Chapter 1 Delay

Silence fell into the air. I could clearly see the shock and panic flash across Jonathan's face. Just when I was about to say something, I saw it. The warning in his eyes.

Natalie Shaw was oblivious to the exchange. She puffed out her cheeks and mumbled, "I'm not leeching you off. What if you dump me someday? Um… What are you looking at? Hello?"

Jonathan snapped back to himself and gently stroked Natalie's head. "I'd never dump you."

Natalie followed his gaze and finally looked at the washing machine beside me. "It works, right?"

I snapped out of it and put on a forced smile as I walked them through the washing machine.

Jonathan blurted, "Why are you selling furniture? Are you short on money?"

I paused. Of course, money was never enough.

Before I could say anything, Natalie punched Jonathan. "Shut up!" She turned to me. "Don't mind him. My boyfriend is the kind of guy who forgets ordinary people's struggles the moment he makes a little money."

She gave Jonathan a reproachful look, then rolled up her sleeve, revealing a diamond-studded bracelet.

"I wanted a bracelet for my birthday, and I had to save six months' worth of allowance. But he gave me a whole set from the latest collection. Even now, there are still unopened boxes in my wardrobe."

Last summer, I had fallen in love with a dress. After the discount, it still cost three hundred. Jonathan had wanted to pay for me, but I stopped him. I put on a smile and pretended to shrug it off.

"I can't use it for work. It's going to be a waste. We should save up for the house. It's better."

I lied. I did want that dress. But two days earlier, Jonathan had complained that three hundred had been deducted from his salary because he was late to work.

"I got into a fight with my roomie and wanted to find a rental near the campus, but he bought a whole apartment for me and put it under my name! That place costs eight thousand per square feet. I could work my whole life and still only afford the bathroom!"

I had once argued with my landlord until my face turned red over an extra hundred charged to the water bill.

Jonathan was furious to see me being shoved around, and he wanted to end the lease, but I talked him down. The place was close to his company. It would shorten his commute and let him sleep a little longer every day.

"And I love idol events," Natalie went on. "So, he bought me first-row tickets for concerts! Oh wait, now that I've said it out loud, it does feel like I'm leeching off him!"

Natalie sounded like she was grumbling, but her voice was dripping with sweet happiness.

Meanwhile, my face grew paler with every word she said.

Jonathan coughed, and Natalie smacked her head, frustrated. "Sorry. I didn't mean to show off. Can I get your Instagram? Message me if you have more spare furniture to sell."

Jonathan wanted to stop her, but she quickly scanned my QR code. "I'm not relying on you. I want to be self-sufficient."

A black Bentley stopped by the road. Jonathan had a resigned look on his face. "You can take a ride in my car. I'm not moving that washing machine and hauling it around like an idiot."

When Jonathan and I first started renting, I had bought second-hand furniture online. To save on moving fees, I refused to hire movers and carried a heavy couch and cabinets up to the fourth floor by myself.

So that was what being an idiot looked like to him.

I stood there, hollow and numb, until they disappeared from sight. My phone buzzed, and it was a text from Jonathan.

"It's cold outside. Go home. We'll talk tonight."

I laughed at myself and put my hand on my baby bump. Jonathan loved children. Just a few days ago, I had thought about surprising him with the news. Now, the thought only felt like a joke.

Even though I knew he must be with Natalie, impulse still pushed me to call him. He hung up the first time. The same the second time. His phone was turned off when I called him the third time.

I looked at my hand and realized my nails had scratched my palm open. The wound was tiny, but my heart hurt so much it had gone numb.

Once I got home, I approved Natalie's follow request.