Chapter 2

2

It was a pregnancy report. The name on it was Yara Sterling.

The timing made my head spin.

It clearly stated: three weeks pregnant.

That meant Weston had already gone through with the procedure a month ago.

He never intended to discuss it with me or wait for my approval.

So why had he spent the last month pestering me?

Was it just to clear his own conscience? To make himself feel like he'd tried to be the good guy?

Suddenly, the strength left my body. I sank onto the floor, my limbs feeling like lead.

My heart felt like it was being crushed by a giant fist, making it impossible to breathe.

No wonder Weston looked so happy. No wonder he practically ran out the door after that call.

He knew the procedure worked. Yara was pregnant.

He was probably at the clinic right now, celebrating with her.

I closed my eyes in agony, a wave of profound sorrow washing over me.

I couldn't believe the man I had loved for so many years was now the father of another woman's child.

Just two months ago, he had proposed. I had spent every waking hour planning the wedding, booking the venue, and ordering the dress.

I had been so excited for that day, dreaming of walking down the aisle to him.

But now, those dreams were nothing but bubbles, bursting in the cold air.

The buzz of my phone snapped me back to reality.

I answered it instinctively.

It was my senior from the university, her voice bright and clear.

"Annie, I know you're getting married, but I have to ask one more time. Will you reconsider the lab position?"

"You're the most talented student the Professor has ever had. He really wants you on this team."

"Since you're starting a family, the Professor said he can give you a special schedule―two months in the lab, two weeks off to be with your husband."

I had known about the new research facility in D.C. for six months.

The Professor had called me personally to invite me to join the project.

But once you entered that lab, you were cut off from the outside world until a phase was complete.

It could be months, or even a year or two.

I hadn't wanted to be away from Weston for that long. I couldn't bear the thought of no contact.

So, I turned him down.

But now, my mind kept flashing back to that pregnancy report.

Weston was already someone else's father.

If he never cared about our relationship or our upcoming marriage, then there was no point in going through with it.

My hand tightened around the phone.

"I'll do it. I'll join the lab. And I don't need the special schedule. I'll follow the standard project timeline."

My senior sounded ecstatic.

"That's amazing! The Professor will be so happy."

"When can you start? How about a week after the wedding? That way you still get a honeymoon."

I replied softly, "No. I'll start on the wedding day."

I looked at the calendar on the desk.

Next month, the 10th was circled heavily in red marker.

I had originally circled it to remind myself how much time was left until my big day.

Now, it was the countdown to leaving Weston.

Fifteen days left.

I would treat these fifteen days as a buffer to say goodbye to twenty years of love.

In fifteen days, Weston and I would be strangers.