Chapter 6

When I came to, the first thing that came into view was Evan's anxious and shaken face. Clutching my hand tightly, he asked, "Why didn't you tell me you were pregnant, Selena?"

I wanted to tell him that I had. Yet, he had hung up on me before I could even finish my sentence.

However, I was so weak I couldn't even open my eyes. Noticing my aloofness, he panicked for once. "This is all my fault, Selena. I didn't believe you. Thank God the baby is alright… Or else I'd never be able to forgive myself!

"No wonder you've been emotional lately. It's because you're pregnant. If you had told me earlier, I wouldn't have punished you for yelling at the housekeepers."

In the end, he still believed I had lied to him.

The frustration in my chest reached its limit. I used all the strength I had to pull my hand out of his.

My voice was hoarse and low as I demanded, "Get out. I don't want to see your face."

Evan froze for a moment. He seemed hurt as he stared at his empty hand and fell silent for a while.

Ultimately, he turned to leave. Before walking out, he warned the doctor. "Take good care of my wife. If anything happens to her or our baby, this hospital can shut its doors for good."

He left in a hurry. I later learned he had rushed home to punish the housekeepers. The doctor told him that if I had been rushed over any later, not only would our baby have been lost, but I might have died as well.

Rumor had it that the housekeepers were beaten within an inch of their lives. Even at death's door, they begged for mercy on their knees. "Mr. Blackwell, we were only following Ms. Harroway's orders! She forced us to do it!"

"Nonsense!" Evan snapped. "Serena's been in the hospital this whole time. How could she possibly force you to do anything? How dare you slander her?

"Mr. Larson, rip their tongues out and throw them out!"

"No! We're telling the truth, Mr. Blackwell! It was Ms. H—"

Blood splattered across the floor as Evan dropped the blade in his hand. His eyes were filled with murderous intent as he declared, "From now on, anyone who dares to slander Serena will end up just like this!"

Before he left, he instructed Gale, "Don't breathe a word of this to my wife. Understood?"

Gale hurriedly nodded. Yet, I still found out.

Serena paused the video and stood beside my hospital bed, looking down at me with a triumphant smile. "I never imagined someone like you would be the first to get pregnant. But what does it matter? Evan loves only me.

"See? No matter what anyone says, he always believes me. You, on the other hand, were punished, locked in a room, and ended up so upset you almost lost your baby!

"I was worried for a moment, but after watching this, I think your baby will die sooner or later. It's what happens when the mother isn't even loved!"

I watched her crow over me and chuckled. "Are you scared, Serena?"

The smile on her face stiffened, while the amusement in my eyes deepened. "Aren't you telling me all these things to reassure yourself? If you were genuinely that sure of yourself, why did you rush over here as soon as you received that video? You didn't even change out of your hospital gown."

"You're… unbelievable!" Serena looked completely rattled, as though I had hit a nerve. "Don't get ahead of yourself! It's just a baby. I'll be pregnant soon enough!"

I kept a straight face as I responded softly, "In that case, I wish you luck. I hope you get knocked up on your first attempt."

My flippant demeanor enraged Serena. So, she raised her hand to slap me.

Just then, Evan pushed the door open and walked in. "What are you doing here, Serena?"

Serena hurriedly withdrew her hand and forced a smile. "I heard Mrs. Blackwell almost had a miscarriage, so I came to check on her."

He nodded. Looking at her thin hospital gown, he couldn't help but comment, "It's chilly today. You should head back to your room soon."

Serena froze. In the past, he would've draped his coat over her shoulders and personally walked her back. The thought made her shoot daggers at me.

Her gaze ultimately landed on my abdomen, her eyes filled with resentment. However, she still plastered a smile on her face and walked out the door as if she didn't care.

Evan turned around and gazed at her for a moment before spinning on his heel and sitting beside my bed.

Everything between them played in slow motion before my eyes, and I could see the worry and reluctance in his eyes clearly. He stayed, not because he no longer loved Serena, but because my pregnancy forced him to.

"What should we name our baby, Selena?" He asked gently as he poked my belly.

I looked out the window and pondered for a moment before responding softly, "Let's call him… Rene."

"Rene?"

"Yeah. It means to let go of the past."

Evan stiffened for a moment before breaking into a smile. "True. Your father wasn't good to you. It's better for you to forget him."

I turned around to see him resting his cheek against my belly. "Rene, you have to grow up safe and healthy. Daddy can't wait to meet you!"

His profile had returned to its familiar tenderness. In the past, I would've been moved to tears. Now, it only stung.

Evan, when I said I wanted to let go of my past, I wasn't referring to my childhood; I was referring to the three years I was married to you. My father failed me, but you weren't any better.

…

That evening, he stayed by my side until I fell asleep. Then, he stepped out onto the balcony.

"I'm not going back to you tonight, Serena. Go to bed without me."

"Tonight? What about tomorrow? Will you come back tomorrow? So long as that baby is still in her belly, you won't ever come back to me, right, Van?

"Don't you dare forget that Selena is just my substitute! The baby she's carrying is a substitute, too! Besides, I can give you one as well!" Serena was so emotional that her voice echoed through the glass window.

Evan immediately turned to check if I had woken up. Noticing that my eyes were still shut, he continued, "Calm down, Serena. We had already lost each other once. I promise I'll give you the happiness you deserve this time.

"Selena, on the other hand, is a mistake I made in the past, and I have to take responsibility for her. Do you understand?

"Also, don't call her a substitute right in her face. If she finds out about us and gets upset, it could affect the baby. It'll be a disaster then."

"She's the only one you care about; you don't care about me at all! In that case, I'll leave. That way, she and her precious baby will be just fine!"

Sobs echoed from her end of the call. Evan sighed exasperatedly. "Alright, Serena. Stop crying. I'll go and be with you, okay?"

He spent a long while comforting her on the phone before grabbing his coat from the couch and rushing out. Before he left, he planted a kiss on my forehead.

The moment the door clicked shut, I opened my eyes and wiped that kiss off my skin. I sat up and pulled out my phone.

I had received a new email notification. Wyrmvale University had sent me an acceptance letter. So, I immediately booked a flight to Bellerose.

"Evan, from this day on, I don't ever want to see you again," I thought to myself.