Chapter 3

On the day of Vanessa's baby's one-month milestone, I went to the hospital for a follow-up appointment and ran into Adrian outside the exam room.

He did not look surprised to see me.

"You changed cities, changed hotels, hid all this time, and still ended up here."

I tried to walk around him, but he blocked me.

"It's the baby's one-month milestone today. Don't tell me you didn't know we'd be here."

He gave a faint laugh.

"You went through all this just to wait for me to come get you, didn't you?"

Vanessa smiled. "Emma's already here. Let her join the celebration."

Adrian refused without hesitation.

"The milestone photos are for the three of us."

"If she stands beside you, what will people think?"

In three years of marriage, he had never once acknowledged me publicly because he hated people gossiping about his private life.

But now he was afraid his wife would appear and make Vanessa look bad.

The nurse called my name.

Just as I was about to go in, Vanessa pressed a hand to her abdomen.

"The dress is tight. It's pulling on my incision."

Adrian turned to me at once.

"Give her your appointment."

I said coldly, "If she feels unwell, she can go to urgent care. Don't block me."

"She still has to nurse the baby and take photos. She can't wait all day."

His voice carried impatience.

"A few hours won't matter for you."

"First the recovery suite, now my appointment?"

I handed my intake form to the nurse.

Adrian's face changed. Before he could speak, Vanessa pulled him back.

"Forget it. Don't fight with Emma because of me."

I looked at her.

"I don't have sisters, and I don't make nice with my husband's lover."

Vanessa's eyes immediately reddened.

Adrian's face darkened.

"You were never this unreasonable before."

I ignored him and walked straight into the exam room.

After the examination, the doctor asked me to wait outside for the results.

Adrian had not left.

He sent a flight ticket to my phone.

"Come home with me tomorrow."

"Adrian, I already mailed you the divorce papers."

"I didn't sign."

He frowned and, before leaving, said, "I'm giving you a way back. Don't be stubborn."

I deleted the ticket.

"I'm not going back."

The hospital faced the water. Down in the garden, the photographer had already set up the camera.

Vanessa stood beside Adrian with the baby in her arms.

The photographer looked at the schedule and asked, "Keepsake prints or the family portrait first?"

Adrian saw me and waved the schedule.

"You wrote the plan. You arrange it."

I almost laughed.

"That plan was for my child. A child born from your affair has no right to it."

His face sank.

"It's just a few lines. What difference does it make who uses them?"

"Stop dragging the baby into everything."

The photographer asked, "What's the baby's name?"

Adrian looked down at the baby and smiled.

"Noah."

I froze.

When I was six months pregnant, I had written down three names.

Adrian had circled Noah himself.

He said he hoped our child would live a peaceful life.

Now my child was gone.

And that name had been given to another woman's baby.

The photographer smiled. "Dad, move closer to Mom."

Adrian slipped an arm around Vanessa.

I felt sick and went upstairs to the second floor.

After the shoot, Adrian escorted Vanessa upstairs.

Dr. Warren was waiting outside an exam room.

Vanessa walked up with the baby, smiling.

"Thank you so much for that day. And now you've come all the way to San Diego for us."

"If Adrian hadn't called you upstairs at the last minute, my delivery wouldn't have gone so smoothly."

Adrian's face shifted. He turned toward me.

At that moment, the doctor who had examined me came out with my report.

"Emma, your results are back."

"There was a delay in your emergency care during delivery. Your uterus suffered severe damage."

"You won't be able to carry another pregnancy."