Alle Kapitel von Too late ex-husband; I am no longer in your league : Kapitel 61 – Kapitel 64

The holidays were behind us, and the new year stretched out like a blank page. Inside our apartment, the mornings were quiet. We had established a routine that felt solid and secure. I woke up, drank herbal tea instead of coffee, and sat by the window while Joel prepared for his shifts at the Harlow Institute.I was eight weeks pregnant.We had kept the news entirely to ourselves for the first month. It was a private joy, guarded carefully behind our closed doors. I wanted to hold it close, to let the reality of it settle into my bones before I shared it with the rest of the world.On a Thursday morning, Joel took me to my first ultrasound appointment.I lay on the examination table in a quiet room at the clinic. The room smelled of sterile wipes and clean linen. Joel stood right beside me, holding my hand. His professional demeanor was absent. He was not a doctor today. He was a husband waiting to meet his child.The technician moved the wand over my stomach. The screen flickered, bl

The baby arrived at the end of August.The final weeks of the summer were hot, the air thick and still. I had transitioned to working entirely from our apartment, reviewing foundation documents from the comfort of our living room couch. My father brought me iced tea every afternoon, and Audrey sent me daily operational summaries so I would not feel disconnected from the office.On a Thursday morning, I woke up before the sun.The sky outside the window was a deep, quiet navy blue. I lay in bed, listening to the hum of the air conditioner. A dull, tightening ache spread across my lower back. It faded after a minute, leaving me perfectly still.Ten minutes later, the tightening returned. It was stronger this time, wrapping around my abdomen like a firm band.I sat up slowly. I did not panic. I placed my hand on my stomach and breathed through the sensation.Joel was asleep next to me, his chest rising and falling evenly. I reached out and touched his shoulder."Joel," I said softly.He