9
Days flew by quickly. Another month passed, and my morning sickness finally eased.
I also saw a news report online: “Davis Group Declares Bankruptcy Overnight, Chairman Found Dead in Wilderness.”
<
The Davis Group. I was familiar with them; my dad had a lot of business dealings with them when he was alive.
But after Dad passed, we lost all contact.
Just as I thought, they were all fair–weather friends.
My clothes were quickly becoming too snug to hide my growing belly.
Sometimes I’d feel faint flutters. Richard hadn’t come back, and I hadn’t pressed Mom about her strange comments anymore.
Until one day, we had another unexpected visitor.
I had just gotten home from my prenatal check–up. From a distance, I saw Julian standing at the door, carrying bags.
I really didn’t want to see him. My current life wasn’t perfect, but it was peaceful enough.
I didn’t want him to disturb me, and I certainly didn’t want him to discover the baby.
My instinct was to hide, but Julian spotted me.
He hurried towards me, his eyes alight with unstoppable joy.
“Scarlett, how are you feeling? Is anything bothering you?”
I gave him a cold look.
“I was fine. But seeing you suddenly made me feel sick.”
“Just go. I don’t know how you found me, but I decided to leave, and I’m not looking back.”
Julian didn’t seem to care about my sarcasm at all. He just took my hand and pulled me towards the house.
“I bought some ribs, I’ll make you soup later.”
“I also got you some jewelry you like. See if you like it.”
“Don’t worry, Mom got something too.”
He just kept talking, completely oblivious to the fact that my face had turned as black as charcoal.
“Julian, that’s enough!”
“How long are you going to keep up this act? If you hadn’t been so cold to me all this time, would I have left?”
“If you hadn’t cheated, if you hadn’t contracted that dirty disease, I probably would have stuck it out!”
“You were the one who didn’t respect yourself first.”
I yanked my hand back forcefully, standing on the step below him, looking up at him.
“I don’t care about your ribs, and I certainly don’t care about your jewelry! Just get out!!”
་
<
“I don’t care about your ribs, and I certainly don’t care about your jewelry! Just get out!!”
Juliaris gaze froze, and his hand, suspended in mid–air, slowly dropped.
“Scarlett, do you really hate me that much?”
“You don’t even want to hear my explanation?”
“No. I don’t want to hear a single word.”
“You can leave now?”
He suddenly let out a loud laugh, swallowing the explanation he’d been holding back.
The loud argument drew Mom out from watching TV inside.
The moment she saw Julian, she showed no surprise. She naturally took the bags from his hand and motioned for him
to come inside.
I quickly stepped forward, blocking the doorway.
“Mom, what’s wrong with you? That’s Julian! How can you let him in?”
Mom slowly lowered my hand, telling me calmly, “It’s time I explained some things to you.”
“It’s time I explained some things to you.”
I truly didn’t understand. What were they hiding from me? Why did everyone else know, but I was kept completely in the
dark?
