I clutched my agonizing stomach, curled up in the passenger seat on the way to the hospital for an abnormal fetal heartbeat. Julian’s first love, Celeste, insisted on driving to an isolated trail, only for their tire to get punctured. I tried to stop Julian, who was frantic and about to turn the car around, suggesting we call roadside assistance. Instead, he slapped me hard across the face. Usually so composed, his voice raw with fury, he roared at me, “Willow, are you even human? Celeste is stranded out there, terrified, in a place she doesn’t know, and you’re still making a scene?” “Let me tell you this! I care about Celeste more than my own life. Not a single strand of her hair can be harmed!” With that, he shoved me out of the car and sped away without a backward glance. I stood by the roadside under a blazing 104-degree Fahrenheit sun, trying to flag down a car, my consciousness already fading. If this was how it was going to be, then this baby had no future. Let him and his obsession be together forever.
The 104-degree sun was scorching me, my vision blurring. Julian slammed on the brakes, instantly spinning the car around and speeding off towards the isolated trail. On the road, passersby cast looks of pity or scorn, some pointing, some shaking their heads in dismay. But I felt nothing. I simply held my stomach, wracked with cramps, my nails digging deep into my palms. How ironic, that the man who had just sped away was the same man I’d been married to for three years. Two hours later, Julian’s SnapChat voice message finally came through. His voice was breathless, frantic. “Willow, Celeste has claustrophobia! She’ll have a meltdown alone on that mountain!” “Just take a taxi to the hospital yourself. Celeste needs me more.” Just then, Julian’s SnapChat group chat exploded. “Julian’s a true hero, abandoning his wife for Celeste!” “Don’t talk nonsense, I’m just saving someone.” “Besides, what’s a little pregnancy complication? Celeste is actually trapped on the mountain!” I looked down at my phone, my fingertips trembling. Under the 104-degree sun, sweat mixed with tears as it streamed down my face. The baby in my womb stirred restlessly. Seeing that I didn’t reply, Julian sent another voice message. “It’s just an abnormal fetal heartbeat, Willow. Don’t be so dramatic. I’ll come to the hospital to be with you after I’ve rescued her.” *Be with you.* He had said those words to me countless times before. Once, they sounded like pure bliss. Now, they were a cruel mockery. I bit back the pain and replied, my voice raspy. “Congratulations, Mr. Hayes. You played the hero again.” Not long after, Julian sent another voice message, his tone laced with impatience. In the background, I could hear Celeste’s delicate sobs. “Willow, can’t you be more understanding? I told you, Celeste is in danger right now!” I didn’t argue. I just clenched my phone tighter. Julian’s Ins feed updated. The photo showed Julian tightly holding Celeste, whose neck was covered in suggestive hickeys, her face flushed. The caption read: “Important people are always worth rushing to.” I scoffed inwardly, casually tapped ‘like’, and commented: *Such a perfect match.* My phone instantly vibrated, Julian’s voice roaring with furious embarrassment. “Willow, don’t use your petty mind to speculate about others! Celeste saved my life!” In the background, Celeste let out a perfectly timed, terrified shriek. Julian immediately soothed her with gentle words, then abruptly hung up, only throwing out a hurried, “Remember to get all your tests done. I’ll pick you up after I drop Celeste home.” With that, he hung up without hesitation. I turned off the screen and looked out the window. The sun was still scorching, but my heart felt like an ice cavern. I leaned against the wall and slowly stood up. The cramps in my abdomen suddenly became excruciatingly clear. As I walked into the operating room, the nurse asked in surprise, “Where’s her family?” I stared at the stark white ceiling and replied, “Dead.”
