6
My feet rooted to the floor as their vile conversation continued.
“Liam and Chloe, they’re still at it? It’s been almost six hours.”
Easy, Liam’s a beast, and Chloe’s a firecracker. They won’t stop until they’ve exhausted themselves.”
“But they’re so brazen! They were going at it in the next room. I heard moaning! Luckily, I cranked up the music so Serenity wouldn’t hear. I was so nervous!
“What’s there to be nervous about? You’ll get used to it. Liam finally found someone besides Serenity. The brothers had to help him sow his wild oats, hahaha!”
“Serenity’s beautiful, but so uptight. Probably like a dead fish in bed. Men prefer exciting women.”
The rest was lost in the buzzing in my ears. I stumbled
out, a daze
descending.
Everyone knew. They all knew. Liam’s “friends,” so polite and courteous to my face, had been covering for him the entire time, mocking me behind my back.
My heart felt like it was being torn apart. Pain consumed me.
Rain lashed against my skin as I wandered aimlessly, unfeeling. I was a ghost drifting through the storm, the world around me distant and hollow.
Eventually, I found myself at the immigration office, drenched and shivering. I signed the necessary documents in silence, the act both liberating and devastating.
Returning home, I locked myself in my room, my body giving out under the weight of my grief.
When Liam found me the next day, I was burning with fever, my vision blurred, barely able to recognize him.
Terrified, he rushed me to the hospital. It was just the flu. After a night of IVs, I recovered. But Liam was shaken. He booked the entire hospital floor and stayed by my side, neglecting his work.
An assistant knocked, announcing an important client. Liam hesitated, then the assistant whispered something in his ear.
His expression changed, and he released my hand.“Serenity, I…”
him. “Go.”
I closed my eyes, calmly interrupting him. “Go.”
His eyes searched mine, and a sharp pang flickered across his face. Something felt wrong to him, but he dismissed it, rationalizing it as lingering effects of my illness. He reassured me with empty promises to return soon, then left.
a call from Chloe.
Three days later, instead of Liam, I received a call from Chloe.
Chloe’s voice was triumphant.“Serenity, I have good news! I’m pregnant! And the father… is your husband.”
“He’s been with me nonstop. So attentive! He carries me, feeds me… The doctor said it’s safe after three months. He was so thrilled, we… you know… a lot. He even tried out dozens of positions all night, since we don’t need protection. It was amazing.”
‘Oops, I talked too much. Don’t be mad, Serenity. Don’t blame Liam, his child is more important than your fever, right?”
Her words were venomous. Usually, I’d be devastated. But I was numb. No tears came.
I didn’t respond. Instead, I reached for my phone, silently pressing the record button.
“Liam,” I murmured to myself, “I can’t wait for you to hear this.”
