Chapter 101 Pain

Chapter 101 Pain

HER HANDS STILL shaking, Daphne stared at the next photo while Amelie spoke on the other line. The next photo showed them entering a clinic.

A clinic on a Sunday? Then again, it looked private. BK had money. Nothing was impossible.

She reached for the wall for support when she saw BK’s hand wrapped around Amber’s waist in the next photo. She couldn’t control her hand anymore, and she dropped her phone.

She blankly stared at the fallen phone. At the same time, she leaned against the back wall. She couldn’t stop the tears from falling.

She didn’t know how long she’d been staring at the phone lying screen-up. She just couldn’t look away from the photo of the two of them.

She only came back to herself when she saw a hand pick up her phone. She quickly straightened when she recognized it.

“S-Sir…”

Her professor didn’t answer. He just stared at her phone. No—he was fixated on it.

“That’s my phone, Sir,” she said. Only then did he look up at her.

“This is your husband, right?”

She nodded.

His brow furrowed when he saw her quickly wipe her tears. They had fallen again, unannounced. Embarrassing, especially in front of her professor.

“He’s not worth it. Anyway, don’t let him ruin your mood. You’ve got a report. Let’s go.”

It was already ruined. But her prof was right. She shouldn’t let it show.

She followed her professor with her gaze. He turned back and motioned for her to go inside. He still had her phone. She forgot to ask for it back.

No matter how much she tried to push away what she saw, it wouldn’t leave her mind. She explained each slide while quietly wiping away her tears. Her prof kept shaking his head at her behavior.

So her classmates wouldn’t notice her crying, he distracted them with questions. The students interacted, and she was thankful for that. She honestly didn’t know if they learned anything because of her drama.

Just as she was about to click the laser pointer, her phone, which was in her professor’s hand, suddenly rang. He looked at it, and so did she. Then he glanced at her.

“S-Sir—” She couldn’t finish because he had already walked out and answered the call.

She could hear what he was saying, so she knew BK was on the other end. Her professor was saying he had confiscated her phone, so he had it. But BK wasn’t dumb. He’d know why it was answered. And she was right. He said she was presenting and the phone was loud, so he picked it up.

She didn’t know if BK had called again. Her prof told her he just turned it off to make sure there’d be no disturbance in class.

Her phone’s always on silent during classes. Just not today—because of what she discovered. And then he just had to call.

“Good job, Miss Hernandez.”

She turned to her professor when he spoke. Their subject had just ended for the morning. Their next class was at eleven. Only she and Mariel were left, packing up the projector.

“Thank you as well, Sir. I managed to get through it. But I’m not sure if they learned anything.”

“I’m pretty sure they did. Very unique. This field is really in your blood. I’ve already done a background check on you. A deeper one.”

“You shouldn’t have done that, Sir. Now I’m wondering if you only liked my reporting style because of my background—my family.”

“Of course not. What I mean is your heart’s really in this field. Just like your brother, Magnus. He’s amazing. I met him once in Norway, way back.”

She felt a bit sad hearing her brother’s name. In her last talk with her mom, she said Magnus wasn’t treating anyone well, not even her. She thought he was fine, but he wasn’t. He preferred to be alone. Maybe because of his condition. He might never walk again. But their dad was doing everything to find the best doctor for him.

“How is he, anyway?” her professor asked. She looked at him.

“He’s in Bergen now, on vacation.” The sadness in her voice was still there. That was all she could say. It was private family stuff.

“Oh. I thought I’d get to talk to him. I needed to ask something.”

“Is that so?” He nodded.

“That’s fine. Maybe when he comes back.”

She nodded and smiled.

“We’ll return this, Sir,” she said, referring to the projector.

She and Mariel were already stepping out when he spoke again.

“There’s an event after lunch. It might help you distract yourself, Miss Hernandez.”

She couldn’t help but smile at that. Based on his actions, he must’ve overheard her call with her friend. She was grateful he respected her silence. He didn’t ask unnecessary questions.

Her schedule technically ended at noon. She didn’t feel like going to the office. She wanted to shake off the photos she had received.

She went straight to Amelie’s house after the event. She had been briefly distracted, but it didn’t last. So she decided to visit her old place. She also wanted to stay out late. Her phone was off, so she didn’t know if BK had tried to call.

She found Amelie having her nails done.

“You okay?” she asked when she sat on Amelie’s new couch.

“I’m not okay, Am.” She rubbed her temples. “Can I crash here for the night?”

“Of course you can! Don’t be silly. Head to your old room. It’s always reserved for you. I’ll wake you when it’s time to drink,” she joked.

But it didn’t land. Daphne left her and lay down on her old bed.

She clutched her chest. It felt heavy. She didn’t have the courage to confront her husband yet. But it felt like her heart might explode. She just couldn’t accept that Amber might’ve been referring to BK as the father of her child. But thinking back, it was possible. That’s why it was crushing.

The grandchild his mom wanted, Amber could now give it. The child he wanted, Amber could give him.

And her? No. How could she give him one when she was still studying? She admitted she’d been praying not to get pregnant yet because of school. But now her husband has someone pregnant? She didn’t know how to feel. What would happen to her? What if his parents found out?

She didn’t think she could bear watching herself get destroyed by BK. It already hurts this much.

What about when the baby was born? Surely, his time would be split between her and the baby. And he used to love Amber. It’s impossible those feelings wouldn’t return. Where would that leave her?

She slapped her chest a few times before closing her eyes. She felt so drained. Sleep overtook her quickly.