Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Daniel took me to the hospital for a series of checks. Even though I pulled out the diagnosis sheet I'd gotten from the same hospital that morning and showed it to him, he still didn't believe me.

It wasn't until the blood test and urine test both confirmed I was pregnant that I was completely worn out. I leaned against the wall, slowly sliding down to the floor.

I squatted down, hugging my knees, and looked up at him: "Daniel Song, the abortion needs a family member's signature. Just take responsibility for what you did this once."

I couldn't describe the look on his face. Daniel, who was always so elegant and calm, never showing his emotions, seemed to have dropped all his masks. As he looked at me, his eyes held a mix of sorrow—for himself, or pity for me, I couldn't tell.

"I won't let you do it," he said.

I ignored him, slowly getting up. Fighting off dizziness, I said: "We're getting divorced next week. Don't waste my time."

After that, Daniel followed me everywhere—even having his secretary bring work documents to the house every day so he could work from home. It was like he was terrified that if he took his eyes off me for a second, I'd sneak out and get rid of the baby.

When I talked about divorce, he'd change the subject, saying something like "Nice weather today, isn't it?"

Text messages reminding me to pay my parents' medical bills kept popping up on my phone. I was so anxious I felt like an ant on a hot pan. If we'd gotten divorced today, I would have had the money and wouldn't have to worry about the medical fees.

I frowned, deep in thought, when my phone suddenly rang with a call from an unknown number.

Before I could think, I answered it. And then I heard Maggie Jiang's voice.

Maggie couldn't find Daniel, so she'd found me instead.

She sounded like she'd been crying—her voice was hoarse and cute. But even so, when she called me "Eva," I couldn't help but get goosebumps.

She sobbed, barely able to catch her breath: "Can you give Daniel back to me, Eva? Please... It's all my fault, I'm the one to blame. I can't live without Daniel..."

I had no idea what to say. I sighed, turned on the speakerphone, and tossed the phone onto Daniel's desk: "She's looking for you."

Daniel glanced at the caller ID. His already furrowed brows knitted even tighter. "I've made myself clear—we have no future together," he said coldly. "If this is about that project, there's no need to keep pestering me. My company has no plans to bid for it."

I had no idea what they were talking about, but Daniel had already hung up. He looked up and waved me over: "Are you hungry?"

I shook my head. "Daniel Song, I need money," I said.

He took a black card out of his drawer and put it on the desk. "Swipe it as you like," he said.

I raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

"On one condition—you stay my wife," he replied.

I rolled my eyes, picked up the card, and walked out to the balcony. I quickly used it to pay my parents' medical bills, finally feeling a weight lift off my shoulders.

Maybe it was the pregnancy, but I'd been feeling extremely tired lately—sometimes I even fell asleep while sitting up. Daniel always seemed to find me wherever I was in the house, pick me up, and carry me back to bed.

He'd learned a lot about prenatal care. Every day, he massaged me and applied stretch mark oil. He even talked to the baby in my belly, doing prenatal education.

This patient, gentle side of him was something I'd once dreamed of having but never gotten. But now, my heart was already closed off to love. All I felt was that he was being ridiculous. "It's only four months—do you really think he can understand you? You might as well talk to a dog. At least it would wag its tail at you," I said.

"Eva White, do you know what the longest thing you've ever stuck to is?" he asked.

"What?"

"Ruining the mood," he replied.

I kicked him, rolled over, and turned my back to him. "Yeah, I'm such a downer. Poor Director Song, having to put up with someone like me for so long—and now you have to stay with me even longer because of this unexpected baby. You must be so wronged," I said.

My voice grew softer as my eyelids grew heavy. Sleep pulled at me, and I couldn't make out what he said next.

He gently hugged me from behind, resting his forehead against my back. I faintly heard him say "I'm not wronged" and "Thank you"—but I couldn't catch the rest.