Chapter 2

He said it like he was the reasonable one.

Like I was the one being unreasonable.

But he knew my uterine wall was thin. My chances of conceiving were extremely low.

I didn't just lose a child.

I lost the right to ever be a mother.

"Sister, don't blame Enzo. The fake medical records were my idea. I was afraid you'd see through it. I wanted to get a stray cat so you'd actually get infected, but Enzo was worried I might catch it too, so he dropped the idea."

Vera sat up, looking pitiful.

"Actually, when I first got pregnant, I wanted to abort. Enzo stopped me. He said abortion is bad for your health and can leave lasting problems."

"To keep me from doing something stupid, he took me to the Maldives for a month. In my third trimester, I couldn't stand the smell of smoke. He quit smoking for me."

I listened quietly, my breathing trembling.

He knew abortion was bad for the body, but he tricked me into having one.

I'd told him countless times to quit smoking. He always said work was too stressful.

But Vera didn't even have to ask. He quit for her.

So love and its absence are really obvious.

I suddenly remembered: early in my pregnancy, when the fetus was unstable, the doctor told me to stay in the hospital for observation.

Afraid I'd lose the baby I'd tried so hard to conceive, I called Enzo crying.

He didn't care about my emotions at all. He said impatiently:

"Natalia, the family is sending me abroad for a month. Take care of yourself."

I tried to discuss it.

"Can you ask the boss to send someone else? I'm afraid something will happen to the baby if you're not here..."

He hung up before I could finish.

When he came back, he was several shades darker.

How could I have known he wasn't handling business, but was in the Maldives with Vera?

My chest felt tight.

I looked up, refusing to let the tears fall.

My gaze was caught by the baby crib nearby.

I'd commissioned it from an overseas artisan. It took seven months.

The railings were engraved with the nickname I'd chosen for my baby.

Vera gave a dry laugh.

"Sister, I didn't want to use it. Enzo insisted on bringing it over. He said your baby is gone, so it's just sitting there. Might as well let my baby use it. At least it's worth something."

My mother chimed in.

"It's just a crib. What's the big deal? Just let Vera have it this once!"

There it was again. "Let."

My throat felt stuffed with cotton, dry and tight.

Since childhood, whatever Vera wanted, I had to give up.

From a princess dress to a spot in the best school district.

Now a crib.

She always had a strong possessiveness over my things.

Seeing me silent, my father spoke sternly.

"Vera grew up under our roof. You don't know how much luckier you are than her. Why fight her over a crib? I regret giving birth to such a selfish daughter."

I curled my lips into a cold smile.

"I think I'm the one who grew up under someone else's roof."

My brother exploded.

"Do you have any conscience? Father just said something fair for Vera, and you can't stand it? Do you want to break this family apart?"

They all turned against me.

Like I was some kind of monster.

In that moment, I realized I'd always been alone.

"This family won't break apart. I'll leave."