Waves of sensation burst within her like fireworks, lighting up every nerve in her body. She was drowning in a sea of heat, pleasure consuming her inch by inch until she lost all sense of time and space.
She drifted in and out of consciousness, unable to break free from whatever held her in that night's grip.
"Miss... wake up. It's chilly in here. If you keep dozing off, you'll catch a cold-"
A hand on her shoulder startled Kathy awake.
Her eyes blinked slowly as she adjusted to the light and the presence of the nurse in front of her. Embarrassed, she sat up straight, her cheeks flushing a bright red. She quickly averted her gaze.
How long had it been since that night? And still, the memories came crashing back, vivid and unsettling.
The night she had one too many drinks and ended up in someone's arms, believing it was Mike Wilson-haunted her endlessly.
That night was a blur.
The alcohol had robbed her of clear memory.
What actually happened? Who had been there? And how could she ever look Mike in the eye again?
The nurse, unaware of Kathy's inner turmoil, handed her a folded paper and said lightly, "You almost forgot your test results! Dr. Jake mentioned you'd need a follow-up next week if you left without this."
Kathy forced a smile, accepted the report, and carefully tucked it into her purse.
Mike was scheduled to return from overseas today. As she thought about seeing him again after so long, anxiety built up in her chest.
During his absence in that far-off country, communication had been scarce-especially when she learned she was pregnant.
By the time she finally managed to send word, her pregnancy had already reached seven months.
She still remembered his stunned silence upon hearing the news.
Since then, she'd sensed something off. Mike's reactions hadn't matched her expectations. Perhaps she was just overthinking, affected by hormones and fear.
The doctors had told her it wasn't uncommon-many men were emotionally detached when they first learned they were going to be fathers. But the thought of bringing up marriage herself made her chest tighten.
It wasn't her place to ask. Right?
As Kathy stepped out of the hospital, the heat of the midday sun wrapped around her like a blanket.
The sky was cloudless, the pavement scorching. She held one hand to her aching back and flagged down a taxi.
But before she could reach the curb, the blaring sound of an engine roared through the air. A red sports car zoomed in her direction, the tires screeching as it swerved dangerously close.
Her heart leaped to her throat. She stumbled back in panic as the car skidded to a stop, its sleek body grazing her dress.
The door flew open, and a tall woman stepped out in a daring red dress that clung to every curve.
Her heels clicked against the pavement as she strutted forward with arrogance radiating from her every movement.
"Jane Smith, are you out of your mind?!" Kathy snapped, still shaken.
Jane arched a brow and gave a slow, venomous smile. Folding her arms, she sauntered over, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "What's wrong, dear sister? Afraid I might run into you and end that parasite growing in your belly?"
Kathy instinctively shielded her stomach with both hands and backed away.
Her voice trembled with fury. "Jane, don't push me. I'm warning you."
She had always known Jane harbored ill will toward her, but this level of cruelty stunned her.
"Push you?" Jane laughed coldly.
"Don't twist the story. You're the one who crossed the line. Drinking yourself stupid and winding up pregnant with some random man's kid... And now you want Mike to raise it as his own? Have you no shame, Kathy?"
The words hit like a slap. Kathy stared, frozen. "What... what are you saying?"
"Oh, please," Jane scoffed, her expression gleefully cruel.
"You seriously believed the man in your bed that night was Mike? God, you're more pathetic than I thought. You two grew up together, and you still can't tell the difference between his body and a stranger's?"
Kathy felt the blood drain from her face. The hot sun overhead was unbearable, yet her limbs turned to ice.
That night...
She had convinced herself it was Mike. Maybe he'd just grown more muscular. That was her excuse. That was what she had told herself every time the doubt crept in.
But now, as Jane's cruel words echoed, the fragments of memory came crashing back with terrifying clarity. The scent, the touch, the voice... none of it had truly matched Mike's.