[6]

[Ethan: I won’t be coming home. Anna’s condition is worrying. Her blood pressure is low, and her pregnancy is fragile. What happened earlier caused some bleeding. If I had been late getting her to the hospital, who knows what could have happened to her.]

Auri read the message with reluctance. Her eyes were swollen, the tip of her nose red, her cheeks still damp with tears. The moment Ethan left—carrying Anna in his arms—Auri completely lost her composure.

Her body slid down to the edge of the sofa. Her shoulders shook violently. Her hands clapped together, trembling uncontrollably. She never imagined Ethan would treat her like this. She should have refused from the very beginning—refused his request to let Anna stay in their home, even temporarily.

She set the phone down on the sofa without another glance. Driven by an impulse she didn’t fully understand, she reached for the framed wedding photo on the side table.

Five years ago.

Ethan was smiling broadly in the picture, dressed in a gray suit. His hand-held Auri’s with quiet confidence, as if the world contained only the two of them. His eyes were filled with love and devotion. Auri had never forgotten how that love had given her absolute certainty—that Ethan was the right man for her.

Time and again, Ethan had reassured her that she never needed to doubt her background. He loved Auri for who she was.

She remembered that day clearly—the promise Ethan had made without hesitation.

I’ll protect you. No matter what happens. I love you so much, my love.

“What changed you, Ethan?” she whispered hoarsely.

Her tears fell again, splashing onto the glass of the frame. Auri quickly wiped them away, then pulled the photo against her chest. For the past four years, they have tried everything to have a child. From healthy eating programs to hormone injections—Auri had done it all for this pregnancy.

Ethan had been longing for a child, even if he never said it outright to Auri. And when God finally granted their wish, it wasn’t only Ethan who rejoiced—his entire family welcomed Auri’s pregnancy with happiness.

Even so… her mother-in-law often questioned the baby’s gender.

Still, the pregnancy transformed Ethan into an exceptionally attentive husband. Whenever Auri felt unwell, he insisted she rest. He even canceled meetings just to accompany her to doctor’s appointments. When Auri suffered from morning sickness early on, Ethan was the one who cleaned the floor, massaged her back, and whispered words of comfort.

“Ugh!”

A sharp pain rippled through Auri’s abdomen. She felt a small kick—one that jolted her into awareness. Why was she drowning in sadness like this? If she was hurting, wouldn’t the baby inside her feel it too?

“Alright, my love,” Auri said gently. Her hand instinctively stroked her rounded belly, filled with affection. “Do you want your mother to be calmer?”

She drew a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Let’s rest for a while. Maybe your mother can forget what happened earlier.”

She didn’t know how long she slept, only that she felt a little better—though something still lingered uneasily inside her. If not for the repeated knocking at her door, Auri might have stayed in bed longer.

There was a soft knock. “Mrs. Auri?”

“Yes?” Auri straightened as she sat up. “Come in.”

She recognized the voice at once. Ms. Sonia—the housekeeper Ethan had asked to help her occasionally. The middle-aged woman entered after being invited. “Mr. Ethan asked me to stay with you. He said you shouldn’t be alone.”

Auri blinked in confusion, then remembered Ethan’s message. “Alright,” she said with a faint, bitter smile. “Thank you for your help, Ms. Sonia.”

“It’s no trouble, Mrs. Harrow.”

After Sonia left, unease settled over Auri once more. Does Ethan really have to do all of this for Anna?

***

Ethan rarely came home. And when he did, it was only briefly—to grab a few things before leaving again.

“Anna still needs treatment at the hospital,” Ethan said one night as he picked up his car keys. “I have to go back.”

“I’ll come with you,” Auri said.

Ethan shook his head. “There’s no need. You should rest.”

“I won’t take long to get ready. I just want to know how—” Auri began softly.

“I’m in a hurry,” Ethan replied curtly. “Don’t worry. I’ve already told Anna about your condition—that you can’t visit her. She understands.”

And once again, Ethan left without hearing anything Auri wanted to say.

Ms. Sonia became the silent witness to Auri’s increasingly lonely days—eating alone, sleeping alone, waiting without knowing when her husband would truly come home.

Three days later, Anna returned from the hospital. She looked cheerful, her face far brighter than before.

“I want to celebrate being discharged,” Anna said brightly as she set a cake box on the table. “Let’s eat together.”

Ethan looked pleased. “That’s a great idea.”

The three of them sat down together. Ethan cut the cake with practiced ease and slid a plate toward Auri. “Try it. I’m sure it tastes good.”

Auri accepted the plate. Her eyes flicked briefly to Ethan, who was now busy preparing another slice for Anna. A small smile curved on his lips. Meanwhile, Anna—though clearly enjoying Ethan’s attention—still stole glances at Auri.

“Eat,” Anna said with a wide smile. “I’m sure you’ll like it.”

Auri took a small breath and bit into the cake—just a little.

A few seconds passed.

At first, there was only an unfamiliar taste in her tongue. Then heat spread up her throat. Her chest suddenly tightened, as if something were crushing her from the inside.

“I—” Auri set her fork down. Her breathing shortened abruptly. “Ethan.”

Ethan looked at her at once. His expression changed instantly. “What’s wrong?”

Auri clutched her chest. The air felt harder to draw in. “I…” Her voice broke. Her face drained of color, her fingers trembling violently. “There are… peanuts in this.”

The next second, Ethan’s chair scraped violently backward.

“Peanuts?” His voice rose. “This cake has peanuts in it?”

Anna’s eyes widened. “What? I—I didn’t know—”

“Didn’t I tell you?” Ethan cut in sharply. He was already in front of Auri, supporting her as her body began to sway. “I told you clearly—Auri has a severe peanut allergy!”

Anna stumbled back, her face pale, her body shaking. “Ethan, I really didn’t know—”

But Ethan ignored every word Anna tried to say. He was focused entirely on helping his wife.

“Where’s your medication?”

“In… in the bedroom,” Auri gasped.

“There’s no time.” Ethan lifted Auri into his arms. “We’re going to the hospital. Now.”

Anna sobbed loudly. “I’m so sorry, Auri. I didn’t check properly.”

But before Ethan could take another step, Anna’s whimper reached him.

“Ethan.” She clutched her stomach, her face draining of color. “My stomach… it hurts so much.”

Ethan glanced back, hesitation flickering in his eyes. But seeing Auri writhing in pain, struggling for breath, he said firmly, “Anna, sit down for a moment. Try to steady your breathing.”

“I’m scared, Ethan,” Anna whimpered. “I feel guilty. I’m panicking, and it feels like… my chest is tight.”

Ethan didn’t move toward her. Instead, he tightened his hold on Auri as his wife’s breathing grew more labored. “Auri, look at me,” he said quickly, controlled despite the clear panic in his voice. “Breathe slowly. Focus on me.”

Anna’s sobbing grew more insistent. “Ethan… I feel short of breath too. My stomach hurts so badly. Can you come closer to me?”

Ethan turned again, his voice was firmer this time. “I know. But right now, Auri needs me more.”

He headed for the door. Anna followed him, her steps unsteadily.

“Ethan, please,” her voice trembled. “I’m really in pain. I need you too. Don’t you remember what your mother said? If I need—”

Ethan stopped.

He looked at Anna for a long moment. There was no anger in his eyes, only hesitation and inner conflict. Meanwhile, Auri’s pain worsened. Her breaths came in sharp gasps, her face growing paler by the second.

“I have to take Auri to the hospital, Anna,” he said at last. “Wait here. I’ll ask Sonia to stay with you.”