Chapter 2

Joshua's POV

It was a pregnancy test report with Renee's name on it. What hit me hardest was how far along she already was.

The report clearly stated that she was four weeks pregnant. That meant she'd undergone artificial insemination about a month ago and was already carrying Chad's child.

She had never really wanted my opinion in the first place. She'd already made up her mind long ago.

If that was the case, why had she kept bringing it up over the past month, acting as if she wanted to discuss it with me? Was it just to make herself more determined to have Chad's baby?

I felt as if all the strength had drained from my body. I collapsed onto the floor, my vision blurring. A suffocating tightness gripped my chest, making it hard to breathe.

No wonder Renee had looked so thrilled after that call and rushed out the door without a second thought. She had just received confirmation that the insemination had been successful. She was probably at the hospital now, celebrating the news with Chad.

I squeezed my eyes shut, overwhelmed by an unbearable sense of despair.

I couldn't believe that the woman I'd loved for so many years would trample on my feelings, carry another man's child, and even go through with having it.

I had proposed to her just a month ago, and our wedding was set for the 10th. I'd already booked the hotel and picked out her wedding dress.

I'd been looking forward to our wedding, dreaming about taking Renee's hand and walking into marriage together. I imagined a future where we'd stand by each other through everything and stay together until our hair turned gray.

But now, all those dreams felt like sand slipping through my fingers, vanishing into thin air.

Just then, my phone vibrated, snapping me out of my thoughts.

I answered without thinking. A bright, familiar voice came through the phone. It was Laurel Sheldon, a senior member of Professor Francis Stark's lab.

"Joshua, I know you're getting married soon, but I still wanted to ask one more time. Have you reconsidered joining our lab? Professor Stark always said you're his most talented student. He really hopes you can be on the team."

She paused before adding, "Since you're about to get married, he said he'd let you work a flexible schedule. You can spend a month in the lab, then take two weeks off so you'll have time to spend with your wife."

I had known about Professor Francis Stark's new lab for months. In fact, he had personally called to invite me to work there.

But joining the lab came with one condition. Once a research project started, I wouldn't be able to contact anyone outside the lab or leave until the work was finished. A project could keep me there for a month or two, or even a year or two.

I couldn't bear to be separated from Renee for that long, much less be unable to contact her. So I'd turned down the offer.

But now, the image of that pregnancy report kept flashing through my mind. Renee was already carrying another man's child. If she'd never cared about our relationship or our future together, then there was no point in going through with the wedding.

My grip tightened around the phone. "Laurel, I'll join the lab. I don't need a flexible schedule. We can stick to the normal research timeline."

Laurel's voice brightened with excitement. "That's amazing! Professor Stark is going to be so happy. When can you start? Would two weeks after the wedding work? You'll have time for your honeymoon."

"No," I said quietly. "I'll start on the day of the wedding."

My eyes fell on the calendar on the table. I'd circled the 10th in thick red marker.

At first, I'd done it to remind myself that I was about to marry the woman I loved. Counting down the days had kept me excited and motivated, and helped me stay on top of all the wedding preparations.

Now, that same date had become the countdown to my departure from Renee's life.

There were only 15 days left. I'd use those final days to prepare myself to walk away from someone who'd been part of my life for more than 20 years.

In 15 days, Renee and I would be over for good.