Tim frowned and took me by the wrist, pulling me away.
"I know you're upset. Harper's just worried about the baby too. Don't hold a grudge against her."
He lifted a hand as if to wipe my tears, then hesitated and drew it back.
He tugged me to the little seating area at the far end of the hospital corridor, let go, and softened his voice. "Sit for a bit. I'll get you some water."
He turned and walked off.
I stayed where I was, looked down at the slight swell of my belly, and took a deep breath.
Harper pushed Aiden right up to me, all fake affection. "Eva, feel his little cheek, so soft. Once you have your own baby, the two of them can keep each other company."
I reached out and stroked Aiden's head, smiling gently. "Right. By then Aiden will be the big brother."
While I wasn't paying attention, Harper shoved the cake into Aiden's hands and murmured a hint. "Go on, let your auntie have a taste. Auntie's working so hard carrying her baby."
Aiden held the cake up, his voice soft and babyish. "Auntie, eat cake."
I took it, scooped up a spoonful, and fed it to him. "Aiden should have some too."
A few seconds after he ate it, he suddenly rubbed his eyes, his little face flushing red. "Itchy... Mama, I'm itchy..."
"What are you doing!"
Harper's voice cracked open. She slapped the hand holding the cake, and it hit the floor, cream splattering everywhere.
"Are you insane? Aiden's allergic to cream! Didn't you know that?"
She bent down and pulled the boy behind her. "Eva Fox, you can't hold on to your own kids, so now you want something to happen to mine too, is that it?"
I opened my mouth, then glanced at Aiden. His eyes were red, cream still on the corner of his lips, and he stood there frozen, terrified.
My father came hurrying down the corridor, his face like iron.
"You'd even lay a hand on Aiden?"
"Did a dog eat your conscience? How could you be this vicious?"
My mother trailed behind him, her face gone white. "This is a sin, it is. An allergy can kill a child. What on earth were you trying to do..."
My father drew a deep breath, his voice sinking low.
"No wonder you can't keep a single baby your whole life. Your heart's rotten, and even Heaven won't grant you one."
I froze, then rushed to explain. "I didn't know. Harper never told me Aiden was allergic to cream."
Harper cut in through her tears. "How did I not tell you? Last time Aiden was hospitalized for an allergy, you were right there! You're just jealous that I have Aiden, so you hurt him on purpose!"
My mother clasped Harper's hand and turned on me. "Eva, you've disappointed me so much! Harper came to see you out of kindness, and you do this to her child!"
The stares around us jabbed in like needles.
Tim came back down the corridor with the cup of water, saw the chaos on this side.
Harper carried the boy over to him and said a few things, her voice very low.
Tim strode up in front of me and accused me. "How can you be so heartless? Aiden's this weak right now, and it's all because of you."
His words were a bucket of cold water poured over me from head to toe. In that moment, I felt my whole world collapse.
"The baby in my belly is yours, and so is Aiden."
Tim's eyes drifted away. "Eva, don't change the subject. I just panic when I care too much. I was afraid you'd cause a disaster."
My parents pointed at me. "Eva, apologize to Harper. Tim's spoiled you rotten, you don't even know right from wrong anymore."
Tim spoke close to my ear. "Apologize."
Looking at the faces around me, I felt my heart carved open, bleeding, as if by a small knife.
Back in college, Harper stole my scholarship money and then accused me of stealing her living allowance. I was tied to the tree outside our front door and beaten savagely.
When Tim and I were dating, Harper deliberately smashed the porcelain vase he'd given me for our anniversary, then said I'd broken it out of jealousy over how close she and Tim were. Tim pressed my head down and made me apologize to her.
I wanted to argue. But even if I did, how many people would believe me?
In their minds, Harper was the sweet, thoughtful little darling, and I was the vile, worthless mud.
"I'm sorry." I swallowed a stomach full of grievance and said it flatly.
Tim sighed and reached over to pat my shoulder. "Good. As long as you know your mistake and fix it."
I looked at him and tested the water. "Tim, we only registered the marriage, we skipped the wedding. Didn't you say you'd hold the wedding for me even if there was no baby?"
Tim went still, and the concern for the child vanished from Harper's face in an instant.
"Eva, your body needs a long time to recover now. Let the wedding wait a while longer. At least until you're healthy again."
Tim sighed and looked away.
The old grievances and my anger right now twisted together.
There you had it. His promises couldn't withstand a single blow.
