“Yesterday… what happened at the office—I didn’t mean it,” he said, his voice lowered, cautious and coaxing. “I couldn’t offend Zamora, that’s why I said those things. Babe, don’t overthink it. Don’t get jealous, okay?”
I looked up at him and simply replied, “Okay.”
He froze.
Clearly, he did not expect my calm.
I used to cry when I was sad and make a fuss when I was jealous.
But now, even showing one more expression felt like a waste.
He was silent for a moment, then suddenly hugged me tightly, his voice low and weary. “Babe, tonight… let’s go to the hot spring resort, okay? It’s my fault. I’ve been too busy lately. Tonight, I’ll make it up to you.”
He always knew the right way to soften me.
But now, it only felt ironic.
If he truly cared, how could he not notice that this home had already become empty?
He kissed my forehead and left with his usual smile.
I didn’t stop him; I had intended to go to the resort to remove that lock.
We had hung it there eight years ago.
If I didn’t take it down, it would just feel unlucky.
By evening, I was ready to leave.
But Ross still hadn’t come back.
He sent a message.
[Sudden business trip. Next time, okay, babe? Be good. We’ll go when I come back.]
I stared at the message with no reaction and opened Instagram.
Ross didn’t even know I had an account.
He always thought I was old-fashioned and wouldn’t be online.
That’s why he acted so brazenly, thinking I could never uncover the truth.
I refreshed Zamora’s feed.
My pupils constricted when I saw the latest post—a photo of a prenatal checkup dated today.
The caption read: [Baby, Mommy and Daddy are so excited to meet you!]
Ross’s comment was first.
[Daddy will love Mommy well.]
I blinked rapidly, trying to suppress the breakdown.
My baby had quietly passed away, unnoticed, while Zamora and Ross’s child was being celebrated in public.
The “business trip” Ross had told me about—it was to be with Zamora and their child.
I thought I couldn’t feel sad anymore.
But when I turned off my phone, I couldn’t help but cry out loud.
I had always dreamed of having a family and a child of my own.
But the family I longed for never came, and my child was taken from me because of Zamora.
I wiped away my tears hard.
It didn’t matter.
Now, I had real family.
The next day, I drove alone to the hot spring resort.
“Sorry, Ma’am. The place has been reserved for a private event tonight,” the staff said reluctantly.