Chapter 6

After getting her wounds treated at the hospital, Michelle was called into the doctor’s office.

The moment she saw the report, it felt like a dull blade driving straight into her chest, each breath searing with pain.

How could this be possible?

She and Sigmund had always taken precautions, and even when passion got the better of them, she had always taken the pill afterward.

This baby couldn’t have come at a worse time.

“Doctor, please help me schedule the procedure as soon as possible.”

The surgery was set for three days later.

During the following days, Sigmund didn’t call her once in front of me.

When a message from Emily popped up on her phone, Michelle tapped her profile photo without thinking.

Emily’s social feed read like a love diary, documenting every tender moment between her and Sigmund since her return.

He cooked for her himself, feeding her each bite with care.

He brought her lavish gifts every day, just to keep her entertained during her hospital stay.

He searched through joke books, staying up late to tell her stories and make her laugh.

He cared for her with patience and warmth, even promising her a surprise once she was discharged.

Michelle stared blankly at the screen, and her mind drifted back to the early days with Sigmund.

Back then, she often came home drunk after business dinners, and Sigmund would wait outside the club to drive her home.

When she threw up, he was always the one by her side, cleaning up and comforting her.

She truly believed he had feelings for her—even if those feelings were built on money, she didn’t care.

But now she realized she’d been wrong all along. She had thought she was the one using Sigmund to fill the emptiness in her life.

In truth, she had been his greatest amusement.

That night, Michelle drank too much again.

She kept dreaming the same dream over and over—asking Sigmund if he would marry her and waiting endlessly for an answer that never came.

Anxious and heartbroken, she finally opened her eyes and saw his face, his eyes filled with a tangle of emotions.

“Why are you crying in your sleep again?”

Michelle touched her cheek and realized her face was wet with tears.

She took a deep breath, trying to steady her heartbeat.

“I dreamt you said you didn’t love me. That you never planned to marry me.”

She said it casually, brushing it off as nonsense, missing the flicker of shock that crossed Sigmund’s eyes.

He pulled her into his arms, his tone laced with unease. “Is it because I haven’t been home these few days? You missed me, didn’t you? Don’t overthink it. Who else would I marry besides you?

“Baby, I just don’t have the means to give you the best right now. I don’t want you to settle for less. Once I’ve earned enough, I’ll propose to you right away. Okay?”

Michelle smiled against his chest, her tears spilling freely.

There was a time, after one of their passionate nights, when she had joked, “You’re so reckless every time. What if I end up pregnant?”

He’d taken her seriously and said gently, “I’d love for us to have a child. When I can give you a stable life, we’ll have one together.”

Michelle silently slipped out of his arms, but he quickly pulled her back to sit down beside him.

“Didn’t you say you liked this bakery’s cake? I waited in line for two hours to get it. Come on, try it.”

At that moment, a message from Emily popped up on her phone.

“How’s the cake? I only mentioned it in passing, and he ran off to buy it for me. I even told him to grab another one for you. It’s your favorite flavor, right?”

The amusement drained from Michelle’s eyes. She picked up the cake and tossed it straight into the trash.

Sigmund’s face darkened immediately, thinking she was still angry.

“Sigmund, I’m allergic to mango.”