Chapter 78
Five months pregnant, I got called back to the hospital for an emergency C–section on New Year’s Eve.
Halfway through the surgery, I heard a man’s desperate voice from the door.
“Sar! Don’t be scared. I’m here! After you have the baby, I’ll marry you, okay?”
The familiar voice made me freeze for a bit.
As soon as the surgery was done, the guy rushed in to hold Sarah Mitchell with red–rimmed eyes.
Seeing his face, I recognized who he was–my husband of five years, Antonio Kaufman.
I stared at him, stunned.
After a moment, I rasped out, “Congrats. It’s a 2.86–kilo baby boy.”
Antonio didn’t even glance at the baby, let alone notice me.
“Sweetie, thank you for giving me a son. You’re my one and only. Sar, I love you.”
He trembled with excitement as he pecked Sarah’s forehead.
It was so sincere and beautiful.
Exactly like the scene I had dreamed of when I imagined giving birth.
Except, I wasn’t the one in the spotlight.
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A few newly recruited nurses whispered to each other, their faces full of admiration.
“They’re so in love! I’ve never seen a man go to his wife first after childbirth!”
“I’m so jealous! She’s dead lucky to have a man like him.”
I trembled all over, my blood running cold.
Just five hours ago, Antonio had been peeling shrimp for me at our New Year’s dinner.
Some relatives teased him for being over–caring.
But he wasn’t bothered at all.
After gently wiping the corner of my mouth, he said, “Since Grace got pregnant, she’s been craving everything. I’m always the one peeling her shrimp. If I don’t, she throws a fit and says I don’t love her!”
I was a bit confused, as I’d never thrown a fit.
But I didn’t say anything.
When his dad offered him a toast, he actually said no.
“Grace’s pregnant. The smell of alcohol is gonna turn her stomach. As her husband, I gotta take care of her.”
I felt so touched.
But now, all that was left was disappointment.
I stood there, watching as the nurse wheeled Sarah into her ward and took the baby from my arms.
Chloe, my bestie, yanked off my mask, her face full of concern.
“Grace, is there some kind of misunderstanding between you and Antonio?”
I looked down, tears welling up in my eyes.
The image of Antonio’s hesitant look when I told him I was pregnant flashed through my mind.
Back then, I thought he was just overwhelmed with joy.
Soon, he held me tight, kissing my forehead.
“Grace! I’m going to be a dad! I’m so happy!”
When he found out I wasn’t planning to quit my job, his face darkened, his tone a bit harsh.
“Won’t it be too hard on you? Pregnancy is gonna affect your work, and you’ll have a hard time balancing both! If you don’t want the baby, we can go get an abortion.”
I turned him down.
Now, I couldn’t help but feel regret.
Turned out that hesitant look and his suggestion about getting an abortion. were exactly how he felt.
It made sense, though.
With two kids, he’d have a hard time juggling both.
One would be easier.
One from his beloved.
I changed out of my scrubs. On my way out, I passed by Sarah’s ward. Seeing them cuddling up together, I couldn’t help feeling bitter.
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When I left the hospital, Chloe pulled up in front of me.
I rubbed my forehead, my hand resting on my protruding belly.
My voice was hoarse but firm.
“Coco, I remember the hospital’s holiday ends on January 7. And work starts on the 8th, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Then… please book me the earliest appointment for an abortion on the 8th.”
Ignoring the shocked look on Chloe’s face, I got in the car and drove home alone.
Almost as soon as I pulled up, Antonio texted me.
“Grace, a big project just came up at work. I won’t be able to come home for New Year.”
I paused for a moment.
Then, he called.
“Grace, don’t throw a tantrum over something so small, okay? I can handle your pregnancy mood swings once in a while, but if it goes on, I’ll get frustrated too. Just be reasonable.
“I’m working late to earn more and take care of our kid. If you’re going to make a fuss over this, maybe we should just terminate the pregnancy while the baby’s still small. And didn’t you get called back to the hospital. too?”
He’d said things like this before.
When I was two months pregnant, I couldn’t keep anything down because
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of morning sickness.
He snapped and dumped my food in the bin.
“It’s just pregnancy! I see other women handle it fine. Why can’t you eat anything?
“Are you putting on an act or something? Did one of my coworkers put this idea in your head to make me babysit you, Grace? I’ve got a busy schedule too!”
My intuition told me that his coworker had more than a professional. relationship with him.
But I was too sick to care.
I just asked him to get me a glass of warm water.
water
“What do you need warm for at this hour? Should I really boil you. some? Can’t you just drink it cold like everyone else? You think you’re so special?
Lucia Morh is a passionate storyteller who brings emotions to life through her words. When she’s not writing, she finds peace nurturing her garden.