Chapter 3

In the end, all I could manage was a dry, "Is there anything you want to eat? I'll go buy it for you. I can get you that seafood chowder you used to love. And your favorite strawberries, too, okay?"

But Leo suddenly chimed in, his tone carrying a faint trace of mockery. "She doesn't like those anymore. Her tastes have changed during the pregnancy. Didn't you know?"

I froze for a second and looked at Celina, hoping for some kind of response from her. But she only kept her head lowered, her fingers twisting the blanket in her hands.

"Yeah, I don't feel like eating those right now," she said, her voice barely audible. "I'm a little sick of them now."

My heart sank. Just a few days ago, I had bought those exact same things, and she'd eaten them with relish, even smiling and thanking me.

But now, she said she was sick of them.

The pain inside me nearly swallowed me whole, but I still forced myself to stay calm and asked softly, "Then is there anything else you want? I'll go get it right now."

Leo, however, beat me to it. He reached into his bag and took out an exquisitely packaged box of pastries and handed them to Celina.

"I specifically went to buy these for you. They're the flavor you've been into lately. Give them a try?"

Celina took the box, a smile spreading across her face. Even her voice became noticeably brighter. "Thank you, Leo. You really do know me well."

I walked out of the room feeling deflated. Was this what she meant when she said nothing would change?

…

While Celina stayed in the hospital for the next few days, Leo never left her side.

On the day she was discharged, I arrived early, holding a bouquet of her favorite lilies.

But when I opened the door to her room, the sight in front of me left me completely stunned.

Celina had already changed into her own clothes and was sitting on the edge of the bed, while Leo was crouched down, helping her put on her shoes.

Pamela Sanford, her mentor—the elderly lady who had once treated me kindly—stood to the side, holding a small suitcase, with a faint smile on her face.

"Celina, the car's waiting downstairs. Once you're ready, we'll head out."

Celina nodded obediently. "Okay, Ms. Sanford."

I stood in the doorway, clutching the bouquet of lilies, a sharp ache rising in my chest.

"Celina, I'm here to take you home," I said.

She looked up at me, but there wasn't the slightest ripple of emotion in her eyes.

"Babe, Ms. Sanford said I should stay at her house until I give birth. You see, I'm getting quite far along now, and it's a little difficult for me to move around.

"I'm not saying that you can't take good care of me… It's just that there'll be more people at Ms. Sanford's house, so they'll be able to keep a better watch over me."

Her tone was light and casual, as though the matter wasn't even worth discussing.

In that moment, I felt like an irrelevant bystander. She merely needed to inform me of her decision, and I would then be expected to readily agree to it.

"Celina…" I started, wanting to say more, but Pamela had already grabbed her suitcase, and Leo was helping her to her feet as well.

She finally looked up at me again, but this time, there was a hint of impatience in her gaze.

"With Ms. Sanford and Leo taking care of me, what are you still worried about? Besides, there's a housekeeper at her place. Either way, they'll be able to take better care of me than you can on your own."

Pamela cut in, her tone urging them along. "Let's go. The car is waiting."

Celina nodded and followed them toward the door. As she walked past me, she didn't even spare me a glance.

It was as though I didn't exist at all.