Chapter 4

When the ad company called me at 8:30 PM, Damon snatched my phone before I could answer, turning it off. "I told you. You're staying home."

I looked up, meeting his gaze, and saw that he was smiling, not upset like earlier.

Noticing my lack of response, he snaked his arms around my waist, his tone soft as he said, "There are old folks and a pregnant woman at home now. I'd be worried without you around."

"What are you talking about?"

Even as I stared at him in shock, he brushed my hair behind my ear, his grin broadening. "Mila is pregnant. We're expecting another child."

I stared at him in silence for a long while until I could finally muster, "And that's what you meant when you said 'it's over'?"

Damon's smile stiffened as he turned away uncomfortably.

Mila was suddenly behind us, quickly interjecting, "Damon and I were drunk the night we divorced..."

Lilian stood at the doorway, chiming in, "It's only natural for young people to be lively."

Mom wasn't in the room, but I could hear her telling Dad from the hallway, "Guess my postpartum care worker license will finally come in handy."

I clenched my knuckles but soon relaxed.

Mila suddenly rushed up, taking my hand—perhaps I was scowling too hard.

"I won't steal Damon from you." She smiled sweetly. "Otherwise, I'd definitely be the legitimate wife since I'm having his second child. Just behave and pipe down, okay? If you do a good job until I give birth, I'll tell Damon to increase your allowance."

Damon grinned in satisfaction when I didn't argue and clapped me on the shoulder. "Wouldn't everything have been fine if you'd just behaved in the first place? Oh, and you should lay off those folic acid supplements."

Caught off guard, I turned toward Damon before I knew it, but he had turned away stiffly, taking Mila's hand as he left. "Those pills aren't folic acid. They're birth control pills."

I felt my own stomach churn, a pain as if I was slowly being diced from the inside.

Mom and Dad were at the door but never bothered coming in.

Instead, they were hovering around Mila, smiling as they congratulated her. "Oh, you're such a blessed child! You're so much better than her!"

Lilian chimed in with a snort. "That's why I always thought Damon should have married Mila instead."

Damon turned to look at me. "That's not a bad idea," he said quietly.

I stumbled, leaning against the wall as I wobbled into the bathroom and vomited.

But as I rose, I realized I had become numb to their words; none of it hurt anymore.

Mila had moved into my home after her parents' death. My own parents, such loyal friends to the Kirks, slowly forgot about their own daughter.

Every day, it was always 'Mila,' 'Mila.'

Even the new clothes I hadn't yet tried on were hers if she asked.

But back in the day, Mila would smile, shaking her head as she refused. "Please, Mr. and Mrs. Queen, you should worry more about Yvie, not me—she's your daughter."

And ever since she met Damon, she would apologize while butting in on our dates.

At first, Damon would complain, "Why is she everywhere?"

But later, he would offer to take Mila on business trips without being asked.

I thought he was offering her privilege for my sake. Only now did I understand that I was the spare all along.

Picking up my phone and identification, I left.

Mom was studying postpartum care, her smile stiffening when she saw me. "Having another child in the house is a good thing. Quit being so dramatic—"

"Uh-huh," I grunted noncommittally before she could finish.

That was when Lilian poked her head out of the kitchen. "Get certified in massage therapy so you can give Mila massages when the time comes."

I didn't say a word as I put on my shoes and left.

My phone suddenly rang. Seeing who it was, I answered. "Yeah, be right there."

-

When Damon entered the guest room at 10 PM, he found it completely empty.

"Yvie?" he called out, but got no response.

There was no one on the bed, and the bathroom was empty.

As he turned to leave, he paused, seeing a key and an abortion appointment notice.

There was also a sticky note on top of it that read: "A person won't die just because they decide to walk away. Including me."