Chapter 4

Interrupting their rambling, I lowered my gaze and pursed my lips.

"Just give me a few more days."

Julian returned to the hospital room just as I finished my call.

Noticing the faint smile on my lips, a smile he hadn't seen in a long time, an inexplicable tightness squeezed his chest.

But he had just promised Briar he'd return immediately to sing lullabies for her and the baby.

So he didn't have time to ask who I'd been talking to—

It must have been my cousin, who often called me. After all, since marrying him, my social media was only filled with female relatives.

Grabbing his documents, Julian walked out without looking back, saying coldly,

"Celeste, something came up at the office. I'll come back tomorrow."

Tomorrow, the day after, the day after that, he didn't show up.

However, thanks to mutual friends, I kept receiving videos of him and Briar.

He took Briar to parties and dinners.

Like a young man newly in love, he eagerly introduced her to everyone.

The day I was discharged from the hospital, Julian posted many photos on Ins.

At sunset, he stood in a romantic hot air balloon, cradling Briar's blushing face, passionately kissing her.

I commented:

[Wishing you both an early heir and everlasting happiness.]

Ten minutes later, Julian called me.

I didn't answer.

Half an hour later, having completed my discharge procedures alone, I saw Julian and Briar at the entrance of the obstetrics and gynecology department.

I heard the young nurse at the reception desk tell Briar:

"Mrs. Thorne, your husband truly adores you. He accompanies you every time you come. During the ultrasound scan, he even worries about you getting cold from the coupling gel, so he personally warms it up every time before allowing us to use it."

The pregnant women around, hearing Nurse Chloe, all looked on with envy.

Instinctively touching my abdomen, I remembered that once, there had been a child here.

The day I miscarried after a car accident, due to severe bleeding, I cried and video-called Julian.

What I saw was Briar, barely dressed, on the screen:

"Mrs. Thorne, Julian lost a game to me, so now he's tied to the bed, accepting his punishment. Is there something you needed him for?"

I didn't say a word, just hung up the video call.

Less than a minute later, Julian called back himself. He was holding a teary-eyed Briar, and he erupted, yelling that I was petty and utterly foolish.

He also said:

"You incompetent idiot, who can't even hold onto your own child, what good are you for? Celeste, why don't you just let a truck run you over?"

I pulled myself out of my thoughts. Just as I was about to walk around them, Julian walked over, his face cold:

"What are you standing there like an idiot for?"

My gaze dropped, and instinctively, I tried to explain:

"I wasn't following you. It was truly just a coincidence. Sorry to have bothered you."

"Wait."

As Julian frowned and uttered that word, a flicker of jealousy crossed Briar's eyes.

Tightening her grip on Julian's arm, Briar smiled at me:

"Mrs. Thorne, I'm incredibly grateful for your blood donation. Without you, I'd still be so dizzy. Julian, honey, please let Mrs. Thorne come home with us, okay?"

Julian dotingly flicked Briar's nose:

"My sweetest, kindest pregnant baby, whatever you say goes."

I was already planning to go back for my luggage, so I didn't refuse Briar's "kindness."

Inside the spacious black car.

Soon, just as Briar wished, in the crevice of the car seat, I found a lace panty, still damp.

"Oh dear~ What, why is this still in the car? Julian, honey, didn't you tell me you'd already gotten rid of it?"