6
Sera’s feet seemed rooted to the spot. The talking continued, their words searing her soul.
“Julian and Chloe, they’re still doing it? It’s been almost five hours!”
“What’s the rush? Julian’s a beast, and Chloe’s a beauty. They won’t stop until the sun comes up.”
“But they’re so blatant! They are in the next room! I even heard moaning. But I was smart enough to crank up the music so Sera wouldn’t hear. I was so nervous!”
Take it easy. You’ll get used to it. Julian finally found someone he likes, someone other than Sera.
e gotta help him and let him have it, hahaha!”
“Sera’s pretty, but she’s so old school. I guess she’s like a dead fish in bed. Men like a bit of spice, you know?”
The rest was a blur.
Sera’s ears rang, her mind reeling. Everyone knew it! They’d all been keeping it from her! Julian’s friends, who seemed to have a lot of respect for her, had been covering for Julian and gleefully discussing his betrayal!
She felt like her heart was being ripped apart. A searing pain coursed through her veins. Rain lashed down outside, but she felt nothing, like a walking dead.
She made her way to the immigration office, her clothes soaked, her spirit broken. She signed the document mechanically.
圓
She returned home alone, locking herself in her room.
The next day, Sera came down with a high fever. Julian returned the following day, only to find her unconscious in bed.
Terror consumed him; he rushed her to the hospital.
It was just the flu. After a night of IV fluids, Sera awoke. But Julian was shaken. He booked the entire floor of the hospital, putting his work aside to stay with her.
Then his assistant rushed in, informing him of a crucial client who insisted on a meeting. Julian frowned. Just as he was about to refuse, his assistant whispered something in his ear.
His
expression
shifted.
He
reluctantly
released Sera’s
hand.“Sera,
I…”
Before he could finish, she closed her eyes, calmly interrupting him.“Go.” Why was she so calm? A sharp pang of pain pierced his heart. He couldn’t ignore the change in her, but he was desperate to leave. He kept telling himself that she was just unwell and he was overreacting.
He instructed the nurses to take extra care of her and then rushed out before promising to
return.
For the next three days, Sera didn’t receive a call from Julian. Chloe, on the other hand, called her. I’m going Chloe’s triumphant voice boomed through the phone.“Sera, good news! I’m pregnant. to be a mother. And the father? Your husband. He’s with me, showering me with attention. He carries me everywhere and feeds me… the doctor said we could have sex when the baby was three months, so he practically wore me out that night–dozens of positions. It was exhausting,
< 6
but exhilarating. I loved it.”
Menu
“Oops, I talked too much. Don’t be mad, Sera. Don’t blame Julian. A baby is more important than a fever, right?”
Chloe’s words were venomous. In the had numbed her, she felt nothing.
Past, it would have shattered Sera. But perhaps the pain
Without a word, she pressed the record button.
“Julian, I can’t wait for you to hear this.” She thought.
< 7
