Chapter 4

As I took the elevator down, my mind was on overdrive, replaying everything Zach had done over the last three months.

Now that I thought about it, his acting was actually terrible.

I was just too blind, constantly using "amnesia" as an excuse to justify his behavior.

Because I was so lost in my thoughts, I followed the crowd and accidentally got off at the OB-GYN floor.

By the time I realized my mistake, I had already walked quite a distance from the elevator.

Just as I was about to turn back, I saw a familiar figure.

Zach.

Why was he here? Shouldn't he be at home making dinner with Chloe?

I instinctively stopped outside one of the consultation rooms. The door was slightly ajar.

Inside, the doctor's voice drifted out.

"You're pregnant. Eight weeks."

"Are you keeping the baby?"

Before Chloe could even answer, Zach burst out eagerly.

"Yes! Yes, we are keeping it!"

Zach was holding the ultrasound scan in his hand.

He couldn't wait another second. He pulled Chloe into his arms and hugged her tightly.

"Did you hear the doctor, Chloe? We're having a baby!"

He was already starting to plan.

"Before you start showing, we need to go to city hall and get married. We need a wedding."

"I'll call my parents tomorrow. It's a bit rushed, and I'm sorry if it feels sudden."

"But I promise you, I will give you everything. You won't miss out on a single thing."

Zach had his back to the door.

But Chloe was facing it. Her eyes locked right onto mine.

Seeing my expressionless face, she went deathly pale.

She shoved Zach away.

Zach followed her gaze and turned around.

The moment he saw me, a flash of panic crossed his eyes.

"Nora? Aren't you supposed to be at work?"

"Why are you at the OB-GYN?"

I didn't answer his question.

My eyes were glued to Chloe. I asked the obvious.

"You're pregnant?"

Chloe lowered her head guiltily, not daring to look at me.

Zach stepped in front of her, shielding her.

"We're engaged, Nora. Things got passionate in bed and we didn't use protection. It's perfectly normal to get pregnant."

I let out a self-deprecating laugh.

I didn't know if I was answering him or just talking to myself.

"Right. You two are the engaged couple now."

On the drive back, Chloe sat next to me in the back seat, staring at her feet without saying a single word.

Zach, in the driver's seat, was on high alert.

He kept checking the rearview mirror to watch me.

It was as if he was terrified I would do something to his precious Chloe.

But I just looked down at my phone and replied to the HR manager at my company.

[I accept the transfer. I will go to the Italy branch as the lead engineer.]

During the mid-year meeting, the corporate headquarters had decided to expand into the European market, selecting engineers from local branches to support the launch.

Coincidentally, I was the only engineer in my branch who had minored in Italian in college.

Before, even when I thought Zach had amnesia, I couldn't bear the thought of a long-distance relationship.

But between my career and Zach, I had chosen him once.

From now on, I was only making decisions for myself.

When we got back to the condo, I realized why they had gone to the hospital in the first place.

Chloe had started vomiting violently while making dinner.

Zach was worried it was a stomach issue, so he rushed her to the ER.

Because he was worried the smell of grease would trigger her morning sickness again, Zach turned to me.

"Nora, why don't you go into the kitchen and finish up dinner?"

Chloe looked at me with a conflicted expression. "But Zach... Nora doesn't even know how to cook."

Zach helped her sit down on the sofa.

"She can learn. We can't have a pregnant woman doing physical labor."

The word pregnant pierced my ears.

I turned around and went into the kitchen to wash the vegetables.

Zach followed me in.

The moment he entered, he locked the kitchen door behind him.

"If anything happens to Chloe or the baby, I will make your life a living hell."