CHAPTER 381

Emily’s POV

“I’ll be back.” The echo of Antoine’s voice had kept haunting me for the past few days.

His words were like shards of ice lodged in my mind, refusing to thaw. I remembered the last time I’d seen him—how he had made no scene, didn’t force me to go with him, but left a menacing promise hanging in the air. The way he looked at me, that cold detachment—it made my skin crawl.

I let out a shaky breath and shuffled out of the hospital restroom, my swollen belly leading the way. “Calm down, Emily,” I told myself as I walked toward my doctor’s clinic. I needed to have my baby checked just to give me peace of mind, because I’ve been so stressed.

The corridor was quieter than usual. My footsteps echoed against the tiled floor, and I tried to focus on anything but the spiraling anxiety inside me.

Then, I heard footsteps behind me. They were faint at first, but as I continued walking, they grew louder. I didn’t turn around, assuming it was just another patient or staff member on thei