Chapter 2

The next day, feeling groggy, I left the hostel and received a call from Ryan.

His tone on the phone was impatient.

"Lily Song, where did you go last night? Why didn't you come home?"

"You're a married woman, how could you spend the night out without telling me?"

I had been worried sick and disappeared for a whole night, but Ryan showed no concern. Instead, every word was an accusation.

My pent-up emotions finally burst out.

"Ryan Shaw, you say I shouldn't have spent the night out."

"But you, a married man, abandoned your wife to drive another woman home. Is that appropriate?"

"Did you consider my feelings? What right do you have to blame me?"

My grievances came pouring out.

I thought he would realize his mistake.

But Ryan turned it back on me.

"You're older than Emma, how can you not be more mature about this?"

"Besides, weren't you right there when I offered to drive Emma home?"

"If you didn't agree, why didn't you say something then? Why are you making a fuss now?"

"I'm so sick of you!"

After scolding me without rhyme or reason, Ryan hung up the phone.

I stood there, stunned, listening to the dial tone.

It wasn't until my stomach started to hurt that I snapped out of it.

Remembering the two lines on the test yesterday, I forgot about Ryan's attitude and rushed to the hospital, worried and scared.

By the time I arrived, there was obvious blood on the hem of my pants.

The doctor said I had indeed been pregnant.

But now, the baby was gone.

It hadn't even been 24 hours from when I learned of its existence to when I lost it.

I struggled to grab the doctor for confirmation, but because I moved too quickly, I fell to the ground.

"Please... please, doctor... save my baby..."

"I beg you, save it!"

Everything had happened so fast, I hadn't even had time to react.

I instinctively begged the doctor for help.

But he just sighed deeply at me.

"Your body was already weak, and you caught a chill right after conceiving."

"It's too late now!"

Too late!

My baby was gone!

I was in a daze, not knowing how I got back home.

The moment I opened the door, I saw Emma sitting on the sofa, playing with one of my dolls.

Ryan, hearing the door open, poked his head out from the kitchen, smiling from ear to ear.

"Lily, Emma's all alone and lonely, so I invited her to come over for dinner more often."

"You're back just in time. Why don't you make a couple of your specialties for Emma to try?"

I looked at Ryan as he spoke, then shifted my gaze to Emma's face.

Suddenly, anger welled up inside me.

"Go to hell!" I shouted, using a curse word I had never uttered before in my life.

After yelling this, I lunged at Emma, grappling with her, trying to push her out the door.

"Get out! You're not welcome in our home."

"Get out!"

I lashed out at Emma like a madwoman.

Ryan, who had been in high spirits, saw me like this and his smile froze on his face.

"Lily Song, what's wrong with you?"

0