William frowned, sounding impatient. “I told you everything. Why are you upset now? It’s not easy for her to raise a child alone…”
I interrupted coldly, “So it’s easy for me to raise a child alone?”
William was about to speak, but Regina approached with an apologetic smile. “Isabella, sorry for all this trouble. We’re going out to celebrate my new car tonight. Want to join?”
Half an hour later, the table was full of dishes that Regina and her child liked. William was busy feeding her child.
Regina raised an eyebrow at me. “William is such a good father.”
During the meal, I focused on calming crying Rena and feeding her milk, not touching any food.
After Regina finished eating, I reached for my chopsticks, but William urged, “Let’s go. We’ve eaten long enough. You don’t usually eat this much.”
I looked at him quietly. “This is my first—”
Before I could finish, the ground shook and the diners panicked.
“Earthquake?!” William’s face instantly changed.
I bent down to pick up Rena, ready to tell William to take her and leave first. When I looked up, he was gone. He had taken Regina and her child and left.
I held my child, pushed through the crowd, lost my balance and fell. I shielded Rena and someone stepped on my hand.
A sharp pain shot through me, but it didn’t match the chill in my heart. The ground shook violently.
Fifty seconds later, the tremors stopped. The empty streets were now full of people. After taking Regina and the child to safety, William went back for Isabella, but the restaurant had already been evacuated.
William sighed in relief, thinking everything was fine. He called Isabella, but she didn’t answer.
William’s heart sank for a moment. Usually, Isabella’s phone was always readily available for him; she would answer no matter when he called. What was wrong today?
He tried to stay calm and first took Regina and the child home. But the child was scared and kept crying for him. He had no choice but to text Isabella, telling her where he was.
But there was still no reply. William felt disappointed, but since he had reported his whereabouts honestly, Isabella had no reason to be upset. He chose to stay with Regina and her child.
The next morning, William brought two bowls of ravioli home. The house was unusually quiet. He called Isabella, but she didn’t answer.