All Chapters of A Weight She Refused to Carry: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

"Ms. Stout, please read the requirements carefully. Once you submit your personal profile and sign up, all of your information will be sealed. You must then enter the research institute within 15 working days. Until the research results are made public, you will not be allowed to leave." The response from the National Academy of Sciences Research Institute came quickly, accompanied by a form. Shermaine Stout stared at the screen, but the mouse in her hand suddenly felt as heavy as lead. The door to her room suddenly swung open, and Shermaine blinked, quickly closing the laptop without a trace of emotion. "Shermaine, can you stop working for a while? Spend some time with me today. We haven't really been together in a while." Ezra Yarbrough placed a glass of milk on the bedside table, then sat down next to her. Normally reserved and distant, today he was like a golden retriever, affectionate and clingy, wrapping himself around her. His handsome face was soft with tender

When Shermaine woke up, she sat by the window, staring blankly. It felt like every tear she had left in her life had been shed at that moment.She couldn't even begin to describe how she felt.The good news was, she had been pregnant.The bad news was, she had lost the baby.For five years, Shermaine and Ezra had longed for a child. But those hopes were dashed every single time. After every disappointment, Ezra comforted Shermaine, telling her that maybe it just wasn't in the stars and that she shouldn't worry too much about it. Shermaine could see, though, that Ezra truly wanted a child.She had tried every folk remedy and supplement. She had even, a lifelong skeptic, turned to praying.No one had expected it, but she had managed to get pregnant.Shermaine softly caressed her flat stomach, a wave of heartache washing over her.Maybe it was better this way. The child would never have to grow up in a broken home.Just then, the nurse entered with some medication. Seeing Shermai

The words hit Ezra like a thunderclap, jolting him awake.His face drained of color. He quickly ended the call, turning around to find himself locking eyes with Shermaine, whose gaze was as cold as ice.She had lost more weight in the past few days due to illness, her pale face expressionless, like the winter sun—bright but without warmth."Shermaine." Ezra's heart raced. He stepped forward, fumbling for words. He opened his mouth but had no idea what to say.Shermaine smiled lightly, as though nothing had happened. "What's wrong, Ezra? I heard your voice and came to check on you. You look off. Did you argue with someone?"Ezra visibly relaxed, quickly slipping into his usual act. He furrowed his brow, feigning irritation. "A few companies I'm working with have been acting up. I got angry and gave them a piece of my mind. Anyway, we shouldn't be standing here. Let's head back. Look how cold your hands are," Ezra remarked, swiftly taking her hand and tucking it into the warmth of h

The next morning, Ezra woke up feeling an odd weakness throughout his body. However, as he lay there, everything seemed fine. Shermaine simply told him it was because he'd had too much to drink the night before.On the table beside him was a beautifully wrapped box. Ezra's curiosity piqued, but Shermaine, looking a little embarrassed, explained, "That's your anniversary gift. Don't open it yet. Wait until tonight when you get back."Ezra felt a warmth in his heart as he pulled her into his arms, a rare trace of guilt flashing in his eyes. He spoke softly, "Shermaine, after this week, I'll take you abroad for a month. We'll get away and clear our minds."Shermaine gave a brief nod before quickly pulling herself from his embrace. "Hurry up. We're going to be late."At the foot of the mountain, as they were getting out of the car, a high-pitched, sweet voice called out, "Ms. Stout, Mr. Yarbrough, what a coincidence! You two are here too!"They turned to see Melanie, surrounded by a g

The more Melanie spoke, the more venomous her gaze became. She had an innocent, beautiful face and a sweet, melodious voice. But the words that came out of her mouth were like sharp daggers, stabbing into Shermaine's heart. Melanie grinned as she watched Shermaine's face grow paler, expecting to see her explode in anger. But to her surprise, Shermaine simply took a deep breath.Suddenly, Shermaine reached out, snatching the sample bottle from Melanie's hand. Her voice was calm, but there was a clear trace of mockery in it. "Is this the big brand you think it is? How unfortunate—its value doesn't even measure up to a fraction of what I use. You probably don't know, but everything that touches my skin is handpicked by Ezra. He even has specialists customize them for me because I've always pursued something unique. From the looks of it, he doesn't seem to put as much effort into you." The mockery in Shermaine's voice made Melanie's face twist in anger. Shermaine's eyes stayed c