Chapter 3

Lessie's POV 

“What the heck? Why are you at the hospital?” my friend yelled through the phone. “Wasn’t yesterday your wedding anniversary?”

I rubbed my forehead and sighed. If I tell Ella what’s really going on, she won’t let it go.

“Just forget it. I’m fine now.”

“You’re in the hospital, so how can you say you’re fine? Just tell me what’s happening. Where’s Freddie? Isn’t he with you?”

“Well, I’m here because... I’m pregnant.”

Ella screamed before I could finish.

“Stop screaming,” I said, wincing as my ear throbbed from her shriek.

“Okay, okay, I’ll stop,” she replied, trying to contain her excitement. “You’re having a baby! Freddie must be happy, right? But wait, why do you sound so down?” She suddenly paused.

“Things aren’t great. Freddie wants me to get rid of the baby. He doesn’t want it.”

“Freddie said that? He wants you to abort the baby? But why?”

“His ex-girlfriend is back, and he wants to be with her,” I said quietly, though inside I was trembling.

“What nonsense! Who cares if his ex is back? And telling you to abort the baby? He has to be kidding!” Ella fumed. Even over the phone, I could feel her anger.

I wished Ella was right about my husband joking, but deep down, I knew he wasn’t. “Freddie isn’t joking. He really wants me to abort the baby, and he wants me out of his life.”

Before Ella could respond, I quickly told her everything that happened yesterday, my voice starting to break.

“Don’t cry, Lessie. Just calm down. I’ll come over to you—just tell me where you are.” Her voice was gentle and soothing, as if she was afraid I wouldn’t calm down.

I shook my head slowly. “You don’t need to come over. I’ll be fine on my own.”

I knew Ella genuinely wanted to be with me, but I couldn’t let her come. She had work, and visiting me would mean missing it. I didn’t want to cause her any trouble.

I loved her too much to see her get into any kind of trouble because of me. She's my closet friend.

But Ella was adamant. “I’m coming over. I won’t be at ease until I see you and know you’re okay.”

“I’m really fine. How about we switch to a video call?” Ella agreed immediately, switching to video to see my face.

I had already tidied my hair and tried to make my pale face look a bit more normal.

“Goodness, what’s with the dark circles under your eyes?” she asked, pointing at my eyes with a concerned look.

I patted my head. I thought I had hidden everything, but the dark circles gave me away. I had only managed to fall asleep around 3 a.m. last night.

“It’s just dark circles. I’m really fine,” I assured her, making an excuse. “I’m hanging up now.” I ended the call before she could say anything else.

As soon as I put down my phone, I felt a wave of loneliness wash over me again. I was exhausted, having barely slept last night.

Thinking of Freddie made me sigh. It was a new day—maybe he had calmed down by now?

I wanted to believe that everything that happened yesterday on our wedding anniversary wasn’t real. Anything but real.

“Freddie will come around. I should get ready to leave the hospital.” Just as I stood up, the door opened, and the nurse walked in.

“You’re awake?” She approached me. “About the abortion, are you ready so we can schedule a date for it?”

I paused and looked at her. “Abortion? I don’t want it.”

“But your husband said you both agreed to it. Was that not true?” The nurse sounded surprised.

For a moment, I was stunned. I couldn’t bring myself to say that my husband had lied—it would be a stain on his name. But my mind was clear.

“He’s not lying. We just changed our minds at the last minute,” I said, nodding in agreement.

“Oh, okay. I’ll let the doctor know that the abortion has been canceled.”

“Mm.” I nodded again.

“You can be discharged now. Just make sure to take care of yourself and follow the pregnancy diet,” the nurse advised before leaving the room.

I didn’t linger either. I changed out of the hospital gown and into my clothes. After leaving the bathroom, I grabbed my phone and left the room.

With a steady pace, I exited the hospital. There was no need to stop by the receptionist since everything had already been settled.

***

Outside, I got into a cab. Craving some fresh air, I rolled down the window and leaned my head outside. As I enjoyed the breeze, my eyes caught sight of a couple walking together, looking so in love.

Seeing them made me think of my husband. I doubt we’ve ever walked together like that, just the two of us. I sighed and closed the window.

I didn’t want to dwell on it and ruin my mood further. I wasn’t even sure if my husband had calmed down by now. But I chose to believe that he had changed his mind.

A few minutes later, the cab stopped, and I got out after paying the fare. As I entered our home, the smell of food hit my nose.

The aroma wafted from the kitchen, but instead of heading there, I threw myself onto the couch, utterly exhausted and hungry. If it weren't for the scent of food, I might have completely forgotten that I hadn't eaten since yesterday.

I wasn't bothered about who might be in the kitchen cooking, since I know it must be the house chef.

"Please bring me my food?" I called out from my seat, too famished to get up.

But there was no response. The house was filled with the smell of food, but no voices.

Just as I was about to get up and check, a blonde-haired girl appeared, holding a plate of sandwiches.

"Lessie, right?" she asked casually, her tone so natural it caught me off guard. I was stunned, unsure of how to react.

"Who are you?" I asked, ignoring her question.

"Uh, I'm Judie. Not sure if Fred mentioned me.”

I was even more shocked. She… was Julie, my husband’s ex. I took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm in my heart.

“Call him Freddie. You don’t need to call him Fred,” I corrected her, and she laughed.

“Why are you laughing?” I frowned.

“Fred never corrected me, so who are you to do so?” she replied with a taunting smile.

“I’m his wife.”

“Let’s not get into that. Just look over the paper and sign it.” She pointed at the table.

I hesitated as she ignored me and sat down. That’s when I noticed the shirt she was wearing.

"You... why are you wearing my husband's shirt?" Wild thoughts began racing through my mind.

I slept at the hospital last night, not at home. Did my husband allow his ex-girlfriend to stay in our home with him? And she’s still here this morning, which means she might have spent the night.

A wave of helplessness washed over me. With a sense of urgency, I hurried to the paper Julie had pointed out.

My hands trembled as I opened the file and saw the bold letters staring back at me.

"DIVORCE AGREEMENT." The document slipped from my grasp, falling to the ground as my whole body shook.

Without thinking, I rushed back to Judie. "Who gave you this paper?"

"Just sign it and pack your things," she said, continuing to eat her sandwich.

"You'd better answer me. I'm sure my husband doesn't know you handed this to me."

"Your husband?" She laughed. "He doesn't want you anymore. I'm back, and he only needs someone beautiful and classy like me, not a 'wifey' type like you."

I was stunned, barely hearing her words, but they couldn't erase the painful truth: my husband no longer wanted me.

It was all too clear—from the way his ex was in our house, wearing his shirt, and how at ease she seemed in our home.

His actions and words made everything painfully obvious. Not to mention what might have happened between them last night while I was away.

"Where's the pen?" I finally said, defeated.

Judie was stunned. I could tell she hadn't expected me to say that, and honestly, neither had I. There was no taking back my words now, so I took the pen from Judie and signed the document.