The sound of the door unlocking made my whole body tense. Brian was back, two hours earlier than usual. I quickly wiped away my tears and shoved my phone under the cushion.
His voice floated in from the hallway, as warm and gentle as ever, "Lori, I brought you some sour plum soup. I heard it's good for morning sickness."
His footsteps approached. I forced myself to look up and muster a smile. He bent down and kissed my forehead, his gaze immediately dropping to my belly. "Has the baby been good today?" His hand naturally rested on my stomach.
A wave of nausea surged up my throat, and I abruptly stood up. "I need to use the restroom." Shutting the door behind me, I dry-heaved a few times, turning on the faucet to mask the sound of my sobs.
“Lori, are you alright?” Brian asked from outside the door.
I opened the door, trying to keep my voice steady. "I'm fine, just morning sickness. Maybe I ate something wrong this morning."
He frowned, reaching out to touch my face. I instinctively turned my head away. I walked back to the sofa, deliberately maintaining some distance between us.
"Why are you home so early today?" I asked.
"Of course, it’s because I was worried about you.” He sat next to me, close enough that I could smell the sweet, cloying scent of his cologne, so different from the fresh, woody fragrance I usually wear.
"When you called this morning, I was in a meeting. Sorry I wasn't more attentive."
A meeting? Was he having a meeting in bed with Lily? I bit my lip to keep from screaming those words.
"It’s okay, work is important," I whispered, my fingers digging into my palm. Brian's phone rang. He glanced at the screen, his expression changing subtly. "I need to take this call."
He walked quickly to the balcony, pulling the glass door shut. His muffled voice reached me in bits and pieces. "Don't worry, she doesn't know... Yes, very healthy... Just a few more months..."
His expressions of tenderness and patience were a stark contrast to the facade of concern he showed to me.
That night, I pretended to fall asleep early, my back turned to Brian. He crept into bed, habitually draping an arm over my waist. My body remained rigid until his breathing evened out, and only then did I carefully move away.
Moonlight filtered through the curtains, illuminating Brian’s sleeping face. The face I once loved now filled me with terror and revulsion. I slipped out of bed, clutching my phone, and hid in the bathroom. First, I messaged my roommate from Westwood, confirming she could take me in. Then, I logged into my mobile bank app and transferred fifteen thousand to a new account Brian didn't know about.
After deleting all traces of my actions, I flushed the toilet to cover any noise and returned to bed. Brian turned over, his arm reaching for my body unconsciously. I lay there stiffly, counting the seconds as they passed.
Three days. I just had to endure for three more days. Then, I could leave this city of lies and pain forever.
The next morning, as soon as I heard Brian's car leave the garage, I sprang out of bed. The morning sickness was worse than the day before, but I ignored it. After a hurried wash, I donned a mask and baseball cap and called a ride.
I chose a hospital I had never been to before. The scenery outside the car window blurred as it flew past, and I instinctively held my stomach. There was a three-month-old life inside me. A life built on lies.
My phone buzzed with a message from Brian: Remember to have breakfast. The vitamins are on the nightstand. I sneered, turning off the notifications. His concern had nothing to do with me.
I stood in the hospital hallway, the smell of disinfectant stinging my nose.
