Dulcie’s POV
I didn’t answer right away. Instead, I wrapped my arms around him, gently pressing his head to my shoulder.
“I know what happened to Elvira,” I whispered, stroking his hair. “She’s gone now, Geoffrey. Don’t be too sad. You still have people who care about you.”
He was vulnerable and broken—and exactly where I wanted him. Pulled into my warmth, he let his guard fall and spilled everything.
When Alira got together with him, I tried to bury my feelings. But it didn’t take long for desire to get the better of me. I wanted him. I always had.
So, I flirted with him in subtle and not-so-subtle ways.
And last night, finally, I got what I wanted.
Over the next few days, we grew closer. I knew Geoffrey was starting to feel something for me, and I made sure to document every moment of our budding romance.
Alira’s POV
I was at home packing and getting ready to leave for the lab.
I had always known about my condition. With my father’s support, I had dedicated myself to finding a cure.
In the cold lab, I picked up a scalpel, ready to dissect another white mouse for samples.
My phone buzzed nonstop. Messages from Dulcie.
She sent photos—intimate hand-holding, kisses. I teased her, asking when she’d started dating someone.
But then, I saw Geoffrey’s face in one of the pictures.
The scalpel in my hand trembled. My grip loosened, and the blade plunged straight into my thigh. In an instant, blood gushed out, pain wracked my body, and cold sweat soaked my back.
I had always known my best friend liked my guy, but I never imagined she would betray me like this—now, of all times.
I was still reeling when Geoffrey called.
“Hon, everything’s settled with Sonny. I’m coming to get you now.”
Five minutes later, he arrived. The moment he saw my ivory gown stained with blood, he was beside himself with worry.
“Why did you come to the lab again? And why are you hurt? You were just getting better…”
He reached into his bag for bandages and carefully wrapped my wound.
“Hon, I promise—I’ll find a cure for your illness,” he said, his eyes glistening.
When he pulled me into his arms, I gently pushed him away. “Let’s go.”
The whole ride, my mind kept replaying Dulcie’s messages. I couldn’t understand why my best friend would stab me in the back.
I glanced over at Geoffrey.
My eyes widened.
Though he’d tried to cover it with foundation, I could still see faint love marks on his neck.
My body shook. My foot hit something on the car floor. I looked down—there it was: a piece of women’s lingerie, clearly not mine.
My disbelief turned to rage. I looked at Geoffrey, but he was lost in his own thoughts as the cemetery drew closer.
I turned away quickly, biting back tears.
At the burial site, the staff guided us to a small grave. Next to it stood another one—larger, ornate, and covered in fresh yellow roses. The headstone read: [Elvira Carpenter].
It was spotless.
In comparison, our baby’s resting place looked pitifully bare.
“This is what you prepared?” I asked coldly.
“The cemetery’s short on space, hon,” Geoffrey said meekly.
I said nothing. I just quietly placed a handmade doll’s outfit next to the small grave. Every stitch, every needle prick on my hands, was made with love.
I cradled my sore fingers and wept until I couldn’t breathe. Geoffrey’s eyes turned red, too.
But then, his phone rang. Though he answered it quickly, I still caught the caller’s name: [Dulcie].
When he hung up, he told me he had to work overtime. Just like that, he hurried to instruct Cade to drive me home.
I waved the assistant off. Before leaving, Geoffrey patted my head gently. And then, his car sped away.
I stayed at my baby’s grave for a long time, crying. I couldn’t bring myself to burn the doll clothes. In the end, I brought them back home.
Now that everything with the child was settled, all that was left was the experiment. Once that was done, I could finally leave in peace.
As I prepared to return to the lab, something in the backyard caught my eye. The roses had finally bloomed—bold, brilliant, almost defiant.
It was Geoffrey’s private garden for Elvira. He had planted every flower and tree by hand. Every time I tried to approach it, he would yell at me to stay away.
I thought he just loved flowers.
But not once—not on our anniversary, not even on my birthday—had he ever given me a single flower.
On his birthday, I’d spent hours picking out the perfect bouquet. But he threw it straight into the trash.
“Are you trying to kill me?! I’m allergic to pollen!” he sneezed and snapped.
Yet he spent three months building a flower garden for Elvira.
And now that garden was in full bloom.
I let out a cold, bitter laugh and turned to leave.
Just then, a car came speeding in through the back gate, crashing straight into the garden. The whole place was destroyed in seconds.
The car stopped just inches from me. I was so scared, I broke into sobs.
Geoffrey jumped out of the passenger seat and rushed to hold me. “I’m so sorry, hon. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“Alira loves racing, remember? She wouldn’t be scared by this,” Dulcie said smugly as she stepped out of the driver’s seat.
“Geoffrey, racing is so fun. Take me with you next time, okay?” she giggled, her voice sweet.
She grabbed his arm, and he looked down at her with indulgent eyes.
“This wasn’t bad, huh?” he said. “Next time I’ll take you to a real race.”
“Really? Yay!” she replied excitedly, snuggling into his chest.
I glared at them both.
“What are you doing here?”
Dulcie clung tighter to his arm.
“I came to share some good news,” she said, pulling something from her bag and handing it to Geoffrey with a sweet, expectant smile.
It was… a pregnancy test.
“You’re pregnant?!”
