Chapter 2

The call connected quickly. My voice shook with fear. “My water broke…”

To my shock, William scolded me first. “I just left and your water breaks now? I told you I was only going to see the baby. Stop being unreasonable. I’ll come back after that.”

He hung up. I called back; busy. I tried again; still busy. Then no answer. My heart sank as the pain worsened. I trembled on the floor, too weak to get up.

My phone screen showed my deathly pale face. I called 120. Every second on the floor was torture.

I was shaking in pain. Twenty minutes later, the ambulance arrived, but I still had to walk downstairs on my own.

I forced myself up and went down the stairs, step by step. William had bought a walk-up apartment to save money and every step was torture.

After more than an hour, I finally reached the hospital. Sweat soaked my loose dress and the nurse frowned.

“Where’s your family? Tell him to handle the admission and change your wet clothes quickly, or you’ll catch a cold.”

Family member? For over an hour, Regina kept updating her WhatsApp—photos of William and the child, sometimes all three together.

My message went unanswered. I should have brought clean clothes, but in the rush, I brought nothing.

William was busy with another woman and a child. I smiled bitterly. “He’s busy.”

The nurse understood and softened her tone. “Do you have a friend you can call to help?”

I called William twice more, but he didn’t answer. I gave up on him and on this marriage. Six and a half hours later, I gave birth to a daughter.

When I woke up, a nurse was beside me, giving me some hot water. “Where’s your husband? Should we call him? What could be more important than his wife giving birth?”

I was stunned. “He didn’t come?”

The baby was born overnight and he never came. Holding back my anger, I called him. This time, he answered.

He lowered his voice and said, “I’ll be right back.”

A woman’s voice followed, “William, have breakfast before you go. You must be exhausted after last night. I made chicken noodle soup.”

My fingers clenched and my heart felt stabbed with pain. “You stayed at her place all night?”

His calm tone turned sharp. “What are you implying? She has a baby. What could I do? Fine, I’ll come back after breakfast.”

The call ended suddenly and tears poured down my face. Half an hour later, William arrived with roses and clean clothes.

“Wife, I was wrong. I thought you were lying. When I got home, you were gone and the neighbors said an ambulance took you away.”