I dragged myself out of the bathroom. The dishes on the table sat untouched, exactly where I'd left them. I walked over and swept every last one into the trash.
There had been other nights Jasper didn't come home for dinner, but I could never bring myself to throw the food away. I'd reheat it, plate by plate, and finish it alone.
This time I didn't save a single dish.
I sank into the couch for a while, then decided I needed to go to the hospital.
The entire examination passed in a fog. I moved like a machine, following instructions without processing any of them. By the time I walked out of the hospital, only one sentence had lodged itself in my brain: You're currently six weeks pregnant. The baby is developing normally.
I stumbled home in a daze. The moment I opened the door, I saw the leather shoes in the entryway.
Jasper was back. Same as every other time. He'd kept Wallis company, soothed Wallis's feelings, then strolled home as if nothing had happened. Before, all it took was a single explanation from him and I'd light up with relief.
I used to think the fact that he bothered to explain meant I mattered to him.
Jasper was sitting on the couch. I'd spent the entire ride home clutching the pregnancy test results, turning things over in my mind.
"Wallis says she can't wait any longer. She wants us to go to the courthouse tomorrow."
His voice drifted over, light and casual. No explanation this time. The words hit me like a sledgehammer to the chest.
"Okay." The word left my mouth, and it wasn't as hard as I'd imagined.
I changed into my slippers and walked past him. I didn't look at his face, but I could feel his stare, startled and fixed on my back.
He had to be wondering why I wasn't fighting him on it this time.
Neither of us spoke during the few steps it took me to reach the bedroom door.
Just as I was about to push it open, his voice came again. "Once Wallis's emotions have settled down a bit, we can remarry."
My hand froze on the door. The answer came out before I could even think. "No need. We'll have gone through all that trouble to get divorced. Why would I remarry?"
I turned to look at him. His brows were drawn together, a flicker of quiet anger in his eyes.
I ignored it. I let my lips curve into the faintest smile. "Wallis's situation is what matters. Let's go first thing tomorrow morning."
His frown deepened.
"May, stop being difficult..."
"I'm not being difficult. Jasper, you know why you married me better than I do. Since you love Wallis so much, I'll step aside and let you have what you want."
I didn't wait for his answer. I turned and walked into the bedroom.
The moment the door clicked shut, tears slid down my face without a sound. I pressed both hands against my still-flat stomach and felt something inside me crack apart.
Three years ago, when Jasper proposed, I was stunned. My family had already arranged a marriage between me and Chad Delgado.
But the person in my heart was never Chad. It was Jasper.
I didn't know how to defy my father's wishes. Then Jasper appeared in front of me and proposed.
I was overjoyed. I said yes almost without thinking. The girl who had never dared to push back suddenly found the strength to fight.
I broke off the engagement with Chad over my family's objections.
I even gave up the company shares that were rightfully mine. My stepmother had originally planned to marry me into the Delgado family to secure a better deal for the business. Surrendering my shares turned out to be an even more compelling offer for her.
The day I married Jasper, my heart was pounding so hard I thought it would leap out of my throat. I was sure my life after the wedding would be nothing but happiness.
If I had never learned the truth, I really would have believed I was the luckiest woman in the world.
Jasper seemed perfect in every way. Warm, courteous, the picture of a gentleman. He always put me first. He let me decorate our home however I liked.
