a's

opened within me. Miscarriage. The word still felt foreign, a cruel punchline to a joke I hadn't underst

re going to be okay, Mrs. West." Her voice was soft, but the words fel

rn in his eyes. But then, Frida materialized beside him, her arm linked through his, a bandage neatly wrapped around her temple. Sh

oice dripping with artificial sweetness. She pressed her free hand to her chest. "Dax was so worrie

d on Frida's face, his concern palpable. "Frida, are you sure you should be u

casting a fleeting glance at me, a mirage of compassion. "W

, a bitter, metallic taste filling my mouth. "Unfortunate incident." "A little bump." That was all my loss amounted to, a footnote

e table, suddenly rang. It was Dr. Aris

trained. "You missed the Chimera project kickoff. The board is

stammered, my voice cracking. "I was in

o hear that. Truly. But this project... it's high stakes. We needed you there. The board is already ques

eyes. "Dax was driving me there, and then Frida's acc

't making things easy. The decision has been made. You're off the project.

horrifying day, I had lost everything. My child, my career, and the last shred of my

air. "Aliza," he said, his voice a little softer than before. "I'm sorry. About... everything." He placed the flowers

something, anything. "And me?" I whispered, m

" He reached for my hand, but I pulled away, recoiling f

the car to rush to her. And now... I've lost our baby. And my job. All for her 'minor bump

that. Frida needed me. She was terrified. And as for the baby, it's unfortunate, but we can try again." He paused, then his v

felt a profound emptiness, a cold, hard space where my love for him had once resided. The expectations I had carried into this marriage, the naive hope that my devotion would eventually melt h

a tight embrace. "My poor girl," she murmured, stroking my hair. My father, usually stern, patted my shoulder awkwardly. They were

t a glossy brochure. "My mother insisted we start planning. For the nursery." He pointed to a picture

child, of filling that empty space, was a terrifying prospec

ll, velvet box. "Aliza, I promise you, I will be the best father." He opened the box to reveal a glittering diamond pendant, shaped like a tiny sta

O, yet it offered a momentary reprieve from the crushing weight of my grief. It reminded me, vaguely, of anoth

ng on my lips. "Okay, Dax,"

dn't let everything go. I had to reclaim some part of myself. I picked up my phone. I would call Dr. Aris again, beg for another chance, anything.

as hesitant but agreed to give me a chance to present my case to the departmental board. As I walked down the familiar

She was laughing, her high-pitched giggle echoing through the usually sacred space. "Oh, th

old. What was

en brightened, becoming even more saccharine. "Aliza, da

oice tight. "What are

. West Enterprises is a major sponsor of this project now, and I'm joining the team as a 'c

inal position but had now inserted his precious Frida into my project, making

liza, perfect timing. We just finished the orientation for our new..

with venom. "She's an actress, Dr. Aris

Aliza, don't be such a naysayer! I'm here to lea

ng on my tongue. He hadn't just neglected me; he was actively s

. He looked at me, a flicker of defiance in his eyes. "Aliza. I assume you're here to apply for a researc

was a perfectly normal, acceptable action. His hand stroked Frida's arm with a tenderness he reserved only for

nt hope for a family-all of it felt like a cruel joke. He wasn't just emotionally distant; he was a walking, breathing bet