Chapter 5
The air seerved to freeze instantly. Aiden’s hand stopped mid-motion at his temple, slowly turning his head with complete disbelief written across his face, as if he’d just heard the most absurd joke.
“Tina,” his voice rose, heavy with exhaustion and the anger of being affronted. “Have you lost your mind? Just because I went out in the rain to buy her a hot drink, a damn cinnamon roll? She sat in the car for a few extra minutes! You were in the car too! And now you’re talking about divorce? Do you have any idea how many hours I was in surgery today?”
His words hit me like a punch to the stomach, pain spreading through my chest. I supported my swollen belly and questioned him word by word:
“Just a few minutes?”
A ten-minute drive took over an hour, and I had to sit in the back seat watching you two flirt?”
‘Because I drank some lemon water in your office, you scolded me for ‘contaminating the air and ignored me for three whole days! Where’s your obsession with cleanliness? Where are the rules you’ve followed for the past nine years? Now she can eat and wear perfume in your car, and suddenly anything goes!”
‘Aiden, all your principles were apparently just regulations written for me, while you break every rule for her.”
My words cut like sharp knives, making Aiden’s face pale and tense with fury. His gaze fell on my pregnant belly.
n that instant, the rage in his eyes was replaced by something mixed with irritation and a final warning.
Tina!” Aiden pointed at my stomach, his voice carrying a threat. “Calm down! Look what you’ve become! There’s a limit to being unreasonable! Don’t say I didn’ warn you-if you insist on divorce, things won’t be easy for you and this child.”
Aiden’s threat didn’t create the slightest ripple in my heart. Instead, it was like a bucket of cold water, completely extinguishing the last embers of emotion within me. I actually laughed coldly.
If I don’t even want you anymore,” my voice was low like a sigh, but my gaze was ice cold as I looked at Aiden, “why would I keep your child?”
Aiden froze in place. His mouth hung open, unable to react for a long time. His eyes flickered with shock, confusion, and a kind of fear I’d never seen before.
didn’t spare him another glance, walking straight into the bedroom and slamming the door with a sharp bang
he room’s silence and warmth enveloped me. finally allowing my tense nerves to relax slightly as exhaustion washed over me. I didn’t turn on the lights. itting on the bed’s edge in darkness, my hand gently covering my pregnant belly.
Jnder my warm palm, the little life inside seemed to sense my sadness and moved slightly. The child’s presence made my resolute statement about “not keeping our child” seem even more tragic and cruel.
Jut I knew clearly that this child was destined not to have a healthy environment to grow up in. A mother whose heart had already left the father, a father who reated principles and marriage like a game, and Vera-forever the third party… keeping the child would only cause him greater harm.
took a deep breath and opened my phone. The screen’s cold light illuminated my pale face. I didn’t bother checking any social media, instead going directly to he hospital’s internal work chat room-a semi-public group.
ince becoming pregnant, I’d stopped following these noisy group chats. But now, because of Vera’s existence, I was forced to click on the search box.
typed “Vera,” and numerous messages appeared in the chat history.
Vera was late to the OR again today! She almost knocked over the surgical instrument tray! If it were anyone else, Aiden would have screamed at them, but he ust told her to be more careful next time? Seriously?! Double standards!]
You newbies don’t understand the rules. Vera is the intern that Aiden personally “handpicked” to join his team!]
I heard yesterday that Aiden rearranged his entire teaching schedule. Vera, who was supposed to rotate with other male doctors, now revolves around Aiden all day? Seriously… they…]
Vera said Aiden even gave her the spare key to his office! Note: his private office, not the interns’ conference room!]
Bat this obvious? Our supposedly “stoic, serious” Aiden finally found a little princess to break his rules for! Poor Tina…]
Don’t say it too loud! But Vera definitely knows how to play this game. When Aiden’s coat collar was crooked, she was the first to notice: God, I’ve worked bene for ten years, and this is the first time I’ve seen Alden smule at the hospital!]
