Chapter 5

In the summer of 2023, I got pregnant.

Using that as an excuse, I demanded Chloe move out.

At first, Luke even got mad at me for it, saying I was disrespectful.

But when I told him I was pregnant, he fell silent.

Truthfully, when Chloe wasn't around, Luke was really good to me.

Chloe had a fight with Luke over it, and they didn't speak for a long time.

Luke also started making arrangements to meet my family and for our engagement and wedding.

That period, I was truly happy. It felt like a dream.

On our wedding day, Chloe, whom I hadn't seen in ages, appeared. She brought lavish gifts to celebrate us.

In the dressing room, I genuinely believed her well-wishes were sincere.

It wasn't until the ceremony rehearsal that Chloe, volunteering to fix my train, somehow "tripped" and stomped right on it.

I lost my balance, lurching forward into a metal floral stand by the stage.

A sharp, searing pain ripped through my abdomen. Then, a cold, terrifying wetness spread between my legs.

"The bride! The bride is bleeding!"

The whole place erupted in chaos.

The wedding came to a screeching halt.

My baby was gone.

When I woke up, I hysterically accused Chloe.

"She did it on purpose! Luke, she did it on purpose!"

"She deliberately stepped on my dress!"

...

I screamed my accusations, but Chloe didn't argue. She just cried and apologized.

"It's my fault, all my fault. I'm so sorry, Aubrey, I'm so sorry!"

Chloe admitted her mistake, even dropping to her knees in my hospital room.

She even sank to her knees on the hospital room floor.

In that moment, all my hurt and anger were muted. It seemed if I didn't forgive her, I would be the one at fault.

Luke held me, his whispers a hollow comfort. "Don't think about it, it's over."

"We're still young, we can have more."

"Chloe, she... she didn't mean it."

That incident was too painful. So painful I've made myself forget how it even ended.

Our wedding plans were shelved after that, and the subject never came up again.

"Aubrey..."

"It's over."

Luke looked utterly heartbroken, his hand gently patting my back as if to offer comfort. My eyes stung. I blinked hard, then closed the door.

"Luke, you're here for the belt, right?"

He had no time to answer. I turned and went to the storage room. In the corner, on a shelf, lay the belt, still in its packaging. I shoved it into his arms.

"Take it. Check if there's anything else you want. Just take it all."

"And don't come back here."

Luke's knuckles were pale, his face ashen.

"Aubrey, I actually-"

Ding-dong! The doorbell interrupted Luke.

I stepped around the mess on the floor and opened the door.

The cute guy from the massage place stood at my door, holding my jacket. "You left this."

One doorway, three people, a tangle of conflicting emotions.

Luke's breathing turned ragged, his fury burning like a wildfire.