Hunter spun around instantly, his face a mix of panic and guilt.
Evelyn knew what he was thinking—he was terrified that she had overheard their conversation.
Forcing herself to regain composure, Evelyn lifted her gaze briefly to meet Jennifer’s before turning away without a word. She returned to the fitting room, her movements stiff and mechanical.
Inside, her phone buzzed. It was a text from Jennifer.
[Did you hear that? Your husband said I look beautiful in a wedding dress. He even agreed to take wedding photos with me. How much longer are you going to hold onto a man who doesn’t love you?]
[Just give up already. The title of Mrs. Fairchild will soon be mine.]
Evelyn stared at the screen, her chest tightening. Jennifer’s confidence was unbearable, her words cutting deep, but Evelyn’s pain had dulled into something closer to numbness.
She changed back into her clothes and stepped out of the fitting room. Hunter was waiting for her, his face full of concern as he reached for her hand.
“Why did you change back? You don’t like the dress?” he asked, his voice soft but puzzled.
“I’m a little tired,” Evelyn replied, her tone flat. “Let’s do this another day.”
Without waiting for a response, she walked toward the exit.
Hunter hesitated for a moment before hurrying after her. “Of course,” he said quickly. “We can always do this another time.”
He had been talking incessantly in Evelyn’s ear, but she found it all unbearably annoying. She mustered all her courage to ask him.
“Hunter,” she called softly.
“Yeah?” Hunter’s words trailed off, as he looked at her with serious face. “Is something wrong?” He asked when Evelyn paused.
“You and… Are you…” She wanted to ask about Jennifer, but before she could finish, an urgent ring from his phone interrupted her.
After answering the call, Hunter looked at her with urgency in his voice. “Evie, I need to go to the hospital right now. Can you head home first? I’ll explain everything later at home.”
Without waiting for a reply, he hurried off.
Evelyn stood there, watching his retreating figure, unable to stop herself from pulling at the corner of her lips in a faint, bitter smile. She had already given up on Hunter completely, but in this moment, her curiosity still lingered. What reason had Jennifer found this time to pull Hunter away?
Her phone buzzed a few times and she glanced at it. A message from Jennifer. It was a scan report. And an address to a hospital. Evelyn almost dropped her phone, her hand trembling as she stared at the text. Without hesitation, she immediately hailed a cab to the hospital.
Upon arriving at the hospital and entering the obstetrics and gynecology department, she spotted them from a distance—Hunter and Jennifer, tightly embracing each other.
Hunter’s face was filled with happiness and Evelyn couldn’t deny that she knew exactly how overjoyed he was.
Jennifer was pregnant.
Even though Evelyn had already known about the affair between Jennifer and Hunter, the reality of seeing them together with the confirmation of a child felt like a suffocating darkness.
She had thought about the possibility of Hunter falling in love with Jennifer, but she never imagined that he would allow Jennifer to carry his child.
Three years ago, Evelyn had been pregnant with Hunter's child. It had been a time of quiet joy for her, despite the complications in their relationship. She had believed that the child would bring them closer, that it would be their little miracle.
But everything had shattered one fateful night.
Hunter had attended a social event and got drunk. She had been forced to leave her office early to pick him up. The storm outside had made the roads treacherous, but she didn’t think twice. She had driven through the downpour, her mind focused on getting Hunter home safely.
But fate had other plans.
In the midst of the storm, her car had collided with another. The impact was severe. The airbags deployed, but it didn’t matter. The damage had been done. When she woke up in the hospital, the first thing she noticed was the empty space in her belly, the void where her child had been.
The doctors told her that the trauma from the accident had caused a miscarriage. She’d lost the baby and because of the damage to her uterus, she was no longer able to conceive.
That night, as Hunter cradled her in his arms, his sobs were raw and desperate, like a child who had lost everything.
He apologized over and over again. Finally, he told her that from that moment on, they could live their lives in peace, without anyone disturbing them. He said he was happy.
After that, he never brought up the subject of children again and forbade anyone in the family from speaking of it. Back then, she believed that Hunter loved her. Even though they would never have children, he would cherish her forever, love her always. Now, seeing Hunter so happy with Jennifer, holding her tightly, Evelyn couldn’t stop the wave of grief that washed over her.
From the distance, she could hear Hunter speaking tenderly to Jennifer, his voice full of emotion. “You don’t know how much I’ve wanted a child. Thank you, Jennifer, for making this wish come true for me.”
Evelyn’s fingers turned numb as she stood frozen, her body trembling with disbelief. So, it wasn’t about their life together. Hunter didn’t cherish their quiet world of just the two of them—he had simply known that she could never have children and that was why he never brought it up.
The realization crashed over her like a tidal wave, shattering the fragile illusion she had built. All the promises, all the dreams of a future together, now felt hollow. He had moved on and it wasn’t just a change in his relationship—it was everything. He had found someone who could give him what she never could: a child, a family, everything he truly wanted.
***
Back at the Fairchild’s estate, when Evelyn stepped through the door, she found Margaux chatting on the phone—her voice brimming with excitement and joy, clearly trying to hold back her happiness.
“She is? Oh, heaven, that’s such great news. Jennifer’s pregnancy is exactly what the Fairchild family needed. Now, Hunter, you have to take extra good care of her. Keep her happy.”
Margaux paused for a moment as she listened.
“I’m not sure I can trust you with that. I’ll go visit her myself, make sure everything’s in order.”
Another pause.
“Yes, yes, I understand. Don’t worry. I’ll make sure Evelyn doesn’t find out. Okay, bye.”
Once the phone call ended, Margaux spun around, her expression turning to one of panic when she saw Evelyn standing quietly in the doorway.
“Evelyn? I didn’t see you there. When did you—”
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you, mom. I just got here and I’m exhausted. I think I’ll head up to my room and rest.”
Margaux forced a smile, trying to hide her nervousness.
Seeing no sign of distress on Evelyn’s face, Margaux assumed she hadn’t overheard the conversation and let out a sigh of relief.
