The Unveiled Rose

I looked at him, utterly baffled.

Leander immediately showed me the test results, his eyes brimming with anticipation for the new life on its way. "You passed out last night and scared me half to death. The doctor took you for some tests and found out you're pregnant." "You've been through a lot lately, and your emotions have been all over the place, which is why the baby's a bit unstable. You'll need to stay in the hospital for a while. Make sure you take good care of yourself and the baby."

I casually took the paper from him, my gaze fixating on the ultrasound image of the tiny yet-to-be-formed child, and I couldn't look away.

My heart, battered and bruised, found a moment of solace right then.

Without thinking, I began to tenderly stroke the image of this new little life, my mind racing with thoughts.

My father passed away early, and I grew up in a single-parent home,I truly didn't want my child to endure the same childhood I did. So, I said, "Leander."

He looked puzzled at my sudden call. "Hmm?"

I lifted my head, a certain determination in my eyes.

"I'll let bygones be bygones for the sake of this child. Can we go back to how things were and live a good life together?"

Leander met my gaze, then nodded. "Yeah."

"Honey." Immediately after, Leander pulled out a small red velvet box, opening it somewhat nervously.

Inside was a pair of pearl earrings shaped like lilies.

He rarely gave me gifts since we got married, which took me by surprise. "What's this?"

He sounded a bit tense. "A gift for you."

I accepted them. "Thank you."

No matter what had happened in the past...

At least in this moment, the arrival of this little life brought me a long-lost joy.

Leander took a phone call, said something about company business, gave me a quick kiss, and left.

I gently caressed my belly. My expression softened ever more.

"Ding-dong."

My phone chimed, and I checked it absent-mindedly.

It was a message from Nigel, a screenshot from Luna's Twitter.

I opened it.

[Thanks to Mr. Payne for the emerald ring this morning. Also, the jewelry company has no taste. They sent me a pair of ugly pearl lily-shaped earrings. They were so hideous I couldn't stand the sight of them, so I had them thrown away.] The selfie showed Luna's hand resting on her cheek, a massive oval-cut emerald ring on her finger.

The expensive gem was cut and crafted perfectly. Even from just a photo, you could see the diamond sparkling.

My grip on the phone tightened. The corner of my mouth where Leander had kissed felt like it was burning, making me nauseous.

During the time I was unconscious, my husband hadn't been worried about me at all; instead, he'd spent a fortune to secure an expensive emerald ring for Luna.

After I woke up, he tried to appease me with Luna's rejected gift.

Did he see me that cheaply?

Did he think he didn't need to make an effort, that a mere trinket would move me and make me forgive everything unconditionally?

Despair washed over me like a tidal wave, threatening to drown me.

Why?

Why did he keep hurting me so recklessly?

Why did he keep trying to win me back with cheap sweet nothings...

I bit my lip, the room spinning,

"Ring-ring."

The phone rang, snapping me out of my despair.

"Hello?"

"Mom, I miss you. Can you come find me?"

Nigel's voice sounded a bit down. He had already done something to hurt himself the day before.

Worried he might do something foolish in his state, I immediately got up. "I'll come now. Where are you?"

"Go outside," Nigel's young voice was devoid of happiness or anger. "Turn left, keep going." Following his instructions, I walked straight ahead until I saw Nigel standing on the stairs. The light streaming through the window fell on his pale face, highlighting his vulnerability. Blood ties really are a strange thing.