Three years into our long-distance relationship, I transferred to a hospital in Ervin Harding's city without telling him.
What I never expected was that on my very first day, he'd walk in as the first patient's family member I had to see.
"Doctor, my wife's been having really bad morning sickness lately. Could you take a look?"
Ervin's hand rested on the slight swell of the pregnant woman's belly beside him, his eyes brimming with tenderness.
When he noticed my hesitation, he glanced up with a flicker of confusion.
I ducked my head and pulled my surgical mask as high as it would go, biting down hard on my lip, forcing my voice low.
"How far along is the baby?"
"Three months."
Three months.
Yet just one month ago, Ervin had stood beside me at the courthouse, beaming with joy as we signed our marriage certificate.
A cold laugh escaped me. I turned my back to him and dialed a number.
"Dad, take the marriage certificate I left in the safe and bring it to the courthouse. Have them verify whether it's real or fake."
"If it's forged, cancel Ervin Harding's credit cards, get him fired, and take back the riverfront penthouse we gave him."
"If it's real, do it anyway."
——
After I hung up, I tugged my mask up one more time, making sure Ervin wouldn't recognize me.
I glanced again at the name on the intake form. Annette Henson.
A complete stranger. Ervin had never once mentioned her to me.
I crushed the shock down deep and, under both their puzzled stares, continued with the standard questions.
"Have you been keeping up with your prenatal exams on schedule?"
Annette nodded, tilting her head toward Ervin.
"Yes, every single one on time."
"For my first prenatal exam, my husband even dropped everything at work and flew back overnight to be with me."
A strange, swelling pressure bloomed behind my ribs, and my nose stung without warning.
Based on the timing of her pregnancy, that first prenatal exam would have fallen the day after my wedding.
No wonder Ervin had changed out of his suit before the reception was even over, packing his bags in a frantic rush.
"Evelyn Simmons, something urgent came up at work. I need to catch the last flight back."
He'd held my hand, guilt written across his face, his eyes reddening for the first time in front of me.
"Once I've taken care of everything, I'll clear my schedule and give you the honeymoon you deserve. I promise."
I'd chased after him in my wedding gown, calling out for him to stay, one shoe flying off as I ran. I still couldn't catch up to his retreating figure.
The groom walking out mid-reception. The guests said nothing, but the amusement in their eyes was impossible to miss.
That humiliation was something I never wanted to live through again.
I smiled stiffly, my tone laced with sarcasm.
"Your husband sounds wonderful."
I flipped through her previous exam results one more time.
"Your last bloodwork showed mild anemia. Just to be safe, let's draw another sample today and run the panel again."
Annette's expression tensed at once, unease creeping into her voice.
"Do we really have to? My husband's been cooking for me every day lately. I've already gained weight. I shouldn't be anemic anymore, right?"
She shrank into Ervin's arms as she spoke, eyes glistening, the picture of fragile vulnerability.
Ervin immediately squeezed her hand and rubbed it gently, then looked up at me.
"Sorry about that. Annie's afraid of needles, so blood draws always make her a little nervous."
He turned back to Annette, patting her back with practiced tenderness.
"But for your health, let's listen to the doctor and get it checked. It'll put our minds at ease."
"After we're done, I'll go home and make your favorite corn and pork rib soup myself."
My fingers curled against each other beneath the desk, my eyes locked on the computer screen.
Ervin Harding had always been fiercely self-centered at his core. For as long as I'd known him, he'd proudly declared that a man of his caliber didn't belong in a kitchen.
