Chapter 3

When I walked through the door, the rich aroma of dinner filled the air. Julian tossed aside his apron, swept me off my feet, and carried me to the couch.

He kissed me passionately. After a long embrace, he whispered lovingly, "Please forgive me, Chloe. I promise I'll never act like that again."

He rested his head on my chest. "All I need is you, Chloe. I know how much you want a baby, but we can't rush these things. I've thought it through, and my promise still stands—even if we never have kids, I'll love you just the same."

His sweet vow sounded so genuine, and as I stroked his cheek, his eyes shone with what looked like pure sincerity.

But only I knew that our marriage had rotted at its core.

Before stepping inside, I had repeatedly warned myself not to trust him.

Yet, why did a part of me still desperately want to give him one last chance? To pretend I knew nothing, undergo the surgery, and hope we would eventually have a family?

Noticing my silence, Julian asked if something was wrong. I forced a smile and shook my head.

At that moment, I gathered my courage and gave him one final test.

We spent the next few days inseparable, acting like newlyweds, as the day of my surgery drew closer.

Tonight, he was exceptionally passionate. While he was in the shower, I sat on the edge of the bed waiting for him. Suddenly, his phone screen lit up with a notification from Amazon.

A brief preview of baby clothes caught my eye. I picked up his phone, unlocked it, and opened the app.

Julian had purchased baby onesies, and the shipping address was Melanie's house.

He had also ordered an expensive stroller and several high-end baby bottles.

These were preparations for a newborn. Melanie was pregnant.

The pain in my chest was suffocating. I took deep breaths, trying to force myself to stay calm. But inside, I went entirely numb. I stared at the closed bathroom door, hearing the shower run, and felt my love for him completely die.

Now I understood why he didn't care if we had children. Melanie was pregnant. She was going to give birth to his child.

He didn't need me to bear his child anymore.

I put the phone back exactly where it was and pretended nothing had happened.

The next day, I went to the hospital for my pre-op checkup. During the ultrasound, the doctor gasped in surprise. "Oh my goodness! Ma'am, you're pregnant! You're already two months along!"

This sudden miracle filled me with a storm of emotions. I gently touched my flat stomach, a bitter laugh escaping my lips. Why now? Why did you choose to arrive just when I decided to leave your father?

The doctor kept asking if I wanted to keep the baby. After staring at the screen for a long time, I whispered that I needed time to think.

Ultimately, I decided I had to tell Julian. He was the father, and he had a right to know before any final decisions were made.

I called him. He was at his mother's house. When I told him I was coming over, he hesitated. "Babe, why don't you wait for me at home? I'll be back soon. Melanie is actually over at my mom's place today."

"It's fine. I have something to say to everyone anyway." I hung up and immediately took an Uber to his mother's house.

When I opened the front door, Julian's parents were gently touching Melanie's slightly rounded belly, beaming with joy. "Congratulations, Melanie! This is wonderful news."

Catching sight of me, Eleanor glared. "What are you doing here, Chloe? We're celebrating Melanie's pregnancy today. There's no food for you."

"I'm pregnant. Here's the test result." I tossed the lab report directly into Julian's lap.

The room fell into a dead, stunned silence. Every mouth hung open.

Julian stared at the paper over and over. Once he realized it was real, he sprang to his feet and grabbed my hands, completely bewildered.

But before he could say a word, Melanie lost her mind. She lunged forward, violently shoving him, and shrieked, "How is she pregnant?! You swore to me she would never get pregnant!"