Chapter 2

Lionel froze for a few seconds, then rushed into the bathroom and gently patted Iris's back.

"Honey… Are you pregnant?"

The excitement he couldn't hide made Iris curl her lips in a bitter half-smile. When the nausea eased, she straightened up, breathing hard.

"Did you forget? The doctor said I can't have children."

Lionel still couldn't hide his hope. "Let's go to the hospital tomorrow anyway. Just in case, right?"

He picked up his phone and booked an appointment. Iris opened her mouth, then closed it again. She didn't say anything.

The next morning, they went to the hospital fully disguised.

It was a private hospital, and the doctor was someone Lionel knew well.

"Mrs. Potter's uterus suffered severe trauma. Based on the test results, the chance of pregnancy is almost zero."

Even though Iris hadn't expected anything, hearing the regret in the doctor's voice still made her chest ache.

If she had returned to her original world three years ago after completing the mission, she would've had a healthy body.

Yet, she chose to stay. And now, even leaving meant returning with this damaged body.

Still, as long as she could leave, that was enough.

She glanced calmly at Lionel, who stood beside her with disappointment written all over his face.

He only looked down for a moment before pulling her into his arms.

"It's okay, honey. If we want a kid someday, we can always adopt."

Iris quietly pushed him away. "Kids don't matter anymore."

Lionel clung to her arm. "Right. As long as we're together, that's all that matters."

Iris lowered her eyes and thought that that wouldn't happen, either.

The doctor said the nausea from last night was likely caused by stress and emotional exhaustion, nothing serious.

After they left the hospital, Lionel suggested taking Iris to Whalers' Bay to clear her head.

She didn't refuse. She wanted to see the ocean one last time, anyway.

It was the first place she saw when she came into this world.

Back then, Lionel had jumped into the sea during his depression and got terrified of the water for a long time afterward. Iris slowly helped him heal and fall in love with the ocean again.

She stood there, exactly the way she had back then, but her heart wasn't what it used to be.

The bay was secluded and quiet, perfect for zoning out.

The October sea wind cut through them. Iris pulled her coat tighter around herself.

She got cold easily.

Lionel quickly draped his jacket over her shoulders and wrapped his arms around her from behind.

"That better?"

An elderly couple walked past, hand in hand.

The old lady said, "Look at young people these days. So affectionate."

The old man squeezed her hand proudly. "Hmph. If they're still like that at our age, that's what really counts."

They laughed and walked away together.

Iris's body stiffened.

Yes, she and Lionel weren't that impressive. Three years married, and his heart had already changed.

Lionel didn't notice anything. He leaned in and brushed against her ear.

"Honey, when we're old, we'll be just like them."

The nausea surged again. Iris wanted to rip the fake tenderness right off him.

Just then, Lionel's phone rang. He glanced at the screen but didn't answer right away. After hesitating for a second, he said, "Wait here, okay? I need to take this."

A minute later, he came back, guilt written all over his face.

"I'm sorry, honey. I can't stay with you. There's an emergency at the label company, and they need me right now."

Iris didn't respond. She simply handed him his jacket back, signaling him to go.

Seeing how calm she looked, Lionel hesitated, like he wanted to say something.

In the end, he only said, "Head back soon. Don't stay out too late."

After that, he left.

Iris narrowed her eyes and watched his retreating figure, her expression full of irony.

The label company, huh? She had clearly seen the caller ID. It was Pamela Briggs.

Before Iris could even get angry, a sharp gust of wind hit. Warm liquid rushed between her legs, followed by sudden, stabbing pain in her abdomen.

Iris's face went paper white.