Chapter 3

When Vanessa got home, she took a hot shower to shake off the cold, then started packing.

She folded her clothes into a suitcase and booked an international courier to pick it up.

A housemaid noticed and asked, "Ma'am, going on a business trip?"

"No." Vanessa wasn't about to share her plans with anyone tied to Scott. She offered a quick excuse. "Just sending old clothes to charity."

"You're always so kind. Oh, I made you some rice pudding—Mr. Fabel called earlier. He asked me to make it. Said it's your favorite."

Of course, he did.

Vanessa let out a quiet, bitter laugh.

Scott. The master juggler. Balancing her and Cindy like some twisted circus act. Even while doting on his pregnant mistress, he still found time to play the "perfect boyfriend" card. No wonder everyone thought he was such a catch.

All those years of her support and sacrifices, reduced to nothing more than background noise in his carefully curated image. She finally saw him for what he was—a good actor.

Her gaze landed on the bowl of rice pudding. Her stomach twisted.

The nausea came fast, and she couldn't tell if it was from the thought of Scott's smug face or the realization that she'd been breaking her back for a man who never deserved her. Either way, it hit hard.

Vanessa barely made it to the bathroom before she threw up.

Gripping the sink, she blinked through tears at her reflection.

Then a thought sliced through her daze.

She opened the cabinet, pulled out a pregnancy test, and took it.

Her hands shook as she set the stick on the counter.

Her period had been late for a few days, but she'd assumed it was due to stress from work.

Now, as the minutes ticked by, her heart pounded.

Then, finally, the result appeared.

Two lines.

Vanessa's hands trembled as she held the test.

No joy. No excitement. Just a crushing weight, heavy as concrete, settling on her heart.

If she'd found out even yesterday, she would've been thrilled. She would've run to Scott with baby plans and wedding talk.

But now?

Scott was at Cindy's.

How could she feel happy?

Vanessa dragged herself out of the bathroom and sat on the edge of her bed, staring at nothing. Hours slipped by as she sat there, her mind spinning.

A baby.

She loved kids—always had. She used to dream about having a family with Scott. Wondering whose smile their kids would have, imagining bedtime stories, family vacations. But in none of those dreams did it end like this.

Her phone rang, cutting through the silence.

Scott.

"Hey," he said. "I've got to leave for a last-minute business trip. I'll be gone about a week. Make sure you eat on time, okay? And be careful commuting to work."

Vanessa caught a faint voice in the background:

"...confirming two tickets to Bali. Thank you for booking with us."

"Got it," she replied, her voice steady. "You take care too."

That calm, gentle tone always put him at ease. Scott bought it.

The moment the call ended, Vanessa let out a soft chuckle.

A few hours ago, she'd been torn about what to do.

Now, she knew exactly what had to happen.

She picked up her phone and requested leave from work. Then she scheduled a doctor's appointment.

The baby had to go.

That night, she didn't sleep.

***

By morning, Vanessa was at the hospital.

After her check-up, the doctor led her to the procedure room.

She lay down on the operating table, her body stiff against the metal. The cold air bit at her skin.

But the real cold wasn't from the room—it was inside her. Deep in her heart, spreading like frost, numbing everything.

And just like that, every tie to Scott snapped.

From now on, they'd go their separate ways.

When Vanessa woke up, the IV drip was in place. Her hand instinctively drifted to her stomach, pressing lightly.

Flat.

Empty.

Was it really over?

Her pale lips curved into the faintest smile.