Chapter 2

Adrian came in holding a jewelry box.

"Forgot to give you this earlier. Happy third anniversary."

Inside was a brooch. Six months ago, he had me pick a color from two design sketches. Back then, I thought he remembered our wedding date and treasured this marriage the same way I did.

"Do you like it?"

"I do."

He pinned the brooch to my pajamas, then glanced at the pill case on the nightstand.

"Good, you took your medication. I'll go with you to the follow-up tomorrow."

"Isn't the office busy?"

"You matter more."

His phone rang. He looked at it and didn't answer. A few seconds later, it rang again.

"Aren't you going to check?" I asked.

"Work."

He set the phone face down and stroked my hair. "Get some sleep."

Once he left, I took off the brooch and put it in my bag, along with the pill.

At breakfast the next morning, he really did stay home. He poured my milk himself but had the housekeeper take the coffee away.

"Didn't sleep well?" he asked.

"Mm."

He told the kitchen to make oatmeal.

Vanessa didn't come over today, but Adrian's phone lit up on the table three times. He silenced it each time. The fourth time, he stood up and went out to the balcony.

Through the glass, I watched him talk with a frown.

When he came back, he said, "There's a contract I need to sign at the office. I'll head over now and pick you up for your appointment this afternoon."

"Go ahead. I can get there myself."

"I promised I'd go with you."

"Come get me after you sign. I can handle the doctor on my own."

He glanced at his phone again and agreed.

Only after his car pulled away did I have the driver take me to Maya's hospital.

The front desk checked my name and said Dr. Reed was expecting me.

Maya had been my doctor before I got married. Later, Lucia said the Morettis had a private physician they trusted and arranged a different set of follow-up visits for me. Maya and I gradually saw less of each other.

She closed the exam room door and asked first, "Did you bring the medication?"

I handed her the pill case, the photos of the packaging, and the tablet I had kept from last night. I explained exactly how the pill had left its packaging and stayed in my possession.

"The concierge clinic the Morettis use delivers these," I said. "I want to know what I've actually been taking."

"Testing has to go to a certified lab, and we have to state the sample's history honestly." Maya didn't rush to judge. "First, let me examine you."

While I waited for the results, I kept staring at my phone.

Adrian texted to ask what I wanted for lunch. Vanessa sent a photo of baby clothes:

Sister-in-law, which one do you think Adrian would like?

I saved the photo and didn't reply.

When Maya called me back in, the report was ready.

"You're not pregnant." She pointed at the page. "Also, today's results do not support what the Morettis have been telling you, that you absolutely cannot have children. Your situation still needs to be evaluated against your full medical history, and one exam can't prove the opposite either. But the verdict they gave you needs to be rechecked, at the very least."

I held the report and couldn't speak for a long time.

For three years, whenever the Morettis brought up children, someone would tell me not to be sad. Adrian used to say he didn't care whether we had a child.

Last night, Vanessa talked as if the matter had already been settled for me.

"Then why am I always dizzy? Why do I feel worse after taking the pills?"

"That depends on your records and the lab results." Maya looked at me. "Until a doctor reviews your treatment plan, don't keep taking that old prescription on your own. Come back anytime you feel unwell. I'll keep today's records on file."

I walked out of the exam room and was about to reply to the messages when Vanessa's voice came from the other end of the hallway.

"Adrian, didn't you say you were taking her to her follow-up today?"

I stopped at the corner.

Adrian stood beside her, holding a test report in his hand.

"Her side is taken care of. Finish your own exam first."

"What if sister-in-law shows up here?"

"She goes to a different clinic."

I looked down at the report in my hand.

So he had even arranged where I was supposed to go.

Vanessa was about to say more when Adrian suddenly turned and saw me. He pulled the papers behind his back.

"Evelyn? What are you doing here?"

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