I looked at his performance of ‘helplessness’ wrapped in ‘ardent care,’ and nausea twisted in my gut.
I stayed silent, only nodding faintly.
Soon after, Zara’s Instagram Story updated, her location tagged at a sunlit resort abroad.
She posed in a bikini, smiling radiantly, fingers raised in a V-sign. Behind her, the half-shown profile of a man was unmistakable: Tatum, who had just claimed he rushed to “save” her.
A few minutes later, Tatum’s message came.
[Adeline, there’s an urgent project at the company. I need to travel for five days. The meetings are highly confidential, so contact may be difficult. Don’t worry, I’ll be back before the wedding. Love you.]
I stared at the word “love” and let out a faint, bitter laugh. What greater mockery could there be?
I gave no reply. Instead, I opened the stack of wedding invitations, filled them out carefully, and mailed them, both to those close to me and to those I barely knew.
“…No cash gifts required, no presents required, your presence is earnestly awaited.”
Soon, my phone brimmed with blessings and RSVPs, buzzing with constant activity.
I reached out to the wedding planner again.
“I want to upgrade the previous plan. Add three more camera angles, and make sure there’s drone footage for the entire event.”
I thought the farce would drag on until the wedding day, when suddenly Tatum’s phone rang.
“Adeline! Come to St. Catherine’s Hospital right now, hurry, someone’s about to die!”
I rushed to the ER, where Zara lay pale and frail on the bed.
Tatum ran over and gripped my arm so hard I staggered.
“Adeline, help me, save her again.”
I looked at him, my voice steady and cold.
“How do you want me to save her?”
Tatum gripped my hand nervously.
“She just needs a small bone marrow transplant… You matched before; there won’t be a problem.”
I slowly lifted my eyes to his anxious face and reminded him, word by word, “Tatum, you forgot, I’m pregnant.”
He froze, his expression faltering for a moment before his gaze hardened again.
“Adeline, we can have children later. You’re still young; we can have more anytime. But Zara has only one life! I can’t stand by and watch her die!”
I looked at him and let a faint smile curve across my lips.
“Are you serious? For her, you would sacrifice our own child?”
He avoided my gaze, his voice low yet cruel.