He Let Her Replace Me So I Walked Away

Chapter 4 What Was Lost

For a moment, he seemed to become the Adrian I once knew, the one who stayed up late to cook porridge for me.

"Really?" I asked.

"Mm." He pressed a kiss to my forehead. "We'll talk when we get home."

That night, Adrian cooked the porridge himself.

I sat at the dining table, watching his figure move in the kitchen. My chest tightened, aching in a way I couldn't explain.

"Careful, it's hot." He set the bowl in front of me. "Stop wearing heels from now on."

I lowered my head and took a sip. Tears fell silently into the bowl.

He reached out and wiped them away, his fingertips warm.

"Why are you crying?" he said, a hint of helplessness in his tone. "You're going to be a mother."

I nodded, choking back a sob. The steam from the porridge stung my eyes. In that moment, I almost forgave him for everything.

******

The next morning, my phone dragged me out of sleep, and the Hawthorne group chat had exploded with more than ninety-nine messages.

At the top was a video posted by Lila.

In the footage, she was supporting me as I drifted in and out of consciousness. Then she suddenly stumbled, pulling me down with her as I collapsed onto the floor.

The video froze on my pale face, with the caption, "I'm so sorry. I didn’t mean to." In the video, blood spread beneath me.

Now, all I could feel was a dull ache in my abdomen.

Adrian had replied beneath it.

Adrian: She's always been frail. The baby wasn't likely to make it anyway.

My fingers trembled as I stared at the screen.

The bedroom door opened. Adrian walked in, adjusting his tie.

"You're awake?" He glanced at my phone and frowned. "Stop looking at that."

I lifted my head. "You already knew?"

"Knew what?" His tone was flat. "Lila didn't mean it."

"You drugged that bowl of porridge," I said quietly. "There's no way I would've fallen asleep at the table like that. Not without help."

I pushed back the covers and got out of bed. My legs gave way beneath me, and the pain in my abdomen sharpened.

Adrian caught me by the arm. "Stop being difficult."

"I'm going to the hospital."

"Do whatever you want. I already had a private physician check on you." He let go. "Stop making a scene. You can have another child."

******

I went to the hospital alone, forcing myself to endure the pain.

The doctor told me I had miscarried, and that I needed rest.

While paying the bill, I saw Lila walk into the private medical wing, her arm looped through Adrian's.

They didn't see me.

She leaned against his shoulder, saying something softly. Adrian lowered his head to listen, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

My grip tightened around the bag of medication, my palms damp with sweat.

My phone buzzed again. It was a new message from Lila.

Lila: Adrian brought me in for a prenatal checkup! He said he wants to give me the very best.

Photo attached. In the picture, she held up her report with a bright smile. Adrian stood beside her, his hand resting on her shoulder.

My vision blurred. The medication bag slipped from my hand. Pills scattered across the floor.

A cleaner hurried over to help pick them up, but I shook my head and turned away, stepping into the elevator.

Just before the doors closed, I heard Lila's laughter, clear and sharp, like a blade driven straight into my heart.

******

When I reached the first floor, I staggered out and bumped into a nurse pushing a stroller. The baby inside smiled at me, its soft, pink face like a blooming flower.

"Isn't she adorable?" the nurse said gently.

I opened my mouth. No sound came out.

At the corner, a television was playing financial news. Adrian stood there on the screen, his arm around Lila as they attended a charity gala.

Her abdomen was flat, yet she rested a hand over it deliberately.

He leaned close and whispered to her with a softness I had not seen in a long time, so different from the cold indifference in his eyes that morning.

I touched my empty stomach. Then I laughed.

How ironic. My child had turned into a pool of blood. And its father was accompanying another woman to a prenatal checkup.

'Adrian… it's not that you don't want a child. You just don't want one from me.'

My fingers trembled as I unlocked my phone. Victor's message was still there.

I took a deep breath and slowly typed.

Serena: I didn't receive it. But now… I want to see you.