When I woke again, the sharp sting of hydrogen peroxide assaulted my nose, forcing a violent cough and sending a stabbing pain through my abdomen.
After Holden had supposedly died suddenly, I had tried to end my life more than once. Three days ago, I was rescued and discovered, much to my shock, that I had been three months pregnant, only to lose the baby in a miscarriage.
At that time, I had been admitted to this very hospital. Grief weighed heavily on me, and I longed to leave. After three days of rest, I returned home.
My body remained fragile. Holden’s cruel kick had struck my stomach with such force that I blacked out from the pain. Now, I was back in this hospital, swallowed by a whirlpool of emotions.
Lost in my sorrow, the hospital room door suddenly opened. “Miss, you’re finally awake.”
I looked up to see Willow rushing toward me, worry etched on her face. Willow Bradford had served as our family’s housekeeper for over ten years and had always cared deeply for me. When Holden was declared dead, I had lost all will to live. It was only through Willow’s support and encouragement that I held on.
“Willow, why are you here?” I grasped her rough yet warm hands.
“I brought you here. When I got home and saw you collapsed on the floor, I thought you were trying to take your life again…” Willow’s voice trembled, her eyes reddening.
“No, Willow, I won’t do that again. I passed out because of Holden.”
“He’s back,” I said, lowering my gaze with a heavy sigh.
Willow didn’t seem surprised by the news of Holden’s ‘resurrection,’ as if she had expected it all along.
“Yes, I know. He’s here at the hospital right now,” she said quietly.
I let out a cold, bitter laugh.
“It’s not like he brought me here. Why would he? He’s probably cuddling that mistress of his back at home right now.”
Willow gripped my hand tighter, her eyes avoiding mine as if holding back something important.
I urged her to speak freely, assuring her I wouldn’t mind.
“That new woman at home… she’s about to give birth. Young Master is upstairs, just outside the maternity ward, waiting anxiously,” Willow whispered, her voice barely audible, but the weight of her words slammed into my heart like a hammer.
Pain shot through my abdomen, radiating up to my chest. I stayed silent, tears falling slowly, one by one.
My blurred vision stirred memories of the difficult labor I had endured.
When I first got pregnant with our child, joy filled me, but Holden remained cold and distant. I thought his harshness came from work pressure, so I tried to support him by going with him to meet clients.
He took me to a reserved private room, but during the drinks, he said he felt ill and left for the restroom. I waited endlessly, but he never returned. Left with no choice and unable to refuse, I accepted a glass of liquor from one of the clients.
As the liquor settled in my stomach, sharp contractions suddenly gripped me. My water broke right then and there. I was rushed into an ambulance, but Holden was nowhere to be found.
The alcohol had caused heavy bleeding, and labor became agonizingly difficult. Two hours dragged by with no sign of the baby. I was utterly drained. I glanced toward the glass window and saw Willow standing outside, eyes shimmering with tears, silently mouthing, “Hang in there.”
Summoning every ounce of strength, I finally gave birth half an hour later.
But when I woke again, Holden was still absent. From start to finish, only Willow had stayed by my side.
Just as I was about to be discharged, Holden finally appeared, claiming he had been sent away on a last-minute business trip and couldn’t be with me.
Later, while sorting through his suit jacket, I discovered an opened box of condoms tucked inside the inner pocket, with only one or two left.
Furious, I confronted him with the box. He shrugged it off, saying his jacket had been lent by a colleague because his own was dirty, joking about how “energetic” that colleague was.
The very next day, an identical jacket was delivered to our house, and that was enough to ease my doubts.
“Willow, I need some fresh air. Could you bring me a bowl of chicken soup? I’m hungry.” I wiped away my tears and slowly rose from the bed.
I wandered alone to the maternity ward upstairs, catching sight of Holden from afar. He paced nervously outside, his brow furrowed, stealing anxious glances into the room. In the glass reflection, I spotted a tear shimmering at the corner of his eye.
Claire’s voice rang out, loud and strained. Through the glass, I saw her pushing with every ounce of strength. The clock on the wall told me it had been exactly two hours, she must be enduring a hard labor too.
“Congratulations! Both mother and child are safe. It was a difficult delivery, but the baby pulled through.”
The doctor emerged, cradling a chubby baby boy, and congratulated Holden. He let out a deep sigh of relief, gazed at the child with joy, and kissed his forehead tenderly. Claire was wheeled into the ward, Holden trailing close behind, his hand gripping hers tightly.
Holden had become a father again, a picture of blissful family happiness.
I stood silently in the hallway corner, tears streaming uncontrollably. Sitting in the corridor, hunched and trembling as I rubbed my belly, I clasped my head and wept with bitter sorrow.
Holden, I drank and entertained clients for your sake. I drank so much that I went into difficult labor, and you didn’t care at all.
But now, for her, you waited anxiously outside the delivery room for two long hours. For your “wife.”
I had been too foolish. I should’ve known the moment I found that box of condoms that your heart had already slipped away to someone else.
While I was in labor, you were probably lying in a warm bed with Claire, whispering secret promises.
My heart shattered completely for Holden. I cried until I blacked out.
Willow noticed I was missing from the ward and searched the entire hospital until she found me unconscious in the hallway.
“You’re awake.” A familiar voice, it was Holden.
I struggled to open my swollen, tear-streaked eyes. The warm smell of chicken soup drifted through the air.
“You’re finally awake, miss. Where did you run off to? I couldn’t find you anywhere.” Willow sat beside my bed, her eyes red and swollen, clearly just finished crying.
Just as I was about to comfort her and say I was fine, I looked up and saw Holden standing beside her.
“Claire just gave birth. Since you’re awake, your body should be fine. Go to the room next door and take care of her,” he said coldly.
I said nothing, my bloodshot eyes locking onto him, silently burning with rage.
He didn’t get a reply and frowned in annoyance. “What, you’re still not better?”
Willow was about to speak up for me, but I slowly opened my mouth and gave a cold smile.
“That night with Claire must’ve been fun, huh?”
“What are you talking about?” Holden’s pupils widened as he stared at me in disbelief.
“Nothing. Just seeing her give birth reminded me of when I gave birth to Nolan; it took two and a half hours. I didn’t see you until the next day.”
“You weren’t on some sudden business trip, were you? Even had a coworker cover for you…” I said mockingly, watching the flicker of unease cross his face.
“You…you’re talking nonsense. No need to dredge up the past. Just take care of Claire’s baby.” He turned to leave.
His eyes avoided mine. He couldn’t stand to be near me even for another second. I was right all along.
Willow picked up the soup and gently blew on it before bringing it to my lips. “It’s okay, miss. I’ll take care of her. You don’t have to listen to him.”
I took a bite; the warmth and taste were comforting. Our eyes met, and the kindness in Willow’s gaze planted a fleeting thought of escape. But before I could leave, I still needed to pay my debts.
“It’s fine, Willow. You’ve carried this household alone for too long. Since he wants me to care for her, I’ll do as he says.”
