Chapter 39

Nick

The days blurred together as I tried my best to be affectionate and supportive towards Isabel, my mind clouded with conflicting emotions. Every touch, every kiss, every hug we shared seemed to summon images of Jane to the forefront of my mind. It was a battle I fought daily, trying to suppress those memories and focus on the present, on my duty as a husband to Isabel and a father to our unborn child.

Isabel, for her part, seemed content with my attempts at closeness, though she never asked for more than I was willing to give. It was a relief in some ways, her lack of demands, but it also left me feeling hollow, as if our connection was fading with each passing day. And yet, I couldn't help but feel a sense of guilt at the thought of abandoning her, of leaving her to face this pregnancy alone.

Despite my efforts to be a supportive husband, I couldn't shake the feeling that our bond was weakening, that the pain in my heart was slowly dissipating. It was a bittersweet realisation, o