Chapter 4

I told Dominic to free up some time in his schedule to accompany me for my prenatal check-up.

He said that he would be there. But at 7:00 am the next day, I received a text from him.

"I have to go on a last-minute business trip. I'll be back the day after tomorrow. Tell the driver to send you to the hospital if you're feeling unwell. I love you."

When I tried calling him, his phone was switched off. When I called the company's front desk, the receptionist told me that Dominic wasn't scheduled to go on a business trip that day.

In the end, I took a cab and went to the hospital by myself.

There were a few other couples waiting in the hallway. To my left, a husband was tying his wife's shoelaces. To my right, another husband was supporting his wife as she slowly shuffled forward.

I was the only one sitting alone.

After the examination, the doctor informed me that I was at risk of a miscarriage because of my low progesterone levels. She then asked me if any of my family members had come with me.

When I told her that I would sign the form myself, she gave me a look. "Where's your husband?"

"On a business trip."

She didn't question me further.

I came across Tiana's social media account when I was getting a shot to stabilize my pregnancy.

She had posted a few photos of the setting sun by the sea. The caption read, "A certain someone was dragged to the beach after mentioning that she likes to look at the ocean when she's feeling stressed out. Having your superior spoil you is such an amazing feeling."

There was a hand in the bottom right corner of the last photo. On their ring finger was a wedding band identical to the one on my left hand.

…

My stomach began to hurt terribly at around 10:00 pm.

I hailed a cab to the emergency room by myself.

When the nurse wheeled me into the operating room, I asked, "It's gone, isn't it?"

"You've suffered a miscarriage," the nurse replied. "We need to remove it now. Is your family here?"

"I'll sign the form myself."

The surgery ended at 3:00 am.

I sat in the hallway and called Dominic again and again, but his phone was still switched off. In the end, I could only send a message to him, telling him that something had happened and that I needed him to come home.

Dominic only called me back the next afternoon. I could hear the sounds of crashing waves and the hum of an engine in the background.

"I just got off the plane. What happened?" he asked.

Powering through the pain, I said, "I took care of it."

"That's good. I'll be home tonight. I'll bring some seafood for you."

…

Dominic returned home that night.

I sat on the couch in the living room with all the lights off.

He asked why I was sitting in the dark and placed the bag of seafood on the dining table.

"I brought some crabs for you," he said. "I'll make some crab cakes for you tomorrow."

I said nothing.

Dominic walked over and sat next to me. When he noticed my pallid complexion, he reached out and tried to touch my forehead.

I leaned away from him.

"I have something to tell you," I said. "I was preg—"

Just then, Dominic's phone started ringing loudly. It was Tiana's personal ringtone.

He immediately looked down at the screen. I was very familiar with the expression that crossed his face.

Dominic raised his hand and asked me to wait as he swiftly swiped his finger across the screen to answer the call.

"What's wrong?"

Tiana's voice was very soft on the other end of the line, but since I was sitting so close to Dominic, I could hear every word clearly.

"I think I caught a fever, Dom. I feel so weak. Can you…"

"Did you check your temperature?"

"101 degrees."

Dominic rose to his feet. He continued speaking to Tiana as he made his way toward the front door. "Wait for me. I'll be there soon."

He only remembered to address me when he was halfway toward the door. "Tiana caught a fever, Cassandra. She's alone at home and doesn't have anyone to take care of her. I'm going to drop by her place to see how she's doing. I'll be back soon. We can continue our talk when I get back later."

I forced myself to swallow the words that were at the tip of my tongue and listened to the sounds of his footsteps disappear into the elevator.

Silence was restored in the living room. The crabs were still in the plastic bag on the dining table.

The lingering feelings that I still harbored for Dominic disappeared at that moment.

…

Dominic rushed home the next morning, feeling strangely uneasy.

He halted his footsteps when he pushed open the door and spotted the miscarriage report on the coffee table.