Chapter 5

A pool of blood flowed from my lower body. Looking at the bright red stain, I suddenly realized I was truly pregnant.

No, I can't give up.

Filled with a desperate desire to save my child, I struggled to prop up my upper body and dragged myself along.

A long trail of blood marked the floor. Just as I pulled open the drawer and took out the spare phone to make a call,

The diary sitting nearby caught my eye.

As if possessed, I opened the first page.

[January 15th, sunny. Aria got angry today because I forgot about her time of the month. It's my fault. I won't make this mistake again.]

[February 23rd, light rain. Aria and I finally hiked Mount Rushmore like we'd always wanted. The scenery was beautiful, but she was even more stunning. Holding her hand, I felt like I had the whole world.]

[May 14th, heavy rain. I don't know why, but Aria's suddenly grown cold towards me. Did I do something wrong? Why doesn't she want me anymore?]

The sporadic entries were crammed together in tiny handwriting, filled with his overflowing feelings for Aria back then.

I flipped to the last page of the diary. The moment I saw my name, I finally broke down in uncontrollable sobs, tears pouring like rain.[November 30th, cloudy turning clear. Met a girl named Seraphina who looks a lot like Aria. Without Aria, it's all the same with anyone. Might as well make do.]

Five years of love, in his eyes, was just making do.

How ironic.

Heartbroken beyond measure, I cried until my tears ran dry.

By the time the ambulance arrived, I had passed out from exhaustion.

I don't know how long it had been, but when I opened my eyes again, I was greeted by a blinding white, and a chilling cold seeped into every fiber of my being.

The doctor, holding a black pen, delivered the test results. "Miss Sterling, your abdomen suffered a severe impact. I'm sorry, but we couldn't save the baby. We did our best. You should notify your family to come and take care of you as soon as possible."

I touched the thin, cold blanket covering my abdomen and spoke mechanically.

"Doctor, will I be able to get pregnant again?"

"Theoretically speaking, your uterine lining is too weak. It's practically impossible for you to conceive again," the doctor pushed up his glasses. "But you're still young, perhaps a miracle could happen."

His reassurance was so feeble, yet it still provided a glimmer of comfort to me in my despair.

Alec, who had been contacted by the ambulance nurses, came rushing in, fuming and shouting irritably."Seraphina, you're quite the actress, aren't you? Even getting the hospital to join in on your little charade! All this talk about a miscarriage, it's downright laughable."

Before he could finish, the doctor cut him off.

"What charade? Are you Miss Sterling's husband? How could you be so negligent? She's had a miscarriage and needs care, don't you understand? If she doesn't get proper postpartum rest, she might never be able to conceive again, not to mention the long-term health issues!"

The doctor clicked his tongue disapprovingly, admonishing Alec for being an irresponsible husband before leaving.

With a loud bang, the hospital room door slammed shut. Alec seemed to snap out of a trance, looking at me lying on the bed with hesitation.

"Seraphina, you... were really pregnant?"

I nodded, gazing at his face that so closely resembled the one from our youth when he promised me forever.

My heart was filled with quiet despair.

"Alec, let's get a divorce."