He Mocked My Birth, I Married a New Man

Chapter 2

The villa looked dimly lit when I got home, and the air was thick with the smell of disinfectant.

Donovan had an obsessive need for cleanliness, something that only grew more intense after he went into medicine. He didn't like anyone else coming into the house, so most days, I was the one who scrubbed the entire villa down with disinfectant.

When I walked in, he was leaning against the bar, drinking water. He glanced over at the sound of the door and complained, "Where have you been?"

For seven years, he didn't like me bringing up anything about Gideon, who lost the life for saving him. I didn't want to clash with him, so I let the subject slide. "I went to get pit-roasted chicken. The meal was good, so I lost track of time."

He went quiet. Truth was, he knew nothing about my tastes at all. I used to despise pit-roasted chicken, and just the smell of it used to make me sick. It only became my favorite after Gideon died.

It reminded me of Gideon.

The whole villa sank into a deathly silence, the kind that had become all too familiar over my four years living with Donovan. Most of the time, we had nothing in common, nothing to share in our daily routines.

But what I'd overheard earlier was still ringing in my ears. I called out to him to have the last trial. "We were supposed to get the marriage license tomorrow. Are you going to postpone it again?"

Donovan paused on the stairs, turned back to stare at me, as if trying to read something in my eyes.

He probably remembered that every single time the appointment had been pushed back before, it was him who'd had his mother break the news to me, always on the day itself. I had never once been the one to bring it up.

His grip on the handrail tightened. He seemed to struggle to get the words out. "I have to go to Huntington tomorrow to have the training session at the hospital."

The air froze between us for a moment, thick with awkwardness. Then he added, "It was last-minute."

This was the eighth time Donovan had postponed getting the license.

"Alright then." I swallowed hard and answered as casually as I could manage. I was too tired to say anything more.

Donovan didn't expect me to accept it so easily. He stood there for a moment before finally heading upstairs.

Perhaps it was that I finally made up my mind to make this decision. This time, when I learned about yet another delay, I didn't lie awake the whole night like I used to.

The sleep wasn't deep, if I'm honest. But it recharged me enough.

Donovan's things had always been off-limits, so I'd never helped him pack. I got up early as usual, planning to see him off at the door.

But the first person I saw wasn't him. It was his classmate at the same medical college, the girl from next door. Sarah.

She was the only person besides his parents who was ever allowed inside the villa. The moment she saw me, she rushed over and wrapped me in a hug.

"Serephina! Oh my god, I've been so exhausted since starting work, I haven't had a second to come see you. I've missed you so much!"

Then her eyes landed on my forehead. "Hey, what happened to your head?"

What a joke. Donovan hadn't noticed the wound at all, but Sarah spotted it in a single glance. A trace of bitterness flickered through me. I quickly changed the subject and gave her a reassuring pat. "What brings you here?"

The one who answered wasn't Sarah. It was Donovan, coming down the stairs. "She's riding with me to the airport."

Donovan never let anyone hitch a ride. But Sarah was always the exception.

I hid the disappointment in my eyes where no one could see it. I invited Sarah to join us for breakfast. All through the meal, she did most of the talking, with Donovan chiming in now and then. The smile on his face in those moments seemed brighter than anything I'd seen from him in two years.

Something twisted inside me. My heart ached fiercely.

While I was lost in thought, Sarah finished eating and set down her fork. Donovan stood up at once and started for the door. I hurried after him, and at the threshold, the words slipped out before I could stop myself. I called his name.

Donovan took a glance at his watch, and snapped, "Don't waste my time and speak." Displeasure filled in his eyes.

It was nothing like the way he'd treated Sarah just moments ago. He'd shown no impatience while she took her time eating.

His sudden shift in tone startled me, leaving my mind blank. Sarah noticed and poked Donovan from behind. It was an intimate gesture, no doubt. And then, Donovan's expression softened immediately. I pretended not to see it, forced a smile, and turned away.

"Have a good training session, and…"

"See you the other day." Donovan cut in.

See me the other day?

Tomorrow I'll go to the Hayes estate and break off the engagement. After that, I doubt we'll ever have the chance to meet again.

I thought to myself.

Donovan frowned, as if he wanted to say something, but the words seemed to catch in his throat. He glanced at the wound on my forehead, then turned and took Sarah's luggage instead.

Sarah leaned in close and whispered that Donovan was just being his usual awkward self. "Don't take it to heart."

I smiled and stayed quiet, urging her to catch up with him.

As I watched the two of them walk off, nearly pressed together, I couldn't help but drift back to the days right after I'd first gotten engaged to that man.