Chapter 4
The day I left, Declan seemed genuinely reluctant to let me go.
He hugged and kissed me over and over
Take care of yourself and the baby. Call me as soon as you get
Fighting nausea, I said “Okay.”
I got in the car without looking back.
as you get there.”
After taking photos at the airport, I decisively got up and found a hotel
I turned on the security camera facing the hallway.
Iturned
Sure enough, Declan didn’t go to work
He was on the phone all the way down in the elevator.
I turned up the volume and heard him laughing:
“Sophia’s parents died in a car accident years ago. Who else would want her if she left me?”
“Besides, she’s pregnant. What man could go a whole pregnancy without sex? As long as she turns a blind eye, we’ll be fine. I do still love her, after all.“]
“But even if it came to that, she’d be the one too scared to divorce.”
Hearing it with my own ears, I felt oddly calm.]
Watching him return home, I didn’t hesitate to book an abortion.]
At noon, Declan texted: “Did you make it?“]
I found photos of our hometown’s bus station on Maps.
I screenshotted a clear one and sent it to Declan
“Waiting for the bus.“]
“Don’t worry.”
As expected, after getting my confirmation, Declan changed into easily removable loungewear and opened our front door]
Then went next door to Jenna’s place.
My heart pounded frantically.[]
I got up, packed my bags, and took a cab home]
Through the door, I could clearly hear Jenna’s voice:
“Wow, can I touch it?”
Same disgusting, clingy tone as always:
“It’s so big and dark! Don’t be like that, so aggressivel You’re scaring mel“]
*I’m experienced, baby. I’ll make you feel so good!”
Stone faced. I gripped my baseball bat
I knocked on the door.
After some rustling sounds, Declan opened it-
I was drenched in cold sweat.
My hands wouldn’t stop shaking.]
Seeing Declan answer the door shirtless, I fought back nausea.]
I raised the baseball bat, ready to charge in.]
His expression went blank for a moment:
“What are you doing here?”
Then Declan let out a sarcastic “oh.“[]
He leaned lazily against the doorframe with a smirk:
“Don’t tell me you’re still suspicious, so you’ve cooked up some spy thriller in your head?”
My eyes welled up with tears.]
I thought about our childhood friendship
How when my parents died, Declan was so worried about me doing something stupid.
He stayed awake for twenty–four hours straight, never leaving my side…]
After we married, even though I’m terrified of pain, I made the bravest decision of my life because he said he wanted kids.
I always thought we were meant for each other.]
That we’d be happy forever…
Seeing my silence, Declan rubbed his temples impatiently:
“Sophia, I think maybe your pregnancy hormones are causing-”
Chapter 4
He looked me up and down, speaking with some embarrassment:]
“Mental issues?“]
