Chapter 4

Yvie ran up to me, holding my hands as she smiled pretentiously. "Thank you, Bea. You surprised me… You're so brave!"

At the same time, her eyes were glaring at me threateningly.

I shoved her hands away and left, still famished.

I should've given up at that very moment.

-

"You're two months pregnant but never noticed? You should stay for observation."

I was left gaping as I sat on the hospital chair, shaking even as I stared at the medical report.

I had to be pregnant now?

Martin despised me and naturally wouldn't want the child in my belly—he definitely wouldn't change his opinion of me even if I was pregnant and would say that I was being a scheming harlot trying to force him to marry me.

But the day after, I mustered my courage and called him anyway.

If he didn't want my child, I'd just get an abortion and leave instead of staying to bother him.

Beep, beep, beep…

I tried countless times, but he never answered.

However, I got through when I tried one last time… but it was Yvie who answered.

"Hey, Bea!" she chirped. "Are you looking for Martin? But he's tired and needs rest…"

"Why waste your breath? Just tell her not to bother me." Martin snorted impatiently on the other end.

Yvie giggled. "Stop it—I'm on my period. Not tonight…"

I collapsed on the couch stiffly, still holding my phone.

-

Later that night, Martin came home to Fitz Lane, but he also brought Yvie along.

Mrs. Fitzgerald frowned in annoyance. "Why did you bring her here?"

"We're getting engaged. Just giving you a head's up," Martin said with a tone that permitted no refusal.

Shocked, Mrs. Fitzgerald turned toward me before she knew it, but I said nothing even though tears welled up in my eyes.

Seeing that, Mrs. Fitzgerald quickly said, "No, I must protest. You're engaged to Bea—"

"That serial killer in the news is after Yvie," Martin said, cutting her short. "But he only chooses single women, so I'll make sure our wedding is very public."

He didn't even bother to hide the great lengths he would go to for her sake!

My stomach suddenly started churning, and I jumped up, dashing straight for the washroom, where I puked my guts out.

What did that man take me for?

-

I was eighteen when my parents and I got into a car accident.

I was trapped in the car's bent frame while it burned and could blow up at any moment.

Even so, Martin saved me without an ounce of self-regard.

He kept punching the windshield until it shattered, pulling me out of the car despite his bleeding hands to carry me to safety.

Then, he tried to save my parents too.

"Martin… It's too dangerous…" I called out feebly, but I could otherwise only watch as he tried his damndest.

But just as my parents almost got out of the car, it exploded.

My heart skipped a beat amid the heat and shockwaves.

Even though my parents died, the sight of Martin selflessly saving me was carved into my heart.

"It's alright, Bea. You're going to be fine, Bea…"

He kept calling my name, telling me to hold on, and that the ambulance would soon come.

He was a good man—he always had been.

The only problem was that he didn't love me.

-

Back in the present, I kept vomiting until there was nothing left to vomit.

As my vision darkened, I collapsed on the floor as I remembered that Martin was going to marry Yvie soon, while I had only ever been a joke because of a misunderstanding that lasted for so many years.

"Playing dead again?!"

The washroom door was kicked open, and Martin stood at the doorway, glaring at me in annoyance. "You're going to that alley down Wisteria Lane tomorrow night. Drop the act—everything's been arranged."

"Martin… Aren't you worried that I'm going to die?" I rasped.

"No, you're resilient—in fact, you're so resilient that you're perfect for that serial killer!"

Martin chuckled coolly. "If you'd just direct the energy you used to bother me into bothering that killer, you might even contribute to society!"

"Will you be sad… if I die?" I rasped again.

Martin frowned. "Let me get back to you when you're actually dead."