Chapter 1 The Name He Chose for Her Baby

Samantha's POV

The moment I signed the abortion consent form, the clock's hour hand pointed to twelve.

The half-day each month that was supposedly set aside for me was over.

As I left the hospital with the medication I had been prescribed, I spotted Jasper Clarke and Jessamine Wells having lunch at an outdoor restaurant in the distance.

They sat on the same side of the table, less than an inch apart.

Jasper had taken off his white coat, looking more relaxed than I had seen him in a long time.

I walked into the restaurant. Neither of them noticed me.

A pregnant woman passing by stopped to greet them.

"Dr. Clarke, is this your wife? You two look like such a perfect couple! Having an expert like you for a husband must make life so much easier and happier."

Jessamine lowered her gaze with a smile.

Jasper did not deny it. He gently tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

Their smiles froze when I walked up to them.

He frowned, just as he had when he had seen me in the exam room earlier. "Why are you still here? How many times have I told you not to interrupt me while I'm working?"

I clenched the document envelope in my hand. My nails dug into my palm, but I barely felt it. "I came here as a patient."

He acted as though he had not heard me.

"You were too emotional today. You failed to separate personal matters from work. As punishment, I'm taking away the half-day I set aside for you each month for the next three months."

I forced a bitter smile. I was about to hand him the envelope when a server approached with a tray.

"Mr. Clarke, here's the couples' meal you ordered. The steak and salad have both been prepared according to your special instructions."

Jasper took the tray and set it in front of Jessamine. "I had them leave out the red onions and black olives from the salad. Go ahead and eat."

As the server turned to leave, he noticed me. "Would you like something to eat, ma'am?"

Jasper casually pointed to a page on the menu. "Just bring her any set meal for one."

Jessamine gave him a light tap, her tone reproachful. "How could you? The steak is medium, and the tiramisu contains alcohol. Both could pose risks during pregnancy."

She smiled and pulled me down into a seat. Then, she took a thick notebook from her bag and handed it to me.

The cover read "Pregnancy Guide for Jessamine" in Jasper's handwriting.

"Mrs. Clarke, this lists foods to avoid during pregnancy. Take a look. We pregnant women have to be extra careful when we're out."

I opened the notebook. It covered every pregnancy precaution in meticulous detail.

It listed everything from how much folic acid to take to foods to avoid at different stages of pregnancy. There was even an entire page devoted to caring for swollen hands and feet.

The tightly packed handwriting made my head spin.

Ever since I had gotten pregnant, Jasper had never asked how I was feeling. He could not even say how many weeks pregnant I was.

At my last prenatal checkup, they found an abnormality in the baby's heartbeat. I called Jasper several times in tears, but he hung up on me every time.

He did not reply until a full day later, and his message contained just three words. "Don't overthink it."

A bitter ache spread through my chest, and my vision began to blur.

Just as I was about to turn to the last page, Jasper stopped my hand. "Don't read any further. You're healthy. You don't need any of this."

I looked up at him, unable to get a word out.

All these years, I had silently swallowed my pain to avoid disturbing him. And to him, it all amounted to one dismissive phrase. "You're healthy."

As I set the notebook down, a gust of wind flipped open the last page. It read, "I came up with a good name for the baby today: Jess Clarke."