Chapter 2

But the sight of my cold, blank face made him knit his handsome brows at once.

"Hester's still young. Don't stoop to her level. Once she's better, I'll send her home."

I nodded. "Fine."

Then I turned to make breakfast.

Seeing the lonely line of my back, his voice softened.

"Haven't you always wanted to try the seafood congee I make? Let me do it."

He got busy at the stove, and something in my chest went tight and heavy.

All these years together, he had never once cooked a single thing for me.

Yet the moment his little childhood friend came home, she got to enjoy his home-cooked meals every single day.

I opened my mouth to say something.

But Hester came running barefoot out of the bedroom.

She grabbed Luke's hand and whined that she wanted the crab-and-shrimp dumplings from that place on the south side.

It was a famous old restaurant, an hour's drive one way, and you had to wait in line.

I'd wanted to go there once, and Luke had said impatiently, "No way. It's far and it's a hassle."

Yet now he only tapped Hester's nose fondly and agreed with a smile.

"All right, whatever you say, you little glutton."

He led her out, forgetting me behind him all over again.

Long used to it, I made my own breakfast.

Calmly, I picked up my phone and canceled the appointment for our wedding photos.

I had just finished when a stabbing pain surged out from my lower belly.

The pain doubled me over on the floor, and without thinking I called Luke.

The phone rang for a long time before his irritated voice came through.

"Enough, Alison. Don't you know Hester's still starving? I don't have time right now. If something's wrong, text me!"

"Luke, I—"

Before I could get the words out, the line went dead.

Everything went black.

When I opened my eyes again, the ambulance had already brought me to the hospital.

The doctor said I'd just had a miscarriage and needed to rest.

The night I was admitted.

Luke called me. "Why aren't you home yet?"

I lied without a second thought. "Working late."

Luke said nothing more, only left me with one instruction.

"Hester's staying at the house these few days. If you come home late, don't wake her."

All those late nights I'd worked before, Luke had never once called to check on me.

Now he did, and only because he was afraid I might wake Hester.

I didn't go home all night, and Luke never called again.

No doubt he'd spent the whole night at Hester's side.

The next day, I checked out and went to pick up my medication.

At the hospital entrance I saw Luke and Hester.

The girl kept her hand pressed to her stomach, as if in terrible pain, slumped weak and limp against Luke's chest.

Luke saw me and knitted his brows, about to speak.

I pretended I hadn't seen them and started to walk past.

But Luke grabbed my hand and asked, puzzled, "Alison, you came to see a doctor too?"

There was displeasure in his tone, as though he suspected I'd been following him.

I looked at him quietly. "Mm. Cramps. I came to see the doctor."

Only then did he remember kicking me out of the car two days ago, and his face turned ugly.

Hester seized the chance to collapse against him again, her voice all snide and mocking.

"Alison must not be hurting too badly, if she can come to the hospital all by herself."

"Luke, aren't I useless? It hurts so much I can't even walk, and I had to have you bring me here."

At that, Luke gathered her up in his arms, aching with tenderness for her.

"If you feel unwell, tell me anytime. I'll stay with you these few days."

He'd taken two steps before he remembered me.

He turned his head and called to me, like tossing out charity, "Come on, I'll drive you home."