“Hmm? Why did you suddenly ask that?” Samuel tilted his head to the side. She shrugged, pretending it was a casual question. “I only want to know.” Since he didn’t reply right away, she asked again, “Well?” “Because I needed to get married.” He grinned and kissed her hand. “Then I felt responsible to you. I took advantage of your situation.” Samuel let out a long sigh. “But then, when I discovered you were a virgin, I thought you were the right woman for me.” Amy gasped, but then she covered her mouth with a hand. “Just because I was a virgin?” she asked with a muffled voice. “Of course not. Silly!” He pinched her cheek and stared at her with a tender gaze. “I came to care for you. I wanted to protect and ensure nothing could harm you.” Then he grinned. “It remains the same until now.” She stared at him for a while, but then looked away because she couldn’t stand his caring eyes. As if he loved her, but then, since he had never said it, Amy wondered if she only imagined it. “If
Amy went to the hospital to visit Jillian and also to check her pregnancy condition. She didn’t tell Samuel because she wanted to give him a surprise with their baby photo. Besides, she felt he was worried too much about her pregnancy. Amy wanted her husband to focus on his work and enjoyed her pregnancy more. So, she asked Miguel to send her to the hospital. After visiting Jillian, Amy met with Doctor Benjamin. “Doctor, I already talked with my husband. We keep wishing the best for Jillian. So, we won’t stop the life support.” The doctor nodded. “I understand, Mrs. Hoffner. In that case, let’s hope for the best, and may Jillian be conscious soon.” After talking to Doctor Benjamin, Amy went to her ob-gyn doctor. The doctor smiled when she saw Amy. “Mrs. Hoffner, nice to see you. It’s your first check-up for the baby.” “Yes, Doctor. I hope my baby is healthy.” The doctor asked Amy to lie on the bed and put some gel on her stomach. Afterward, she used the USG device and touched
Samuel sat on a chair next to Amy. She was still unconscious. He tidied her hair with his fingers and let out a long, heavy sigh. It was hard to accept that their first baby was gone. After discussing with the doctor, Samuel immediately buried the unborn baby in their family cemetery. While waiting for Amy to wake, he called Vivian. She picked up the call after three rings. “Samuel, it’s good to hear from you. How are you and Amy?” “Grandma ….” He stopped and let out a sigh again. “Amy fell in the hospital, and we lost the baby ….” Vivian gasped, but then covered her mouth with a hand. “Oh, no! How is Amy right now?” “She is still unconscious, as the doctor sedated her. I don’t know how to tell her about the miscarriage. She was so happy to have our baby.” “I’ll go there. I’ll be with you when you need to tell her.” “Thank you, Grandma. I appreciate it.” After a half hour, Vivian arrived at the hospital. Samuel was still holding Amy’s hand when Vivian entered the room. Then,
The next day Amy could go home, and she took a week off from work to recover herself. Some of the staff who heard about it sent her their condolences. She also went to the family cemetery to place a bouquet at her unborn baby girl’s cemetery. Amy wept when she touched the tomb. Samuel chose Alyssa as the name of their first baby. “Alyssa, rest in peace, my baby. Mommy and Daddy love you. I’m sorry for not protecting you well.” She sobbed as she hadn’t fully overcome the guilt yet. Samuel rubbed Amy’s back and shook his head. “Our child has been at peace, darling. Don’t say things like that. Alyssa must know how much you love her. It’s not your fault.” After praying there, both of them went home. Samuel ordered some food, but Amy didn’t want to eat. “My sweet, if you don’t want to eat, you will be ill.” “I keep remembering our baby ….” “Alyssa must be sad if she knows her mommy is sad. Come, let’s eat together.” Samuel spoon-fed Amy, and after ten minutes, Amy finally ate h
Vivian hugged Amy. “My dear, have you had your lunch?” “I did, Grandma. Do you want to eat something?” They sat on the couch next to each other. That’s when Vivian noticed two luggage in the living room. “Are you two planning to go somewhere else? A second honeymoon maybe?” Amy didn’t know what she needed to say, but she told Vivian the truth. She shook her head. “No, Grandma. I’m planning to move away somewhere.” “Oh? Why?” Biting her lower lip, Amy took a deep breath as she wanted to weep. She couldn’t disclose everything to Vivian because she was worried about Samuel’s safety. After thinking for a while, she said, “The grief is too much. I need to go somewhere else so I won’t remember our baby ….” At least, she didn’t lie completely. Living in the apartment where they made the baby together was giving so many bittersweet memories for her. “In that case, you can live in another place. Samuel has many houses and apartments. You can choose one to stay.” Amy shook her head. “It’
Vivian’s driver sent Amy to a house on the side of the city. It was a small house with two bedrooms, fit for having a rest from the crowded city. Amy fell in love at first sight with the scenery there. She called Vivian right away to express her gratitude. Vivian wished Amy would change her mind. But then, she didn’t want Samuel to be worried. So she called him, but he didn’t answer. After two hours, Samuel called Vivian. “Grandma, you called me?” “Samuel, are you still at the office?” “I’m about to go home. What is it?” “I’ll tell you when you are already on the way home.” Samuel creased his forehead. It was unusual for Vivian to wait for him to leave the office first before she talked to him. But he rushed to the car and asked his driver to drive him back to the apartment. “Grandma, I’m on my way to the apartment now. What’s wrong?” Vivian took a deep breath. “I visited Amy today. She was depressed because of the baby.” “It can’t help it, Grandma. It’s our first baby. I’m
Samuel sent the bouquet and the note to his grandmother’s house, then she asked his driver to send it to Amy’s house. When Amy accepted the flower, she shed her tears because she knew it was from Samuel. It devastated her because she must hurt her husband, but it was the only way to keep him safe. Amy found the note and read it. She sobbed afterward because she longed to know for sure if her husband loved her. Now, she knew it, but it was too late. She wrote a reply to him, as she didn’t want him to worry. ‘To: Samuel, my husband, the love of my life You don’t know how much it means to me to read the note from you. I love you too and always. Love, Amy’ She couldn’t write longer because her tears blurred her eyes. As she needed to send the note to Samuel, Amy finally called Miguel to go to her house. After Miguel accepted the note, Amy gave him money. “Madam, no need to give me money. It’s my job to drive you and Mr. Hoffner anywhere.” Amy shook her head. “Please, make my loc
Vivian recorded her conversation with Amy. After talking with her granddaughter-in-law, Vivian sent the recording to Samuel. At first, it confused him as her grandmother had never sent her any voice recording, but after listening to it, he realized why she did it. He closed his eyes as his heart was heavy because of Amy’s suffering. He also still couldn’t shake the guilt because Amy got the miscarriage. Samuel kept thinking if he asked the monthly schedule to meet the ob-gyn doctor, he would accompany her and nothing bad would happen. But then, what’s done was done. Samuel wondered if it would be better for him to track Amy’s location and meet her, probably persuaded and seduced her so she wouldn’t think of leaving him. But then, even if she stayed, would she be happy? He bound her in a contract marriage that he wished could be a real marriage. Somehow, for him, it was a real marriage. He didn’t care about the contract. It was only a way to have her as his wife. Samuel was sure he