pte

y mom

ther to express my desire to

need to

ation, 'Just give her some money when the time

ney and forget e

egnant? Do they think I'm pitiful e

y stomach was

st leave!" I managed to push these word

ing weak, and sat on the g

s sitting in a pool of bl

uld reach was Gavin. I dialed his number, breathless with fe

stay on the line. Please notify me if anything changes..

me. Please

eart racing hopelessly just

, looking worn and travel-stained

as he showed up, missing Elise'

before you sleep?" Gavin's gentle voic

e, desperate to r

couldn't tell if he was a skilled

managed a s

your pregnancy; otherwise, it could be harmful to you and the baby. Toda

leave, I would be left with only this chil

unable to let go of his child. This

stand. It won'

orehead. "What happened to make you so upset?

tears started stre

was so gentle with me, was also pursuing Elise,

er all, it was only Eli

ease don't cry. Can you

ried my face in his ch

crying, Lily. It breaks my

ad no answe

l for a few days until

eelings toward

I received an in

with his friends. Don't you want to know why he never take

uinely curious since Gavin had ne

ll holding on t

eady and took a

- I was once again at Gavin's ba

ing crowd to the door of the pr

ard my name but hesitated to enter.

hree years? Why hasn't that happened? What's holding you

ves Elise. If it weren't for her stubbornness back th

lise is back, why are

ut I listened intently, desper

the house well. If I divorce her now, Lily would definitely create a scene. Currently

avin seemed uneasy, guilt cre

r for your affair, huh? Clever move,

u can't just keep her in l

, is Gavin that

e'll just need to make up an excuse whe

itating and interrupted, "E

t texted saying there's a traffic jam

r, shivering as if I ha

at well, saying he had something to do in the evening and wo

it as "just a game." In his eyes, I was m

a career in acting; you'r

love can be co

are you finally going to marr

Elise have your weddi

lled the room, mixed with the s

silent, offerin

edding, how to plan it, and who would be the bes

ironic. M

ed witch who keeps the p

never had a wedding? Does he reme

e only thing he thi

er on stage, pouring my heart out while everyone in the audienc

like a fool, a shameless fo

eturns, I'll

the sign of another bar across the street, I fel

street, I gently

at should

, Elise pushed the door

, I'm

o-yo.

se has a

.

nder what Gavin would

y phone and di

call connected just befo

s I was about to hang up,

the background from Gavin's side, whi

e, I asked, "Gavi

"What's up? I'm still at the office, working late. I'll be here a

ession blank, "It's nothi

iss you too. I'll finish up as soon as I

time," I said. "I

lise's voice in

o me-the one she was at, while I was left behind, ef

xi without thinki

I lay in bed,

ad warned me not to let my emotions get the best

ver helped. Only those who truly care ab

vin's life. Now that the real woman he

ter for me to le

just wait for Gavin to tell me to go. But I l

approached, and as ex

he was tired, hungry, or needed something to eat. He patientl

moments ago, my eyes were dry, b

eceiving me, if he ever felt guilty when he

g again? Is it because I came home late? I promise I won't work such late

u keep crying, we'll have two crybabies-on

d eyes, but my heartfelt empty. Ga

n your heart, you're probably plot

all so

ut laugh and cry

quietly. "I shouldn't

gs with the woman he loved, came home to me-a woman

rs and kissed my s

. Gavin didn't love me. He was already more than kind to me

hing kind, it felt like he wa

ts and held me in his arm

ed the outline of h

uld leave with our child. I

s position. Just a few months more to

said, taking my hand and tucking it bac

" I wh

the day

d a meeting and would be late. H

ssage from an u

r table, a candlelit meal in front of him. H

overtime and would sleep at the of

e of Gavin cooking in the kitchen, wearing an apron, and

ctures, too many lies,

vin said he was working late, he w

anymore? I wouldn't argue or try to stay. I would accept it j

never truly been contr

, I pretended not to see them. I ke

I just needed a few more months with Gavin, a few more m

didn't se