Chapter 2

That night, Dad did not come home, and I somehow developed a high fever.

Mom stayed by my side all night, changing the towel on my forehead and checking my temperature again and again.

I heard her making a phone call. She was probably calling Dad.

It rang for a long time, but no one answered.

When dawn came, and my fever had not broken, Mom carried me to the hospital on her back.

I rested against her. My eyelids felt heavy as if they had been filled with lead.

In my half-conscious state, I heard a woman’s voice nearby.

“Easy, sweetheart. Just bear with it a little longer. It’ll be over soon.”

The voice sounded strangely familiar.

I opened my eyes and saw three people standing outside the examination room next door.

It was Dad, Jocelyn Rowe, and a boy who was half a head taller than me.

The boy was holding up a finger wrapped in gauze, whining as he sought comfort.

Dad had not noticed us.

He was bent over, signing some paperwork.

“Family of Ethan Rowe?” the doctor called.

Dad looked up. His voice was quiet but clear.

“I’m his father.”

In that instant, it felt like someone had poured a bucket of cold water over me, jolting me fully awake.

The moment Dad turned around, his eyes met mine, and he froze.

Mom froze too. Her arms tightened around me.

Jocelyn reacted first.

She quickly put on a smile and came over. Her voice was soft but hurried.

“Please don’t misunderstand, Mrs. Gardiner. Ethan threw a tantrum last night and ran away. We spent the whole night looking for him, and he hurt his hand. We only came to the hospital today to get it checked. I’m not familiar with this place, so I had no choice but to ask Jason for help.”

Mom did not respond.

She simply set me down and touched the back of her hand to my forehead to check my temperature.

“Ellie, are you still feeling sick?”

Before I could reply, someone rushed over and shoved me hard.

I stumbled forward and hit my forehead against the armrest of a plastic chair in the hallway. Pain shot through me, and my vision darkened for a moment.

Mom cried out in alarm. She pulled me into her arms and turned around.

Ethan stood behind me, pointing at me with tears in his eyes.

“You shameless brat! You’re stealing my dad!”

Jocelyn screamed as she rushed over and grabbed the boy by the arm.

A second later, she slapped herself across the face.

One after another, the slaps rang out, sharp and loud.

People in the hallway began looking over to see what was happening.

Jocelyn cried as she slapped herself. Her makeup became a smeared mess.

“It’s all my fault! It’s all my fault! Please don’t take Ethan’s words seriously, Mrs. Gardiner. He’s just a child and doesn’t know any better. He must’ve picked it up from watching TV. I’ll educate him properly when we get home!”

Mom never spared her a glance.

She carefully examined my forehead, and only after confirming the skin was not broken did she straighten up.

Her gaze passed over Jocelyn and settled on Dad. Her eyes were calm and still as a lifeless pool.

Dad shifted uncomfortably under Mom’s gaze and frowned.

“That’s enough. Don’t give me that attitude. What’s done is done. Do you really have to make such a big deal out of it?”

Jocelyn was still crying. In the middle of her sobs, she suddenly swayed and went limp. Then, she collapsed on the floor.

Dad caught her just in time. Panic flashed across his face as he rushed her into the nearby examination room.

The hallway fell silent.

Ethan stood there, alone and forgotten.

He glanced at me, then at the examination room door. His lips were pressed into a pout, and he ran inside after them.

I was left in the hallway.

At some point, Mom had let go of my hand.

I looked up and saw her leaning against the wall with her eyes closed.

“Mom?”

She opened her eyes, looked down at me, and gently patted my head.

“Let’s go home, Ellie.”

“Aren’t we going to wait for the medicine?” I asked.

“No. We’re leaving.”

With that, she took my hand and led me away.

As we passed the examination room, I heard the doctor’s voice from inside.

“Congratulations, Miss Rowe. You’re pregnant. You’re almost three months along. The fainting spell was caused by emotional stress. Be sure to get plenty of rest.”