Love Left Behind

After six years of marriage, I was pregnant with Clayton Barnett’s child again.

I secretly brought the pregnancy test results to work, hoping to surprise him.

Then, a familiar laugh echoed from inside the room.

“Whoa, Clayton truly loves his daughter. He even married the daughter of his sworn enemy just to get her a heart transplant.”

“What did you say? Well, Clayton only loves Gloria. He never even married that woman, Hazel. I had someone forge the marriage certificate!”

It turned out that the car accident that killed my daughter was planned by Clayton himself. The loving marriage I believed in was just an illusion. After learning the truth, I didn’t burst into tears. Instead, I quietly did two things.

First, I went to the hospital for an abortion and took away the tiny piece of flesh.

Second, I had someone cancel my ID card and made plans to leave for Coney Island seven days later.

Since Clayton never truly loved anyone, I decided to let them be together and free myself.

***

Thirty minutes later, I lost my second child.

I didn’t cry when I walked out of Clayton’s office, nor when I signed the surgery consent form. But I broke down sobbing as I held the bottle containing my child’s remains.

An hour later, someone from the agency called me when I was at home.

“Miss Moran, we’d like to offer you a virtual family service. Would you be interested?”

I paused for a moment, then nodded.

“Please arrange a husband for me instead. The one who will never lie.”

Before I could finish speaking, Clayton came back. He gently hugged me, his voice warm.

“Last time, you said these dumplings reminded you of your mom’s, so I bought them. Eat them while they’re hot.”

I stared at the steaming bowl of dumplings on the table, stunned.

Could this kind of tenderness be faked?

Hoarsely, I asked, “Clayton, our marriage certificate got soaked the other day. Should we go get a new one?”

“No!”

He quickly cut me off, a flicker of awkwardness in his eyes.

“The company has a big order coming in. Can we talk about it after I finish work?”

My heart sank. I clenched my fists without realizing it. Still, he didn’t notice.

His hand slid under my skirt, his voice low and husky.

“Let’s talk later. I missed you so much … ”

A strange scent hit my nose. White gardenia. I was allergic to it.

And it was Gloria Barnett’s favorite flower. Startled, I stood up as if I had been stung. Clayton’s hand froze in midair.

Before I could come up with an excuse, he noticed what was on the floor. It was the pregnancy test report. It was supposed to be my third-anniversary gift for him that I never had the chance to give.

“You’re pregnant?”

Clayton’s voice trembled with joy.

“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

He smiled.

“It’s my fault. I’ll go clean up. Wait here.”

I wanted to tell him the baby was already gone, but all I could see was his back.

Water ran in the bathroom. Something pulled me toward it and then I heard Clayton’s voice.

“Gloria, don’t cry. It breaks my heart. I’ve got good news. She’s pregnant. Our child will get a new heart.”

“I know you don’t want me to touch her. I feel sick too. Every time I touch her, I have to shower or I’ll throw up. If it weren’t for Regina and Hazel’s inheritance, I wouldn’t come back here.”

I froze, chills running down my spine.

Since our first child died, Clayton and I had grown distant. Lately, he’d seemed so gentle. I thought he wanted to make up. But it was all a lie, just the final blow for my unborn child.

Gloria’s delicate voice came through the phone.

“If Hazel found out, she’d never agree … ”

Clayton cut her off coldly, “If I could cause one car accident, I can cause another.”

“She’s lost her parents. Without me, she has nowhere to go. Two kids … this is the price she has to pay. What, should I raise her for nothing?”

His disgust stabbed into me like a knife. My heart trembled.

Seven years ago, my parents died in an accident. I fell from a happy home into hell. I was standing on a rooftop when Clayton, my sworn enemy, knelt and proposed.

“Hazel, from now on, treat me like family. I’ll be with you forever.”

Six years ago, a car crash took my one-month-old baby.

Before I could even hold her, Clayton had me sign the heart donation form.

The recipient? Regina Barnett, Gloria’s only daughter.

Now, it was clear that they were the real family.

And I was just a hidden tool in the estate, a walking womb.

If the price of knowing the truth was losing both of my children, then it was time to wake up and leave.