Chapter 5

I opened my eyes and stared blankly at the ceiling, unable to tell whether reality had become too absurd or if the dream had simply turned cruelly ironic.

She was pregnant. Five weeks along.

In a world where even I was about to disappear, who would be there to love and protect this little life that had arrived at such a time?

A bitter laugh escaped me. "I wouldn't exactly call that good news."

The nurse froze, caught off guard by my response.

"Sebastian! What are you talking about?"

The door opened, and Hallie strode into the room, barely containing her anger.

"That's your baby. Aren't you happy?"

But the moment she saw how pale I was, she stopped.

Her anger faded, replaced by a softer tone.

"We spent three years trying to have this baby. After everything we went through, we finally got pregnant. Why would you say something like that?"

Her words burned in my throat, and a bitter, mocking laugh escaped me.

She wasn't wrong. We had spent three whole years trying to have a child. I had endured every hardship, swallowed every bitterness, and forced myself to keep going even when the thought of intimacy had become enough to make me nauseous.

I had wanted this baby that badly. Because I had always believed that if the system eventually forced me to return to my original world, Hallie would be devastated.

At least she would have a child who shared my blood. Someone who could stay by her side after I was gone, so she wouldn't be left alone. And if it were a boy, even better. He could grow up and protect her in my place.

That was why, when Wyatt appeared—looking so much like me and claiming to be my son from twenty years in the future—I nearly cried with relief. I had genuinely believed that my greatest worry had been taken care of.

Only now did I realize how foolish I had been.

Maybe Hallie had simply grown tired of me, tired of the fact that I wasn't young anymore, and tired of my old-fashioned ways and my boring personality.

So, she found a younger imitation who looked like me and used the story of a "future son" to silence every suspicion I had.

I had spent three years desperately wanting a child for her sake. And all along, perhaps she had already found someone else she wanted instead.

Exhaustion washed over me, and I closed my eyes.

"I'm happy. Okay?"

Hallie didn't hear the emptiness in my voice.

Instead, she happily took my hand and placed it against her stomach.

"It's still so tiny right now. Once the baby starts growing, you'll be able to feel those little kicks."

I turned my face away and said nothing. What was there left to say? In just a few days, I would be gone. There was no way I would live long enough to feel that baby move.

Her phone began ringing incessantly.

Hallie hesitated for a moment before standing.

"Get some rest and take care of yourself. I'll come see you whenever I have time."

She paused at the door. "And remember to pick a name for the baby. I'm going to check whether you actually put some thought into it."

I smiled and nodded.

But the moment the hospital room door closed behind her, the smile disappeared.

I decided to let her anticipation grow. Let her enjoy every bit of happiness she thought was waiting for her. After all, the higher the hopes, the harder the fall.

Over the next few days, Hallie only came to see me once. She froze when she walked in and found me sorting through my belongings.

"What are you doing?"

I smiled and shrugged. "Nothing. Just organizing the things I want the baby to have."

She paused before stepping closer and leaning against me with a smile.

"What's the rush? Once the baby is born, we'll have plenty of time to figure everything out."

I sighed softly. "There won't be enough time."

Her phone rang again. She barely acknowledged me before hurrying out of the room.

After that, Hallie never came back.

Whenever I called, her assistant gave me the same excuse. "Mr. Castro, Ms. Larsen is extremely busy with work.

Meanwhile, entertainment headlines were plastered with one story after another about Hallie's love life.

"Larsen Group's Ice-Cold CEO Spotted on Private Date With Mystery Man—Couple Spends Ten Hours at Universal Studios, She Smiles Sweetly in His Arms."

"Finance World's 'Ice Queen' Exposed on Private Island Getaway—Kissing, Poolside Romance, and a Helicopter Pickup."

I glanced at the sensational headlines and let out a quiet laugh.

Two days remained, and my body had become frighteningly weak.

The sharp lines of my face had grown hollow. My cheekbones stood out beneath my skin, my eyes were deeply sunken, and even my wrists had become painfully thin.

The nurses handled me with extra care whenever they came in to change my dressings, afraid that even the slightest pressure might hurt me.

I didn't even have the strength to hate Hallie anymore.

Then, without warning, the hospital room door was violently thrown open.

Several men stormed inside.

Without a word, they grabbed me and hauled me to my feet.

"Mr. Castro, Ms. Larsen wants us to take you to a party."

They shoved me into a car and locked the doors.

I had no idea how much time had passed before the car finally stopped in front of a lavish hotel.

I was half-dragged, half-carried inside.

The lobby was brightly lit, almost painfully so. Balloons and streamers covered the walls, while enormous neon letters spelling "Happy Birthday" dominated the room.

Then several black SUVs pulled up behind us, one after another.

A group of intimidating men climbed out.

My heart sank as I knew something was wrong.

If Hallie had simply wanted to appease Wyatt, she never would have sent this many people to drag me here.

I swallowed and rasped out, "Why exactly am I here?"