Chapter 3

“Henry, this is what you meant by being busy?”

My throat felt like it was coated with blood.

“How did you get here?”

Henry instinctively stepped in front of Kate, as if I were some kind of monster.

I gave a cold laugh. “That’s exactly what I should be asking you.”

He frowned, his tone as impatient as ever.

“Katie broke up with her girlfriend and was heartbroken. She said she wanted to experience being a mother.

“I was only trying to help her.”

“Help her?”

My voice was on the verge of shattering.

“Henry, where exactly do I stand in your life?”

Kate walked over and shot Henry a glare.

“Henry, why are you talking to your wife like that?”

She came over and grabbed my hand.

“Anya, I just wanted a child. Since we’re close, I asked Henry to be a sperm donor.

“You don’t mind, do you?

“Henry and I have always just been best buddies. Don’t worry, we never crossed the line.”

I laughed coldly and shook her off, trembling with anger.

Right. They hadn’t crossed the line. They’d only slept together.

“Henry, let’s get a divorce.”

I turned around and closed my eyes. Without waiting for his answer, I went home and started packing.

I was halfway through when Henry rushed back. He grabbed my hand.

“After all these years, are you really going to throw everything away?

“You’ve never had a job. How are you going to survive out there?

“That’s none of your business.” I shook him off.

He suddenly pulled me into his arms and wiped my tears away.

“Honey, I was wrong. This was my fault. For the sake of everything we’ve had, can we not get divorced?”

“Then make her get rid of the baby and send her away!”

“Fine.”

He paused for a moment before agreeing.

I grabbed his collar tightly. “I want you to give me a child. Now. Right now.”

He stared at me for a long time before finally agreeing.

“Okay.”

I kept him at home and made love to him day and night.

Endless supplements and countless folk remedies, and finally three months later, I was pregnant.

Henry finally seemed relieved, as though he had completed a task.

When he looked at the baby, however, there was none of the tenderness or joy I had expected.

He wasn’t particularly mean to me. He still accompanied me to my prenatal check-ups and bought my supplements promptly.

Even when I cried in the middle of the night, he would hand me tissues and water.

I could tell he was only going through the motions, though. He was physically with me, but his heart was always elsewhere.

Then, when I was five months pregnant, he started going out frequently again. He stopped answering my calls.

One day, he left while I was asleep. I followed him to the old family residence.

Kate’s stomach was huge. She was wearing his shirt and lounging on the sofa, eating ice cream.

Lately, Henry had never even let me touch his shirts.

Right then, he gently took the ice cream from her. Then he rubbed her legs.

“Only two bites. I can’t be with you these days. You’ve really been through a lot.”

I shoved the door open, my lips trembling uncontrollably.

“Didn’t you say you were going to get rid of the baby? Henry, you lied to me!”

The moment he saw me, the veins in Henry’s forehead bulged. He finally snapped.

“Anya, have you had enough? You said you wanted me to stay with you, and I did. You said you wanted a child, and I gave you one.

“Kate is carrying twins, and she’s already so far along. Do you know how much it hurts me to watch her walk through the security cameras?

“They’re both my children. Can’t you just accept them?”

“But you promised me!” I clenched my fists tightly.

Kate curled her lips and deliberately stroked her stomach.

“Anya, my two babies have outgrown my clothes. Henry’s shirts fit perfectly.

“Even the doctor says I’m amazing, carrying two at once. Honestly, I think I could still do somersaults.

“Henry is the one making a fuss. He won’t let me ride a motorcycle or watch horror movies.

“But I’m not some delicate little girl. I’ve got plenty of strength.”

I finally lost control. I grabbed a vase and hurled it at her.

“You’re disgusting!”

“Katie, watch out!”

Henry suddenly stepped in front of her, glaring at me fiercely.

“How can you be so vicious? Do you know she’s carrying twins?

“Anya, I’ve supported you for all these years. If you can’t take it anymore, then get out.”

Nausea churned in my stomach. I wiped my mouth.

“Fine. I’ll leave!”

It felt as though every last bit of strength had been drained from me. I turned and left.

I knocked on the door of my best friend, Joyce. Crying, I told her everything that had happened.

She only kept frowning.

“Annie, I’m sorry to say this, but you’re being too unreasonable.

“Kate is a really nice person. She only asked Henry to help her have a child. Do you really need to react this strongly?”

I could hardly believe what I was hearing. “What did you say?”

“You’re being too cruel. You actually wanted Kate to get rid of the baby. That’s still a life.

“Since you got pregnant, she hasn’t fought you for anything, yet you’re still making such a fuss.”

She continued picking out gifts. “What do you think I should get Kate when she has the babies?”

It felt as though a ball choked my throat. I couldn’t say anything nor swallow it down.

Even my best friend of many years had taken Kate’s side.