As I emerged from the hospital doors, I carefully tucked the prenatal checkup slip into my bag. My hand instinctively rose to caress my small belly, and I couldn’t suppress the joy swelling within. The doctor's words still echoed in my ears: “Congratulations, Mrs. West! You’re pregnant!” After a year of marriage to Lucas West, I had finally conceived. Passing by a flower shop, I paused, realizing today deserved to be celebrated. I decided to buy a bouquet for myself. I put on my mask and selected flowers with minimal pollen, instructing the clerk to wrap them securely before I cradled them as I made my way home. Due to my asthma, flowers had never adorned our home. Lucas had never gifted me any, perhaps because it was not a love marriage.If it weren’t for the financial troubles at Lucas's company, I doubted he would have married me at all. However, over the past year, I sensed a gradual shift in Lucas's attitude toward me. Now that I was pregnant, I believed he would
“Lucas, where are you? I’m not feeling well. Can you hurry?” I asked urgently.There was a brief silence on the other end before a woman's voice spoke. “Lucas is busy right now. I’ll have him call you back.” I froze, the familiar voice sending a chill down my spine. It was Ariana Venti, Lucas's first love, the woman he had always yearned to marry. The call remained connected as I heard the announcement echoing in the hallway: “Ms. Ariana Venti please report to the obstetrics department, room 15.” Before I could respond, Ariana abruptly ended the call. My hand went limp as I clutched my phone, my mind reeling from what I had just heard. Ariana? In obstetrics? Why was Lucas accompanying Ariana to the obstetrics department? He knew how urgent my condition was, so why was he with her? A tremor coursed through me as despair set in. I crumpled to the floor as tears streamed down my cheeks.Whether it was psychological or the pollen I had inhaled, I felt the symptoms of my a
[Something came up, Clara. I’ll be home later. I bought the medicine. Wait for me at home.] And then the final message: [Ariana is showing signs of a miscarriage. She’s alone, and I can’t ignore something this serious. I’ll come home as soon as things settle down. Please, don’t overthink this.] Troy's face was filled with anger as he read the messages, and I stood there, frozen in place. Ariana was having a miscarriage? Didn’t she have anyone else? But when my asthma attack hit, I was alone too. My child is gone now... I lowered my head, and at that moment, Lucas called. Troy reached out to answer, but his hand hovered in the air before he pulled it back and turned off the phone instead. I don’t know why he made that choice, but I was too overwhelmed by helplessness to question it. Silently, I followed him home. When I learned that Lucas had been with Ariana, I realized how much of a fool I had been. A year’s worth of waiting and hoping had crumbled in an instant. I
When I entered the house, Lucas was still sitting on the floor, staring blankly ahead. By his feet lay the bouquet I had prepared for him—a surprise that had long since withered beyond recognition. Empty bottles of alcohol cluttered the table, their contents drained hours ago. Lucas picked up his phone and dialed my number over and over again yet it would always go straight to voicemail. He mumbled softly to himself, “Where did you go, Clara? Why aren’t you answering? You’ve always hated it when people don’t pick up their phones… Your medicine is still here with me…” I sat beside him, a bittersweet smile tugging at my lips. “I’m right here. But you can’t see me anymore. You’ll never see me again.” In the dead of night, his phone suddenly rang. The caller ID flashed the name: Ariana. I looked away, my eyes brimming with tears. He answered, “What is it?” From the other end of the line, came Ariana’s voice. “Is Clara upset? Do you want me to help explain things?” “No,
Lucas’s hands trembled as he shook my arm. “Clara, wake up. How did you end up like this?” He glanced at the flowers again, his voice growing more frantic. “There are so many flowers here. Are they making you uncomfortable? Let me take you home, okay?” He knelt beside me, his eyes red, desperately shaking my arm as if by sheer will alone he could bring me back. I had never seen Lucas like that—so vulnerable, so utterly broken. I stood there, frozen in place, tears slipping silently down my face.Troy rushed forward, ready to pull Lucas away, but Lucas wouldn’t be moved. He was rooted to the spot beside me. “Haven’t you done enough?” Troy hissed, his voice filled with barely contained fury. “Clara’s gone. Can’t you leave her in peace?” Lucas slowly turned his head, his eyes wide in disbelief. “No… no, that’s impossible. Clara asked me to buy her medicine just the other day. This can’t be real.”At his words, Troy’s anger flared. He grabbed Lucas by the collar, his vo
I couldn’t understand what he intended to do, and fearing for his safety, I hurriedly followed him. The streets were empty, with people avoiding the rain. Only Lucas ran through the downpour, oblivious to the world around him, drawing curious stares from passersby. I furrowed my brow. This wasn’t like him at all. In my memories, he had always been gentle and courteous, never losing control of his emotions. The man before me looked utterly unfamiliar.Lucas dashed home and headed straight for the balcony. He grabbed the flowerpot near the railing and carefully wiped away the dirt that clung to it. I stood nearby, momentarily stunned by the sight of the pot. This was the very pot we had bought when we first married, and it had once contained seeds for red roses. Lucas had said then, “I will never fall in love with you. You know why I married you.” I laughed softly as I replied, “I don’t believe that. Let’s see how it plays out. I bet you’ll love me passionately, just l
I heard Troy scoff loudly, "Everything that Clara left behind belongs to the Sivan family now. It’s got nothing to do with you." Lucas was silent but seemed determined. I followed him into the passenger seat of his car and watched him silently. He drove fast, faster than he should have. In the past, I would have sternly told him how dangerous that was. But now, I could only let him gamble with his life. Fortunately, he arrived safely outside my family home. This time, it was Mom who opened the door for him. She looked as though she had aged ten years. She gazed silently at the disheveled Lucas before stepping aside to let him in. As soon as the door closed, Lucas sank to his knees before her. "Mom, it’s all my fault. Did she leave anything behind? Please, can you tell me?" At his words, tears streamed down Mom’s already swollen eyes. "She had intended to tell you but…" Lucas remained on his knees, confusion written on his face. Mom sighed and said, "Come with me."
