Episode 6 - Her Return, His Regret

The sky had already turned grey by the time Lilian got home. Her steps were slow, her body aching with exhaustion. The doctor’s words kept echoing in her mind — “Avoid stress, Mrs. Brook. You’re too weak right now.”

But how could she avoid stress when her whole life was falling apart?

She unlocked the door and stepped inside, hoping for silence. What she found instead was Emily sitting comfortably on the living room couch, crossing her legs with a glass of wine in hand.

“Well, look who finally decided to show up,” Emily said with a smirk.

Lilian froze in the doorway. She didn’t have the energy for this. Not tonight. Not now.

Without responding, she moved quietly toward the hallway, desperate to reach her room before Emily could start another scene.

But the woman’s sharp voice cut through the air like a blade. “Don’t you dare walk past me when I’m talking to you!”

Before Lilian could react, Emily stood and stepped in front of her, blocking the way.

“Emily, please…” Lilian said softly, her tone weary. “I’m not feeling well. I don’t want any trouble.”

“Oh, you don’t want trouble?” Emily mocked, her lips curling into a sneer. “Then maybe you shouldn’t have married a man who doesn’t love you.”

Lilian’s chest tightened. “Enough,” she whispered, trying to push past her. “Just leave me alone.”

But the moment she moved, Emily grabbed her wrist — hard.

And that was the exact moment Ethan walked in.

Perfect timing for Emily.

She gasped dramatically and stumbled backward, letting go of Lilian’s hand as though she’d been attacked. “Ethan!” she cried, her voice breaking just enough to sound believable. “I was just trying to ask her about her hospital visit, but she… she pushed me!”

Ethan’s brows furrowed instantly. He crossed the room in seconds, his eyes narrowing at Lilian.

“What is happening here?” he demanded.

Emily clutched his arm, her voice trembling in all the right places. “I don’t know what I did wrong. I just wanted to check on her, but she’s always so bitter. I’m trying to be kind, but she can’t even appreciate that.”

Lilian stood frozen, staring at the scene — at Ethan’s cold expression and Emily’s fake tears.

“Ethan,” Lilian said quietly, her voice breaking. “That’s not what happened. She—”

“Enough!” His words hit like a thunderclap. “You think I don’t see it? You’ve changed, Lilian. Your heart… it’s no longer pure.”

Her chest tightened painfully. No longer pure?

She wanted to laugh at the irony of it. How could he call her impure when he’d been the one to destroy every part of her?

But she said nothing. She was too tired, too heartbroken.

She turned and walked away, ignoring Emily’s triumphant smirk.

When she reached her room, she closed the door and leaned against it. For a long moment, she tried to hold back her tears. She bit her lip until she tasted blood, but the pain in her chest was too heavy to contain.

The tears came anyway, silent and hot.

She sat on the bed, clutching her stomach protectively. “I’m sorry,” she whispered to the tiny life growing inside her. “I’m so sorry you have to be born into this pain.”

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sudden slam of the door.

Ethan stood there, anger flashing in his eyes. “What was that performance out there?” he demanded, his voice low and harsh. “Who do you think you are to walk out on me?”

She quickly wiped her tears and stood, her voice trembling. “Please, Ethan. You’re misunderstanding. I didn’t—”

He cut her off, stepping closer, his tone sharp. “Don’t you dare raise your voice to me again.”

Lilian’s throat tightened. She wanted to tell him the truth — that she wasn’t pretending, that she wasn’t well, that she was pregnant. But when she opened her mouth, the words stuck.

Because right then, Emily appeared at the doorway, her voice sweet and poisonous.

“Ethan,” she said softly, placing a hand on his arm. “She’s probably just stressed. Don’t let her ruin your mood again.”

Lilian’s gaze dropped to the floor. Whatever strength she’d gathered was gone.

Ethan glanced at her one last time — cold, detached — then turned to leave with Emily.

The door closed behind them, and the silence that followed was unbearable.

Lilian sank to her knees, tears streaming down her face. She pressed a trembling hand to her belly.

“I’ll protect you,” she whispered again. “Even if I have to do it alone.”

Outside, thunder rolled across the sky — a warning of the storm that was only just beginning.