Chapter 4

I laughed in exasperation. "Apologize? Why should I apologize? You were the one who left me alone on the highway in the middle of a downpour!

"You knew my stomach was hurting, yet you still dumped me there. And now, you have the nerve to ask me to be reasonable?"

I added, "Don't worry. As long as you sign the papers, I'll make space for you right away. Then, you can buy as many dresses as you want for Veronica. It has nothing to do with me. I won't get in your way."

I didn't want to speak to Rowan anymore. Just as I was about to end the call, his furious voice erupted through the phone.

"Are you out of your mind, Emilia?" he roared. "I only bought the dress for Veronica because she was sick! Little things like this were meant to cheer her up. But you're pregnant and fat as a pig! What dress could possibly fit you?

"I put a roof over your head, pay for everything you eat, and you're still not satisfied? So what if I didn't take you to the hospital? You seemed perfectly fine. Fine enough to send me divorce papers from your hospital bed!

"What? Cat got your tongue? Let me warn you. You can act out all you like, but don't drag Adeline into this. If Elliot divorces her because of you, I won't let it go. Do you hear me?"

The more Rowan spoke, the more worked up he became. His voice turned colder by the second, and my chest twisted in pain.

Before I knew it, tears streamed down my face uncontrollably.

He was a psychiatrist himself and knew that I was emotionally sensitive during pregnancy. But now, he called me fat and told me I didn't deserve to wear nice clothes in front of Veronica.

I had carried his child. Moreover, I had gained weight to make sure I could take good care of our baby.

Yet, in his eyes, this had become my greatest sin.

Beside me, Adeline couldn't take it anymore. She snatched the phone from my hand and screamed into it, "You useless jerk! Who the hell do you think you are, insulting Emilia? I hope you and that home-wrecker Veronica are stuck with each other forever! May you rot together!"

I watched as she hung up, a wave of pain crashing over me. My chest clenched tightly, and I couldn't stop myself from crying aloud.

…

Adeline and I stayed in the hospital for a full two weeks. During this period, we didn't receive a single call or message from either of the Caldwell brothers. It was as if we had been forgotten.

Veronica, on the other hand, was never without the two of them at her side.

Rowan and Elliot—both workaholics—had set everything aside to travel with her, indulging her in anything she wanted to do.

I saw Rowan, who had always been terrified of heights, ride roller coasters with her. He even went bungee jumping by her side.

On Veronica's social media, she was always flanked by the two brothers, smiling radiantly. In every photo, Rowan looked at her with a tenderness I hadn't seen in a long time.

Meanwhile, Elliot used his carefully tended hands to prepare a seafood feast for her, even though he was allergic to seafood.

The comments on her posts were flooded with praise and envy.

Adeline and I sneered as we scrolled through post after post. Veronica's carefree, radiant smile was a sharp contrast to our pale, miserable faces.

I rubbed my eyes, feeling them sting with unshed tears. Then, I dialed Rowan's number again.

"Have you signed the divorce papers? If you keep refusing, I'll take this to court."

Rowan retorted, "Emilia, are you serious? You're pregnant and haven't come home in two weeks. You even blocked me! What exactly do you want? I'm a doctor. I'm busy, so don't make things harder for me."