Chapter 5

I put the last file in the box and stood up.

She took a step back, looking at me warily.

But I just smiled.

"Sophia," I said, "you'd better pray everything goes smoothly with that project."

Her expression changed. "What do you mean?"

"Nothing." I picked up the box. "Good luck."

I left.

As the elevator doors closed, I saw her standing in the hallway, her face turning pale then flushed.

Back at the apartment, I started packing to move out.

Mason had rented this apartment for me, saying it was temporary, that once we went public, we'd get a bigger place.

I opened the closet and folded clothes into my suitcase one by one.

My phone rang. It was Nathan.

"How's the project? When are you coming over?"

"As soon as possible," I said. "Help me transfer to the overseas branch. The sooner the better."

"That urgent?"

"Yes."

After hanging up, I continued packing and moved out.

Over the next few days, Mason didn't contact me, and I didn't contact him.

On the fifth morning, I finished packing my luggage to head to the airport when my phone rang. It was Mason.

I looked at the name on the screen and didn't answer.

It rang again. Still didn't answer.

When the tenth call came through, just as I was about to turn off my phone, the door was pounded.

"Open up! I know you're in there!"

I paused, then walked over and opened the door.

Mason stood at the door with Sophia behind him.

Both were out of breath, as if they'd run up the stairs.

I stepped back to let them in.

Several suitcases sat in the living room—I hadn't had time to put them in the closet.

Mason saw the suitcases and his expression immediately changed.

"What are you pulling now?"

"What do you mean, pulling?"

He pointed at the luggage on the floor. "Where are you going?"

I glanced at him but didn't answer.

Sophia suddenly rushed over and grabbed my arm.

"You need to come back and look at it! There's a problem with the project! The data doesn't match. We've calculated it several times using the blueprints you gave us, but it's still wrong. There must be a problem somewhere!"

I pulled my arm back.

"The data is fine."

"That's impossible! We calculated..."

"Then keep calculating."

Sophia froze, then her eyes reddened and she was about to cry again.

"You did this on purpose, didn't you? You deliberately gave us the wrong files, didn't you? You'll ruin the project! Ruin my future!"

She got more worked up as she spoke and lunged at me again.

"You have to come back! Come back with me! Fix the problem before you leave!"

She pulled me so hard I stumbled, my foot catching, and my whole body tilted to the side.

Sophia let go.

I hit the corner of the coffee table. The pain made everything go black for a moment.

Looking down, I saw several drops of red seeping through my white dress.

Mason rushed over and helped me up, his voice shaking. "Why are you bleeding?"

I looked down.

"It's nothing." I pushed away his hand and stood up straight. "My period leaked."

Mason froze.

He stared at my stomach, his face turning white bit by bit.

"Your period?" His voice cracked. "You're pregnant—where did a period come from? Where's the baby?!"

"Mason."

I spoke softly.

"The baby's been gone for a while. Didn't you know?"