Chapter 2

2.

It was a pregnancy report.

Patient's Name: Elara Vance.

Gestation: Four weeks.

That meant Isaiah and Elara had already gone through with the procedure a month ago.

He never intended to discuss it with me, to ask for my consent.

So why did he spend the last month pretending to ask for my opinion?

Was it to soothe his own conscience? What did he take me, Sophia Bennett, for?

All the strength drained out of me, and I collapsed onto the floor.

An invisible hand was squeezing my heart, making it impossible to breathe.

No wonder Isaiah couldn't hide his joy just now. He had gotten the call and rushed out.

He found out the insemination was a success. Elara was pregnant.

He was probably at NewYork-Presbyterian with her right now, celebrating.

I squeezed my eyes shut, fighting back the pain.

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

Just two months ago, I had proposed to him, and he’d said yes. We were planning our wedding at The Plaza next month. The Vera Wang dress and the venue were booked ages ago.

I had been dreaming of our wedding day, of walking down the aisle toward Isaiah.

Now, all those dreams were shattered.

The vibration of my phone pulled me back to reality. I answered it without thinking.

It was Clara, my old colleague from the lab.

"Sophia, I know you're getting married, but I have to ask one more time―are you sure you won't consider joining our project?"

"Professor Miller says you're his most gifted student, and he's always hoped you would come."

"Considering you're about to start a family, the professor said he'd make a special exception for you. You can work for two months and then take two weeks off, so you'll have time to be with your husband."

I had known about Professor Miller’s new cancer immunology research project in Boston for six months.

He had personally called to invite me to be the lead researcher.

But joining the project meant no contact with the outside world during critical phases of the experiment. It could be for a month or two, or as long as a year or two.

I didn't want to be away from Isaiah for that long, and I couldn't bear the thought of being completely out of touch.

So I had refused.

But now, that pregnancy report flashed in my mind over and over again.

Isaiah was already the father of someone else's child.

Since he never considered our relationship or our impending marriage, then this wedding… was pointless.

I tightened my grip on the phone.

"Clara, I'm in. I'll join the project. No special leave needed. I'll follow the normal schedule."

Clara's voice was filled with surprise and delight. "That's fantastic! The professor will be so happy."

"When are you planning to come? How about a week after the wedding? That way you can still have a honeymoon."

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

My eyes fell on the calendar hanging on the fridge.

The tenth of next month was circled in red marker.

I had circled it as a reminder of how close the wedding was, to help me with the planning.

Now, it was a countdown to my escape from Isaiah.

Fifteen days left.

I needed these fifteen days to slowly cut the ties, to let the habit of loving him wither away.

In fifteen days, Isaiah and I would be over. Forever.