At six in the morning, my phone blared, shattering the silence. It was Julian’s parents. The moment I answered, their curses rained down on me. “Willow! The hospital said you didn’t even get your prenatal check-up! Are you deliberately trying to kill my grandchild?” “If Julian hadn’t insisted on marrying you, how could our family possibly accept an ill-mannered daughter-in-law like you?!” The receiver was filled with their insults. I looked at the ultrasound photos taped to the wall. I’d taken them all alone during my check-ups; Julian was always “working late.” Every appointment he promised to accompany me to was canceled because of one of Celeste’s “emergencies.” This house once held all my dreams for the future. I’d bought it with the salary I earned working until the early hours in the design studio. But now, every piece of furniture seemed to mock my foolishness. My nails dug deeper into my palms as I spoke calmly. “Did Julian tell you what happened yesterday?” The other end of the line fell silent. “Wh-what? Julian said he had an urgent meeting.” I chuckled softly. “You won’t need to prepare a baby shower. He abandoned me under a 104-degree sun yesterday, with an abnormal fetal heartbeat, just to go find Celeste.” “Nonsense!” Julian’s mother’s voice suddenly rose. “My son is the most responsible person! You’re definitely being unreasonable!” I put the phone on speaker and played the recording from the emergency room yesterday. The doctor’s anxious voice echoed through the room: “The pregnant woman’s heart rate is too fast, the fetus is hypoxic. Where is her family?” Before they could respond, I hung up for the first time. My phone began to vibrate wildly. Looking at Julian’s mother’s caller ID, I dragged her straight to the blacklist. I used to work tirelessly to gain their approval, acting like a doormat, doing whatever they wanted. Now, it just seemed laughable. I gazed at the light blue paint in the nursery. I had painted it myself, staying up for seven consecutive nights. Julian had said he wanted a starry ceiling, so I spent an entire night squatting, drawing a galaxy. Julian’s Ins photo, which I’d seen earlier, flashed in my mind. How ironic and mocking it all seemed now. I forcefully tore down the “Expectant Father’s Guide” from the wall. I shredded it and threw it into the trash can. SnapChat messages kept popping up. They were all from my best friends, asking about my check-up results. I replied to each one, telling them not to worry. Just as I was about to turn off my phone, Celeste’s Ins updated. “The one who loves you will always be by your side.” She posted a nine-picture spread, each one a photo of Julian passionately kissing her.
Soon, Celeste’s Ins post was flooded with blessings. Some busybodies even screenshotted it and sent it to the group chat. I mechanically sent a thumbs-up emoji. The next second, Celeste sent me a picture on SnapChat. Julian was lying shirtless on the bed, Celeste’s hair sprawled across his chest. The photo angle was tricky, perfectly capturing her triumphant smile. She sent a fake sympathetic message: “Willow, Julian is still resting. He was with me all night and didn’t get any sleep.” Followed by a provocative tongue-out emoji. Then another message came: “Oh, and by the way, I heard yesterday was your check-up day? I’m so sorry about the emergency, I didn’t mean to call Julian away.” “Also, Julian is still sleeping, I don’t want to disturb him right now.” My vision blurred. The baby in my belly seemed to sense my emotions, kicking restlessly. My phone vibrated again, this time with a video. In the footage, Julian’s back was to the camera, his back covered in suggestive scratch marks, Celeste’s long hair scattered all over him. I impatiently interrupted her performance: “Celeste, being a home-wrecker and being so high-profile? Are you afraid people won’t know how despicable you are?” The feigned apology on Celeste’s face vanished, replaced by a mocking message. “Willow, the baby in your belly was just an accident. Do you really think it can compare to Julian and my decade-long relationship?” She was right. I truly couldn’t compare. When I was left waiting for a taxi under the 104-degree sun, when I waited alone in the check-up room, I should have understood. I didn’t want to deal with Celeste anymore. Just as I was about to turn off my phone, Julian’s call came in. The moment I answered, he started yelling and blaming me without understanding anything. “Willow, what the hell is wrong with you?! I told you, Celeste has claustrophobia! What kind of nonsense are you pulling?!” In the background, Celeste immediately began to cry plaintively. “Julian, it’s all my fault. If only I hadn’t wandered off, this wouldn’t have…” Julian immediately soothed her gently, then turned and roared at me, “Willow, even if we’re married, I’ll do whatever I want! Going to find Celeste was my decision and my freedom!” Julian’s voice was filled with disgust. I calmly repeated his words: “You’re right. You can do whatever you want. I shouldn’t have an opinion.” The other end of the line suddenly went quiet. A moment later, Julian seemed to realize something, and his tone softened: “I broke my promise by not going to your check-up. I’ll go with you another day, and I’ll compensate you.” “As long as you don’t interfere with Celeste and me anymore.” “Okay,” I whispered, tears streaming down my face. He hung up, relieved. Of course, I wouldn’t interfere anymore. After all, I had already signed the divorce papers.
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