My Twins Died, I Left My Heartless Husband

Chapter 2

After signing my discharge papers, I hauled my broken body back home. The second I opened the door, I nearly wondered if I had stepped into the wrong house. The living room that once felt warm and lived-in was now stripped down to nothing. The photos of Jack and me had vanished from the walls, replaced by a few icy, minimalist abstract prints.

I braced myself against the wall and limped toward the second bedroom. The nursery we had once prepared for our twins. The door stood ajar. Inside, the solid wood crib had already been taken apart and dumped into a pile in the corner.

The tiny outfits I had stitched by hand, the rattles I had picked out, the bottles. Everything was gone without a trace. In the middle of the room stood a large therapy bed, a diffuser beside it quietly releasing a thin stream of mist.

The front door clicked open, and Jack came in supporting Rose. When he saw me at the nursery entrance, he walked over and casually wrapped an arm around my shoulders.

"Natalie, you're home. The doctor said Rosie needs total silence, so we'll just have to put up with it for a few days."

I gently slipped out of his hold and pointed at the broken crib on the floor.

"Where are my things?" My voice stayed low and even, completely stripped of emotion.

Jack looked at me, still in that loose, oversized homewear, not even registering that my stomach was now flat.

He soothed me in a patronizing tone. "Natalie, I had those old items moved out temporarily. Rosie gets overwhelmed by anything too bright or cluttered. Don't read too much into it. Once the babies arrive, I'll clear out the best mother-and-baby stores for you to choose whatever you like. You're going to be a mother. Just think of it as helping me out and give Rosie some space for now, alright?"

I just stared at him in silence.

"I made those clothes with my own hands," I said flatly.

Jack's soft facade cracked for a second, irritation flashing through. "Natalie, you never used to be this dramatic. Rosie nearly died in that fire. Why are you making such a big deal out of a few clothes now? Tomorrow I'll have finance transfer you five hundred thousand. Go buy a full imported set. Isn't that enough?"

Leaning weakly against the sofa, Rose spoke up. "Natalie, I'm sorry. Seeing children's things just brings the fire back to me. Jack is only trying to protect my feelings. Please don't be angry with him."

Jack strode over at once, poured her a glass of warm water, and said with clear affection, "Why are you apologizing to her? It's my house. What's the harm in letting a friend stay a few days?"

He turned back to me, his eyes still carrying that patronizing indulgence laced with control. "Natalie, just be good these next few days. Don't mention the fire in front of Rosie."

I ignored him and went straight into the storage room. Inside several black trash bags, I found the discarded baby clothes, all smeared with dust and grime.

I crouched down and picked them up one by one, wiping them clean. The burns on my calves tightened with every movement, sending a stabbing pain through me. Cold sweat ran down my forehead and dropped onto the fabric.

Jack appeared at the doorway, looming over me. "Natalie, are you really trying to push me like this? I already told you I'll give you money to replace everything. Why are you picking through garbage? Are you doing this on purpose so Rosie feels guilty and I end up feeling sorry for you?"

I put the last tiny garment into the bag and pushed myself up using the doorframe for support.

"This is mine," I said, meeting his eyes directly, my voice so calm it felt almost detached.

Jack seemed oddly unsettled by my stare. He was used to my outbursts, used to tears and accusations about who he loved more, just not this quiet, hollow version of me.

"Fine, take it all. I can't keep doing this with you," he sighed, as if reluctantly conceding to my stubbornness. "You'll stay in the guest room tonight. Rosie can't sleep without the lights on and she needs me there. Be good. Once she recovers, I'll make it up to you and the baby properly."

I gave a small nod and walked out with the bag. "Alright."

Jack froze for a beat, clearly not expecting me to agree so easily. He opened his mouth like he wanted to say something, but Rose's voice called from the living room, and he immediately turned and hurried back.

I went into the guest room, shut the door, and locked it. I folded the little clothes carefully and placed them into my suitcase. Then I picked up my phone and booked a ticket for tomorrow to the funeral home.