Chapter 4

She hadn't caught the specific details of the date, nor did she want to pry, but she was absolutely certain of that word.

Someone called her name from the hallway, and she quickly excused herself.

The door clicked shut behind her.

I held Sunny, looking down at her wrinkled little face.

She was fast asleep, her tiny fists clenched tightly near her ears.

When the door pushed open again, only Julian walked in.

He was carrying a plastic bag containing a tub of takeout oatmeal and two boiled eggs.

He tossed the bag onto the nightstand. The plastic hit the surface with a loud, heavy thud.

"Eat it while it's hot."

He pulled up a chair, crossed his legs, and stared at me.

"What was that back there?"

His tone had completely shifted. He was a completely different person from the supportive husband he pretended to be outside the delivery room.

"Chloe was just trying to be nice and help. You had to go and give her attitude right to her face. Was that really necessary?"

I reached for the oatmeal. The plastic container was still burning hot against my fingers.

I pulled it closer, refusing to look at him.

He leaned forward, his voice dripping with condescension.

"Clara, you're a mother now. Can you stop being so childish?"

"Chloe ran herself ragged helping us out, and not only did you not say thank you, but you also had to give her that cold shoulder."

"What's wrong with her suggesting a name? She only did it because she loves our baby."

I set my spoon down and looked up at him.

"Julian."

"Do you honestly think a mother is supposed to smile and say thank you when she hears another woman trying to name her daughter?"

"Or do you think that because I just pushed a baby out, my brain has completely stopped working?"

Julian’s face darkened.

He stared at me for a few long seconds, his mouth twitching as if he wanted to scream, but he swallowed it down.

Then, he stood up, shoving the chair back. The metal legs scraped against the linoleum floor with a screeching sound.

"Just eat your food. We’ll talk when you’ve calmed down."

He turned to leave, pausing at the door without turning around.

"I’ll stay tonight. Get some rest."

"Don't bother," I called out to his back.

His footsteps paused, but he didn't say anything else. He opened the door and walked out.

The door clicked shut, the lock sliding into place.

The sound of his footsteps faded down the corridor.

I stared at the oatmeal, the steam rising from the bowl making my eyes sting.

By evening, the door pushed open again.

Julian walked in carrying a fruit basket, the cellophane wrapping rustling loudly.

And right behind him was Chloe.

Her face wore an expression of cautious apology. The moment she entered, she glanced at me and quickly lowered her head.

"Clara."

She walked to the bedside, setting the fruit basket on the nightstand, her voice barely a whisper.

"About the baby's name... I was out of line. I shouldn't have opened my mouth."

As she spoke, she clasped her hands in front of her, using her left hand to completely cover the ring on her right middle finger.

"Please don't be mad at me, and please don't fight with Julian because of this."

She sounded incredibly sincere.

Julian stood behind her, arms crossed, a faint, smug smirk playing on his lips.

"See? Chloe came all this way just to apologize to you."

"She’s already swallowed her pride. Stop holding a grudge."

I looked at Chloe, then turned my eyes to Julian.

"Fine. I heard you."

Chloe bit her lip, picked up her bag from the chair, and gave me a tight smile.

"I’ll head out then. Get some rest, Clara."

She walked to the door, casting a parting glance at Julian.

"Call me if you need anything, Julian."

The door closed.

Julian pulled the chair close, sitting right next to me.

He looked at me and let out a heavy sigh.

"Clara, I get that you're emotional right now."

"You just had a baby. Your hormones are all over the place, and it’s easy to let your mind wander."

"But Chloe is genuinely a good person. Stop projecting your worst thoughts onto her."

He tapped his fingers against his knee, as if keeping rhythm with his own lecture.

"Think about how much she's done for us. From the moment you went into labor until now, she hasn't even had a sip of water."

"Be realistic. Without her, how on earth would I have managed everything by myself while you were giving birth?"

I stared at him in dead silence.

"Julian," I finally spoke, my voice completely flat.

"Do you honestly think that just because you keep telling me she's a good person, I’m going to play blind?"

He blinked, his brows furrowing. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"I saw the ring on her finger."

I locked my eyes onto his.

"That's our engagement ring. The one with your initials engraved on the inside."

Julian’s face froze. But he quickly brushed it off, his tone growing impatient.

"Are you really bringing that up again? I explained it to you this afternoon."

"It's such a trivial thing. You keep harping on it. Don't you get tired of this?"

I looked down, a soft laugh escaping my lips.

"Right. Such a trivial thing."

I looked back up at him.

"Then tell me. Why did she answer your phone at eleven o'clock last night?"