Chapter 2 A Door Opens, Another Closes

By the time Avery reached the maternity assessment unit, the cramping had eased, but a dull ache still lingered across her lower abdomen. The midwife helped her onto an examination bed while another attached the foetal heart-rate monitor. "Try to relax for me," she said gently. "We'll have a proper look and make sure your little one is happy." Avery nodded, though her fingers remained tightly intertwined over the curve of her bump. The rhythmic galloping of her baby's heartbeat soon filled the room. Strong. Steady. Healthy. Only then did Avery realize she'd been holding her breath. After an ultrasound and examination, the consultant obstetrician returned with her notes. "The good news is that your baby is perfectly well." Avery released a shaky sigh. "Thank goodness..." The doctor offered her a reassuring smile before pulling up a chair. "You've experienced what we call uterine irritability. It's quite common during pregnancy." Avery looked at her uncertainly. "The uterus is a muscle," the doctor explained. "When you're under significant emotional stress, your body releases stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol. Those hormones can make the uterus contract temporarily, which causes cramping and abdominal tightness." She paused to ensure Avery understood. "It isn't premature labour, and fortunately your cervix remains closed, so there's no immediate danger to your baby." Avery instinctively rested her hand over her stomach. "So... she'll be all right?" "Yes." The doctor's tone was calm and reassuring. "But this episode is your body's way of telling you it's under too much strain." She folded the notes closed. "Pregnancy places enough demands on the body without prolonged emotional distress. Continued stress can contribute to raised blood pressure, poor sleep, reduced appetite and recurrent uterine tightening." Her expression softened. "For both your sake and your daughter's, you need to avoid situations that cause you significant emotional upset whenever possible." A bitter smile tugged at Avery's lips. If only it were that simple. The doctor glanced through the paperwork once more before asking casually, "Did your husband come with you today?" Avery lowered her eyes. "No." "Is he parking the car?" There was genuine concern in the doctor's voice. Avery let out a quiet laugh that sounded far more like resignation. "No." She looked towards the rain-speckled window. "He's... busy with someone else." The doctor fell silent. She had worked in obstetrics long enough to recognize heartbreak when she saw it. Rather than press further, she simply reached across the desk and placed a leaflet in Avery's hand. "If you notice any bleeding, leaking fluid, regular contractions, or reduced movements later in your pregnancy, come straight back." Avery nodded. "I will." "And promise me one more thing." Avery looked up. "Be kind to yourself." The words caught Avery off guard. She managed a faint smile. "I'll try." ***** Outside, the December air had grown colder. Grey clouds stretched across the London sky, swallowing what remained of the afternoon sunlight. Avery paused on the hospital steps. The doctor had told her not to become emotional. She almost laughed. How was she supposed to do that? Her marriage was crumbling around her. The man she'd loved for nearly a decade had looked at another woman with a tenderness he'd never once shown his own wife. No amount of deep breathing could change that. Drawing her coat tighter around herself, Avery hailed a taxi. ***** By the time she arrived home in Kensington, dusk had settled over the city. Warm golden light glowed behind the windows of the Blackwood townhouse. From outside, it looked every bit the perfect family home. Inside, it felt nothing like one. The sound of laughter drifted from the sitting room. The two live-in housekeepers Lady Blackwood had employed years earlier were enjoying tea together, the television murmuring quietly in the background. Neither woman rose when Avery entered. One merely glanced up over the rim of her teacup. "How did your appointment go?" Her tone carried more curiosity than concern. Avery slipped off her cream coat. "It was fine." She turned towards the staircase. "I asked you a question." The older housekeeper frowned. "You could at least answer properly." Avery didn't stop walking. Behind her, another dismissive voice floated through the hallway. "Honestly." "Carrying the Blackwood heir doesn't make her mistress of the house." The first woman gave a humorless laugh. "She'd do well to remember that." Avery climbed the stairs without looking back. After months of hearing remarks like those, she'd learned that silence hurt less than arguing. ***** Closing