wore that innocent makeup, clinging to me with her delicate, helpless act.

She'd even show up at my door with red-rimmed eyes on some made-up pretext, trying to get Daniel's attention.

Back then, the way Daniel looked at Chloe was nothing but undisguised contempt.

Once, Chloe pretended she'd twisted her ankle and asked Daniel to give her a ride back to the dorms since he was heading that way.

Daniel's face went ice-cold. He pulled me behind him and cut her down without mercy.

"Drop the act. Call yourself a cab and get lost."

Afterward, Daniel warned me.

"Emma, stay away from Chloe."

"She's two-faced. Sweet to your front, a knife behind your back. Completely fake."

"Stop being naive and treating her like a real friend. Sooner or later, she's going to use you."

I had no guard up back then. I always thought Chloe was just timid.

I kept defending her, telling Daniel he was being too biased.

But now?

"Daniel..."

My eyes were red, my whitened lip bitten raw. I spoke to him one word at a time.

"Do you even remember what you said back in sophomore year?"

Daniel froze for a second, clearly not expecting me to dredge up the past.

But he adjusted his expression quickly enough, a flicker of impatience crossing his eyes.

"Emma, how many years ago was that?"

"I didn't know her well back then. I was biased against her. Once I got to know her better, I realized she's actually very fragile."

"Besides, you're her closest friend. You know perfectly well she has a serious history of depression."

"Why are you picking fights with her at a time like this? What happened to that generosity you used to have?"

I stared at him in disbelief.

"Fine. I won't argue. Leave."

I turned my head away, closed my eyes. Tears slid from the corners and soaked into the pillow.

I didn't have a single word left to waste on him.

Daniel took it as surrender.

He stood up and walked to the door, exchanging a few instructions with the medical staff outside.

A moment later, a woman in a premium uniform walked in—a private postnatal care specialist.

Daniel returned to the bedside. His voice was so gentle it sent a chill down my spine.

"Emma, I've had you transferred to the highest-tier VIP suite in the hospital. I've also arranged the best postnatal care specialist."

"She'll be with you around the clock, twenty-four-seven."

"The nursing staff and the nutrition meals here are all top of the line. You don't need to worry about a thing."

With that, he glanced at his watch, then casually picked up the suit jacket draped over the chair.

"Chloe's golden retriever didn't make it last night. Died during the difficult birth."

"She's been locked in her room, not eating or drinking. She needs immediate psychological intervention."

Daniel looked at me and gently smoothed the loose hair from my forehead.

"I'm going to check on her. I'll come back later to handle your discharge paperwork, and I'll bring you that soup you love from your favorite place."

"Be good. Get some rest."

I watched him turn around and push open the door.

The last sliver of light through the closing gap was severed completely.

I stared at that shut door.

The last trace of light in my eyes went out with it.

He didn't come that night.

The next morning, I completed all the discharge paperwork by myself and returned to the apartment we had once shared.

I sat on the edge of the bed, my hands trembling as I pulled open the drawer.

I took out the tiny yellow duck baby booties I'd knitted by hand, and the black-and-white ultrasound photo, and placed them piece by piece into a small box.

These were the only proof that my baby—the one who was never meant to be mine—had ever existed in this world.

The instant I closed the lid, the front door opened.

Daniel walked in. Behind him was Chloe.

When he saw me sitting on the bed, there wasn't a shred of guilt in his eyes.

"Emma, I didn't come to pick you up yesterday because Chloe's emotional state was extremely unstable."

"She felt guilty about you being left alone at the hospital that day, and she insisted on coming to see you."

He paused, then added as though it were the most logical thing in the world.

"Besides, her psychological trauma is severe. Coming to our place for a change of environment will help redirect her grief."

Listening to this, a wave of physical nausea churned through my stomach.

"So what?"

I looked at him coldly.

"To redirect her grief, you brought her in front of a woman who just lost her baby?"

"Daniel, do you not see how absurd your logic is?"

"Emma, don't blame Daniel..."

Chloe stepped out timidly from behind him, her eyes rimmed red as she looked at me.

"It's all my fault. I just wanted to come and apologize. Here, have some hot tea to warm yourself up."

As she spoke, she walked toward me carrying a cup of steaming tea.

The instant she reached the nightstand, she suddenly stumbled, letting out a startled shriek.

The teacup flew from her hands and crashed straight into the box I'd just finished packing.

Scalding tea splashed everywhere. The box, its lid not fully secured, was knocked to the floor.

The baby booties tumbled out and landed in the puddle of tea on the floor, soiled beyond recognition.

"Oh! I'm sorry, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to!"