Troy paused at the sight of Lucas. “What are you doing here? This doesn’t concern you. You should get as far away as possible from here.”Lucas froze and murmured to himself, “Yes, the last person Clara wants to see right now is me. I’m a murderer. I’ve not only killed my wife but also my child.”He suddenly lunged at Troy, desperation etched across his face. “Please, Troy, call Clara and tell her to come back. I promise I won’t have anything to do with her. But just get her to come back!”As he spoke, he fumbled with his phone, then thrust it toward Troy. “Look, I’ve called her so many times, but she won’t answer. She must be really angry with me. If you call her, she’ll definitely pick up! You’ve always been her rock. Please help me!”Troy frowned, his frustration evident. “I’ll say this one last time: Clara is gone. Stop this madness!”Without another word, Lucas clutched the report tightly and walked away, dejected. But as he left, I caught snippets of his murmured pleas
After a moment, Lucas stood up, gently touched the photo on the tombstone before he turned to leave. I hurriedly followed him.His car was parked outside the cemetery, but to my surprise, he walked in the opposite direction. My eyes widened in surprise as I looked in the direction he was headed. He made his way to a small building tucked away in a corner of the cemetery where I spotted a flower pot resting on a windowsill. This building… I felt as if time had stopped. It was where the caretaker, Alfred Walker once lived. When I had accompanied my mother to visit my father’s grave, I had greeted the person inside and remembered my mother telling me to call him Grandpa Walker. What could Lucas possibly want in there?Suddenly, his words earlier came back to me, “I will always protect you, and I will safeguard our red roses…”I rushed inside. Despite the simple and tidy decor, I immediately recognized everything as Lucas’s. I gazed blankly at another flower pot on t
Troy paused at the sight of Lucas. “What are you doing here? This doesn’t concern you. You should get as far away as possible from here.”Lucas froze and murmured to himself, “Yes, the last person Clara wants to see right now is me. I’m a murderer. I’ve not only killed my wife but also my child.”He suddenly lunged at Troy, desperation etched across his face. “Please, Troy, call Clara and tell her to come back. I promise I won’t have anything to do with her. But just get her to come back!”As he spoke, he fumbled with his phone, then thrust it toward Troy. “Look, I’ve called her so many times, but she won’t answer. She must be really angry with me. If you call her, she’ll definitely pick up! You’ve always been her rock. Please help me!”Troy frowned, his frustration evident. “I’ll say this one last time: Clara is gone. Stop this madness!”Without another word, Lucas clutched the report tightly and walked away, dejected. But as he left, I caught snippets of his murmured pleas
I heard Troy scoff loudly, "Everything that Clara left behind belongs to the Sivan family now. It’s got nothing to do with you." Lucas was silent but seemed determined. I followed him into the passenger seat of his car and watched him silently. He drove fast, faster than he should have. In the past, I would have sternly told him how dangerous that was. But now, I could only let him gamble with his life. Fortunately, he arrived safely outside my family home. This time, it was Mom who opened the door for him. She looked as though she had aged ten years. She gazed silently at the disheveled Lucas before stepping aside to let him in. As soon as the door closed, Lucas sank to his knees before her. "Mom, it’s all my fault. Did she leave anything behind? Please, can you tell me?" At his words, tears streamed down Mom’s already swollen eyes. "She had intended to tell you but…" Lucas remained on his knees, confusion written on his face. Mom sighed and said, "Come with me."
