Chapter 2

The 104-degree sun was scorching me, my vision blurring. Julian slammed on the brakes, instantly spinning the car around and speeding off towards the isolated trail.

On the road, passersby cast looks of pity or scorn, some pointing, some shaking their heads in dismay. But I felt nothing. I simply held my stomach, wracked with cramps, my nails digging deep into my palms. How ironic, that the man who had just sped away was the same man I’d been married to for three years.

Two hours later, Julian’s SnapChat voice message finally came through. His voice was breathless, frantic.

“Willow, Celeste has claustrophobia! She’ll have a meltdown alone on that mountain!”

“Just take a taxi to the hospital yourself. Celeste needs me more.”

Just then, Julian’s SnapChat group chat exploded.

“Julian’s a true hero, abandoning his wife for Celeste!”

“Don’t talk nonsense, I’m just saving someone.”

“Besides, what’s a little pregnancy complication? Celeste is actually trapped on the mountain!”

I looked down at my phone, my fingertips trembling. Under the 104-degree sun, sweat mixed with tears as it streamed down my face. The baby in my womb stirred restlessly.

Seeing that I didn’t reply, Julian sent another voice message.

“It’s just an abnormal fetal heartbeat, Willow. Don’t be so dramatic. I’ll come to the hospital to be with you after I’ve rescued her.”

*Be with you.* He had said those words to me countless times before. Once, they sounded like pure bliss. Now, they were a cruel mockery.

I bit back the pain and replied, my voice raspy.

“Congratulations, Mr. Hayes. You played the hero again.”

Not long after, Julian sent another voice message, his tone laced with impatience. In the background, I could hear Celeste’s delicate sobs.

“Willow, can’t you be more understanding? I told you, Celeste is in danger right now!”

I didn’t argue. I just clenched my phone tighter.

Julian’s Ins feed updated. The photo showed Julian tightly holding Celeste, whose neck was covered in suggestive hickeys, her face flushed. The caption read: “Important people are always worth rushing to.”

I scoffed inwardly, casually tapped ‘like’, and commented: *Such a perfect match.*

My phone instantly vibrated, Julian’s voice roaring with furious embarrassment. “Willow, don’t use your petty mind to speculate about others! Celeste saved my life!”

In the background, Celeste let out a perfectly timed, terrified shriek. Julian immediately soothed her with gentle words, then abruptly hung up, only throwing out a hurried, “Remember to get all your tests done. I’ll pick you up after I drop Celeste home.”

With that, he hung up without hesitation.

I turned off the screen and looked out the window. The sun was still scorching, but my heart felt like an ice cavern.

I leaned against the wall and slowly stood up. The cramps in my abdomen suddenly became excruciatingly clear. As I walked into the operating room, the nurse asked in surprise, “Where’s her family?”

I stared at the stark white ceiling and replied, “Dead.”