HE LEFT ME FOR MY STEPSISTER, I MOVED ON TO THE NEXT의 모든 챕터: 챕터 401 - 챕터 410

Chapter 402The following week arrived with a level of energy I simply could not match.Everyone else moved around the house normally.I moved with caution and determination.At nine months pregnant, everyday tasks had developed personalities.Putting on shoes required strategy.Getting comfortable on the couch had become an event.Standing up involved negotiation with my spine.Nathan witnessed all of it.And unfortunately for me, he had become very observant.Too observant.

Chapter 404The house felt unusually busy after we returned from the hospital.Word had spread.Not because Nathan told anyone.Nathan had intended to keep things calm.The problem was Mom.Mom accidentally mentioned that the doctor said days.Then somehow Carmen knew.Then Lucian knew.Then Liam knew.Once Liam knew, the entire world apparently knew.Ava and Liam are quite alike and the chaos would have increased if Ava was around but thankfully she went on a medical trip.I walked downstairs that afternoon and stopped near the living room.Bags.Boxes.More bags.Food containers covered the dining table.I stared for several seconds."...Why does it look like we're preparing for winter?"Carmen looked up from the couch."We brought food."Lucian lifted another container."So you don't have to cook."Mom walked out carrying fruit."I made soup."Matthew stood near the kitchen island."I brought desserts."Liam pointed proudly toward two large bags."I brought emergency snacks."Natha

Chapter 406Three more days passed.Three very long days.Not because anything happened.Because everyone expected something to happen.Which, apparently, made people lose their minds.I walked into the kitchen that morning and found Nathan standing near the counter with his phone in one hand.His eyes lifted immediately."How are you feeling?"I stopped.Slowly turned.Then stared at him.Nathan blinked."...What?"I narrowed my eyes."You asked me that forty minutes ago."Silence."I was checking again."I kept staring.Nathan looked completely unbothered.Absolutely shameless.Before I could answer, Mom walked into the kitchen.She took one look at us and sighed."He asked me too."I turned toward her."...What?"Mom nodded seriously."He asked if you looked tired."My head slowly turned back toward Nathan.Nathan suddenly found the ceiling very fascinating.Coward.An hour later, Nathan left for a meeting at the hospital after promising me approximately fourteen times that he'd be

Chapter 408Every time I looked at him now, I remembered the tiny baby surrounded by wires inside the NICU.The difference felt almost unreal.Carmen sat beside me while Lucian immediately carried Luca toward Mom.Mom smiled before taking him carefully into her arms.Luca stared at her for a few seconds.Then reached for her necklace.Mom laughed softly."You're becoming trouble already."Lucian looked proud.Very proud."He's smart."Carmen looked at her husband."He grabbed something shiny."Lucian nodded confidently."Exactly."I laughed and leaned back.Across the room Nathan sat beside Luca with complete focus.Again.Completely focused.Luca blinked at him.Nathan blinked back.Luca made a small sound.Nathan made a face in response.Luca stared.Then suddenly smiled.Nathan froze.His eyes widened slowly."...Did he just smile at me?"Lucian looked over immediately."He smiled?"Nathan pointed dramatically."He smiled."Lucian walked over so fast that Carmen stared at him."Did

Chapter 410My throat tightened a little.Because suddenly I remembered Noah.The bookstore.The stories he used to bring home.The way he always said books carried pieces of people inside them.Nathan's expression shifted immediately.Because of course he noticed.He always noticed.His eyes softened."I remembered what you told me."I stared at him quietly."The first place your father took you after teaching you how to read."My chest squeezed painfully.Then warmly.Because I had told him that once.Months ago.Just once.And he remembered.Nathan moved closer and touched my face gently."I thought maybe today could have one memory and one new beginning."For a second I couldn't speak.Couldn't even joke.Couldn't tease him.I simply looked at him.Because love wasn't always about huge moments.Sometimes it was someone remembering a sentence you said long ago.Someone carrying it carefully and keeping it safe.I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around him.Nathan held me immedi