I couldn’t understand what he intended to do, and fearing for his safety, I hurriedly followed him. The streets were empty, with people avoiding the rain. Only Lucas ran through the downpour, oblivious to the world around him, drawing curious stares from passersby. I furrowed my brow. This wasn’t like him at all. In my memories, he had always been gentle and courteous, never losing control of his emotions. The man before me looked utterly unfamiliar.Lucas dashed home and headed straight for the balcony. He grabbed the flowerpot near the railing and carefully wiped away the dirt that clung to it. I stood nearby, momentarily stunned by the sight of the pot. This was the very pot we had bought when we first married, and it had once contained seeds for red roses. Lucas had said then, “I will never fall in love with you. You know why I married you.” I laughed softly as I replied, “I don’t believe that. Let’s see how it plays out. I bet you’ll love me passionately, just l
Lucas’s hands trembled as he shook my arm. “Clara, wake up. How did you end up like this?” He glanced at the flowers again, his voice growing more frantic. “There are so many flowers here. Are they making you uncomfortable? Let me take you home, okay?” He knelt beside me, his eyes red, desperately shaking my arm as if by sheer will alone he could bring me back. I had never seen Lucas like that—so vulnerable, so utterly broken. I stood there, frozen in place, tears slipping silently down my face.Troy rushed forward, ready to pull Lucas away, but Lucas wouldn’t be moved. He was rooted to the spot beside me. “Haven’t you done enough?” Troy hissed, his voice filled with barely contained fury. “Clara’s gone. Can’t you leave her in peace?” Lucas slowly turned his head, his eyes wide in disbelief. “No… no, that’s impossible. Clara asked me to buy her medicine just the other day. This can’t be real.”At his words, Troy’s anger flared. He grabbed Lucas by the collar, his vo
When I entered the house, Lucas was still sitting on the floor, staring blankly ahead. By his feet lay the bouquet I had prepared for him—a surprise that had long since withered beyond recognition. Empty bottles of alcohol cluttered the table, their contents drained hours ago. Lucas picked up his phone and dialed my number over and over again yet it would always go straight to voicemail. He mumbled softly to himself, “Where did you go, Clara? Why aren’t you answering? You’ve always hated it when people don’t pick up their phones… Your medicine is still here with me…” I sat beside him, a bittersweet smile tugging at my lips. “I’m right here. But you can’t see me anymore. You’ll never see me again.” In the dead of night, his phone suddenly rang. The caller ID flashed the name: Ariana. I looked away, my eyes brimming with tears. He answered, “What is it?” From the other end of the line, came Ariana’s voice. “Is Clara upset? Do you want me to help explain things?” “No,
[Something came up, Clara. I’ll be home later. I bought the medicine. Wait for me at home.] And then the final message: [Ariana is showing signs of a miscarriage. She’s alone, and I can’t ignore something this serious. I’ll come home as soon as things settle down. Please, don’t overthink this.] Troy's face was filled with anger as he read the messages, and I stood there, frozen in place. Ariana was having a miscarriage? Didn’t she have anyone else? But when my asthma attack hit, I was alone too. My child is gone now... I lowered my head, and at that moment, Lucas called. Troy reached out to answer, but his hand hovered in the air before he pulled it back and turned off the phone instead. I don’t know why he made that choice, but I was too overwhelmed by helplessness to question it. Silently, I followed him home. When I learned that Lucas had been with Ariana, I realized how much of a fool I had been. A year’s worth of waiting and hoping had crumbled in an instant. I
“Lucas, where are you? I’m not feeling well. Can you hurry?” I asked urgently.There was a brief silence on the other end before a woman's voice spoke. “Lucas is busy right now. I’ll have him call you back.” I froze, the familiar voice sending a chill down my spine. It was Ariana Venti, Lucas's first love, the woman he had always yearned to marry. The call remained connected as I heard the announcement echoing in the hallway: “Ms. Ariana Venti please report to the obstetrics department, room 15.” Before I could respond, Ariana abruptly ended the call. My hand went limp as I clutched my phone, my mind reeling from what I had just heard. Ariana? In obstetrics? Why was Lucas accompanying Ariana to the obstetrics department? He knew how urgent my condition was, so why was he with her? A tremor coursed through me as despair set in. I crumpled to the floor as tears streamed down my cheeks.Whether it was psychological or the pollen I had inhaled, I felt the symptoms of my a
As I emerged from the hospital doors, I carefully tucked the prenatal checkup slip into my bag. My hand instinctively rose to caress my small belly, and I couldn’t suppress the joy swelling within. The doctor's words still echoed in my ears: “Congratulations, Mrs. West! You’re pregnant!” After a year of marriage to Lucas West, I had finally conceived. Passing by a flower shop, I paused, realizing today deserved to be celebrated. I decided to buy a bouquet for myself. I put on my mask and selected flowers with minimal pollen, instructing the clerk to wrap them securely before I cradled them as I made my way home. Due to my asthma, flowers had never adorned our home. Lucas had never gifted me any, perhaps because it was not a love marriage.If it weren’t for the financial troubles at Lucas's company, I doubted he would have married me at all. However, over the past year, I sensed a gradual shift in Lucas's attitude toward me. Now that I was pregnant, I believed he would