the bedroom door behind her, she leaned against it for a long moment. The room was quiet. Too quiet. She crossed to the bed and sat carefully on its edge. This had never truly been her home. The Blackwood family had only accepted the marriage because Lord Blackwood had suffered a serious heart attack shortly before news of her pregnancy. Lady Blackwood had believed the promise of a wedding-and eventually a great-grandchild-might restore his will to recover. Remarkably... It had. Since then, Lady Blackwood had treated Avery with increasing warmth. Everyone else remained politely distant at best. Hostile at worst. Her appointment earlier that day had confirmed one more piece of news. She was carrying a little girl. Lady Blackwood had almost certainly heard already. Her mobile vibrated on the bedside table. Professor James Thornton. Avery answered immediately. "Professor?" "Avery, I hope I'm not catching you at a bad time." "Not at all." "I've just had some unexpected news." She sat a little straighter. "A fully funded doctoral fellowship at Stanford has become available." For a heartbeat, she couldn't speak. Professor Thornton continued, "You were first on the reserve list." Silence stretched between them. "I know you withdrew your application after getting married," he said gently, "but if you're still interested, I can recommend you immediately." Months ago... She would have hesitated. She would have looked towards the future she'd imagined with Adrian. Now... There was nothing left to hesitate over. "I'll accept." The words came quietly. Yet without the slightest uncertainty. Even Professor Thornton sounded surprised. "I see." After a brief pause, he smiled. "In that case, come by my office tomorrow morning. We'll begin the paperwork." "Thank you." "No, Avery." His voice carried genuine pride. "Congratulations." After the call ended, Avery sat perfectly still. Outside the bedroom window, snow had begun drifting gently across the London rooftops. She had spent months convincing herself that everything might change once their daughter was born. Perhaps Adrian would soften. Perhaps becoming a father would finally make him see them as a family. What a foolish dream. Love could never be created by obligation. Nor by a child. Not when it had never existed in the first place. Her phone rang again. Lady Blackwood. Avery answered at once. "My dear," Lady Blackwood said warmly, "we're all having dinner at Blackwood Manor this evening. Adrian will collect you shortly." "I'll be ready." "Good girl." The call ended. Avery showered before changing into fresh clothes. Standing before the dressing table afterwards, she studied the woman reflected in the mirror. Pale. Tired. Eyes shadowed by sleepless nights. No wonder Adrian had looked straight through her this afternoon. She reached for a little concealer and blush. Not to make herself beautiful for him. Only to recognize herself again. A soft pink cashmere jumper. A cream maternity coat. A white knitted beanie. By the time she finished, color had returned to her face. Not happiness. Only dignity. Her phone buzzed once more. Adrian. "I'm outside." His voice was as detached as ever. "I'll be down in a moment." ***** The familiar black Range Rover waited beside the kerb. The very same one she'd watched drive away from the café earlier that afternoon. Avery opened the rear door and climbed inside. The cabin was warm. Almost immediately, she caught a delicate floral perfume lingering in the air. Not hers. A small plush rabbit rested against the passenger-side window. Beside it lay a pink silk hair tie. Neither belonged in Adrian's immaculate car. She didn't ask. She no longer needed to. The drive through London passed in silence. Streetlights reflected across the rain-darkened roads while Christmas decorations glimmered in shop windows. Eventually Adrian spoke without taking his eyes off the road. "What did today's scan show?" "A girl." He gave a single nod. Neither pleased. Nor disappointed. Just indifferent. Several more minutes passed before he spoke again. "When she's born..." He paused briefly. "We'll begin divorce proceedings." The words landed with surprising gentleness. Not because they were kind. Because she'd already heard them in her heart long before he spoke them aloud. Her fingers tightened around her handbag. For a moment she simply watched the city passing outside her window. Then she answered quietly, "All right." Silence filled the car. For the first time that evening, Adrian turned his head and looked at her properly. A faint crease appeared between his brows. He had expected tears. An argument. A plea for another chance. Instead... She had simply agreed. And somehow, that unsettled him far more than resistance ever could.