Then, her phone lit up again. This time, it was a message from Rockwell.
[Babe, I think I left my watch. Can you drop it off for me? By the way, Luther’s still in Greece. He won’t be back until the wedding.]
When she didn’t reply, he assumed she hadn’t seen it.
A few minutes later, he sent another message.
[Never mind, I’ll just come get it myself. You should rest.]
He wasn’t far; soon, he was back.
When he entered the bedroom and saw the mess still untouched, he found Solenne sitting in a daze with the watch in her hand.
She didn’t even notice anything strange.
He walked in casually and took the watch from her hand.
Then, without saying a word, he began tidying the room.
She watched him strip the dirty sheets off the bed, toss them in the laundry, and lay down a fresh set.
In no time, the room looked spotless again.
Every move he made and every expression on his face—it all told her he cared about her.
Nobody wouldn’t guess for a second that he had another woman in his heart, or that everything he’d done was just a charade.
Once he was done, he walked back toward her side.
“Why the pouty face?” he teased gently, pinching her cheek. “Who upset my baby this time?”
His voice was playful, almost doting. In contrast, Solenne looked him straight in the eye, asking, “Rockwell, do you… do you really love me?”
He thought she was just being clingy, so he stroked her soft hair with a chuckle.
“Of course, babe, I love you. You can ask me as many times as you want. You’re so lovely—how could I not love you?”
Just then, his phone rang.
Just one look at the caller ID, he let go of her hand and gestured that he needed to take the call outside.
Rockwell stepped outside to take the call.
Seeing this, Solenne quietly followed him, keeping her distance to eavesdrop from behind.
Norman’s irritated voice came through the receiver. “Hurry up, dude! Chesca’s coming back to New York today. If you don’t get to the airport soon, you’re going to miss her!”
“I know, dude. How could I forget a day like this?” Rockwell replied lazily.
Solenne felt like her heart had been sliced open.
‘That name—Chesca. It sounds so familiar. Where have I heard it before?’
Then it hit her. Almost instantly.
Back when Rockwell used to cheer her up, he’d take her to art exhibitions. Every time, without fail, he would pause in front of the same artist’s work.
She’d been curious back then. ‘What kind of painting could capture his attention like that?’
She even checked the artist’s name—Chesca Sherald.
Rockwell had never been into art. Solenne used to think he was just trying to share an interest with her, trying to understand the things she loved.
That used to move her deeply.
But now she realized, ‘He… He’s never doing it for me. It’s just because the artist… is the woman he can’t have.’
“I just came back to grab my wristwatch,” she heard him say, snapping her back to the present. “It’s a gift from Chesca—her first one to me. I can’t possibly lose it. I want to wear it when I see her.”
“Fine. Just hurry up. I’m hanging up.”
Hearing that, Solenne quietly turned and headed back to the bedroom.
Not long after, Rockwell walked in. He picked up the wristwatch, grabbed a new outfit, and went into the bathroom.
He was quick—clearly rushing to get to the airport.
Before heading out, he even styled his hair with wax and sprayed on cologne—the kind meant to attract women.
Watching him carefully groom himself like a teenage boy going on his first date, Solenne’s chest tightened with jealousy.
‘So this is what he looks like when he’s in love… Like an innocent, hopeful boy. He probably doesn’t even realize he’s like that.’
Once he was ready, he turned to her with a grin. “Babe, come take a look. Do I look good?”
Standing in front of the mirror, spinning slightly as he asked, he looked… happy.
Solenne forced a smile. “Very handsome.”
“But usually,” she added, “when you go to work, you don’t go all out like this. Something special going on today?”
She asked casually, though she already knew.
He paused for a beat, then smirked. “Aside from the usual meetings, I’ve got to discuss a contract with a female client today. Figured I’d dress up a bit—who knows, maybe if she thinks I’m charming enough, she’ll sign.”
He said it like a joke.
“Makes sense,” Solenne replied in a flat voice. “Go ahead then.”
Noticing something off in her tone, he furrowed his brows, about to say something—when a message notification popped up on his phone.
From the corner of her eye, Solenne saw the contact name: [Chesca]
[Rockwell, I just landed. Brooklyn’s changed a lot—I barely recognize the roads. Can you come pick me up?]
The moment he saw the message, Rockwell completely forgot whatever was going on with Solenne. He ruffled her hair gently and said, “I’ve got to go. Be good, okay? I’ll bring you your favorite cake when I get back.”
Before the words even fully left his mouth, he was already out the door.
When he left, Solenne’s smile vanished.
She quietly went to the bathroom, cleaned herself up—and then remembered something that made her freeze.
‘The condoms. The ones I secretly pricked with a needle!’
She couldn’t sit still anymore. She booked a cab and rushed to the hospital.
On the ride there, her mind was a mess.
All this time, she never doubted that Rockwell loved her and that he’d marry her someday.
He once told her he was willing to run away with her and build a life together. She’d even pictured herself carrying his child, imagining the three of them as a family.
She loved him. She wanted his children. So for the past two weeks, she’d secretly poked holes in the condoms—hoping that when the pregnancy test came back positive, it would be a surprise he’d be happy about.
At the hospital, the test results came back.
Solenne stared at the words on her pregnancy test report.
[Result: Positive]
Her face went pale. She didn’t know how long she stood there in silence.
But eventually, she made up her mind.
“Doctor,” she said quietly, “I’d like to schedule an abortion.”
