The joy was so overwhelming it crushed every doubt in my chest.
But that evening, she forgot to lock the bathroom door. When I walked in, I saw the scratches across her back.
Fresh scratches. I demanded to know what happened.
She answered without missing a beat—a cat had scratched her.
She even pulled up her rabies vaccination record as proof.
I forced myself to believe it.
But my gut told me something was wrong. Even while I was planning our wedding, none of it felt real.
A voice inside me kept whispering: The only reason she finally agreed to marry you is because she's trying to make up for what she did behind your back.
I buried my head in the sand. I didn't dare look for proof.
But I couldn't let it go, either. So I started following her in secret.
When I discovered that her so-called client meetings were actually visits to Graham's apartment, I stopped pushing. I waited for her to come clean on her own.
That was why I didn't press her when she skipped the rehearsal.
That was why I said nothing when she texted me about getting a marriage license with Graham.
"Excuse me."
I had no interest in wasting words on Graham. I just wanted to leave.
But the second Carrie stepped out of the bedroom with the first-aid kit, he grabbed my hand.
"Wilfred, I know you don't like me, but why did you push me?"
Carrie lunged forward, but her foot caught on something and her whole body pitched backward.
Instinct took over. I reached for her. But Graham lurched toward her as if I'd shoved him, slamming into Carrie with full force.
"My stomach... oh God, my stomach... it hurts..."
Carrie hit the floor flat on her back, her face twisted in agony.
Graham landed on top of her, clutching his groin and sucking air through his teeth.
I stood frozen, unable to comprehend why Graham would hurt Carrie.
Before I could get a single word out, he was already scrambling to his feet, his face a mask of panic and concern.
"Carrie, I'm so sorry! Don't be scared. I'm taking you to the hospital right now."
Gritting through the pain, he scooped her into his arms and bolted for the door.
Before leaving, he shot me a cold look.
"Wilfred, I never thought you could be this vicious. Laying hands on a pregnant woman?"
Carrie curled into his arms, glaring at me with pure venom.
"Wilfred, you think I'll marry you just because the baby's gone? Keep dreaming."
"If anything happens to Graham's child, there's no future for us either."