Chapter 3
They all looked stunned when they saw me.
A flicker of surprise passed through Lucian’s eyes as he asked, puzzled, “Are you not feeling well? Why did you come to the hospital alone?”
Before I could answer, Elise spoke first. “Solene, just because you’re still young doesn’t mean you should neglect your health. No matter how busy work gets, you need to take care of yourself. Don’t make Lucian worry about you.”
Though her tone sounded concerned, there was a subtle distance in her words.
I pressed my lips together and nodded.
“I’ve already finished my check–up and picked up the medicine. I’m ready to leave. You two should go ahead with your prenatal appointment.”
There was worry in Lucian’s eyes. He took a step toward me, but Elise pulled him back.
“Lucian, it’s almost our turn. Let’s go,” she said, then rubbed her belly with a faint frown, pretending to be in discomfort. “Lately I’ve been feeling a bit off–probably from all the recent stress. I hope it’s not affecting the baby.”
She emphasized the word baby, and the concern to me in Lucian’s expression faded. He looked at me apologetically. “Solene, head home first. I’ll come find you after Elise’s check–up.”
Back when his brother was still alive, Lucian had always called Elise “sister–in–law” with
respectful formality.
Now, he spoke to her with such affection.
Watching them together, I suddenly understood–I had become the true outsider.
The man who once vowed to love me forever no longer had a place for me in his heart.
I thought of the past. Back then, no matter what happened he always put me first.
My eyes stung with unshed tears. I choked out, “Okay… go ahead.”
On the drive home, I stared out the window at the familiar scenery flashing by, my mind filled
with memories of the time we had shared.
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Lucian and I had met in high school.
We were desk mates back then–he was the quiet nerd, and I was the popular girl.
My parents were busy with work and worried I wouldn’t take care of myself, so they arranged for me to live on campus.
I hated the breakfast in cafeteria and constantly pestered him to bring me food from outside.
He would sigh and complain, but he always gave in.
And that connection continued for three years.
After graduating, we chose the same university as if we had some unspoken agreement.
Having known each other for three years, I instinctively clung to him for comfort in the
unfamiliar environment.
Whenever something happened, I would turn to him for help, and he never once lost patience
with me.
My mom often told me I shouldn’t trouble others so much.
I didn’t take her words seriously and even repeated her words to Lucian once.
At the time, he casually set down his pen and said, “Do you really think I’m just being nice? Solene, if I didn’t like you, I wouldn’t bother with any of this.”
His feelings for me had always been obvious–I’d known it from the start.
So I shamelessly enjoyed everything he did for me.
After we got together, he became even more open with his love.
As long as he was by my side, I lived without a single worry.
My mom used to joke that the hardest thing I’d ever experience in life would probably be working a nine–to–five.
But now, I knew she was wrong.
The hardest thing I had ever gone through wasn’t working.
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It was realizing the man I loved had married someone else–and I was the last to know.
The tears I’d been holding back finally spilled over.
Seeing this through the rearview mirror, the driver handed me a tissue and gently consoled me, “Miss, there’s no hardship you can’t get past. Just keep moving forward–good things are waiting ahead.”
I took the tissue and murmured my thanks through choked sobs.
After paying the fare, I was about to message a friend when I absentmindedly opened
Instagram.
That was when I saw Elise’s latest post, uploaded just five minutes ago.
Chapter 3
