Chapter 4: She's PregnantThe Child Between Us

Henry's eyes flitted over to my belly as he said warmly, "And you're two months along."

I froze, my eyes filled with disbelief as I stared at Henry. I'd begged and prayed for years to have a child of my own. I'd even gone overseas for better treatment just to up my chances. Everyone knew how desperate I was to have a family.

Henry was part of that group, and he would never joke about my pregnancy. After the IVF treatments nearly destroyed my body, the doctor told me pregnancy would be difficult for me. As time passed, Tim began to care less and less about my desire to start a family.

I'd hoped for a baby for six whole years. Yet, it came at the most inopportune moment. Tears spilled from my eyes, and my voice came out raspy. I mocked myself, "Is that supposed to be good news?"

"At least you have one more family to call your own now." Henry held my hand tightly. His eyes spoke of encouragement.

He was a child born out of wedlock and grew up with that label. After his mother's death, he was taken to the group house. Tim scoffed at him because of his background and forbade anyone from playing with him.

However, I thought Henry was a good person. We both lost our mothers, and I would always share my snacks with him behind everyone's back. Eventually, he became my lackey.

Family meant more to us than anyone else. My hands rested on my belly, and I could feel the tiny flicker of life moving inside. This wasn't just Tim's baby; it was mine too.

I was filled with excitement. So, I looked up and said happily, "You're right. It's great news! I need to tell Dad. Come on, give me a phone!"

Henry didn't look happy at all. In fact, his eyes were now filled with sorrow.

"Come on, give me a phone."

Henry didn't move. He only stared at me for the longest moment. Then, he squeezed my hand as a frown appeared on his lips. "Mr. Smith passed away yesterday."

The news hit me like thunder. It split my soul in half, and my body went stiff as a corpse.

It was a comfortable temperature where I was, yet now the air itself felt biting. I felt as though my whole body was freezing from the inside out, making me shiver violently. It was so cold that even my teeth began to chatter uncontrollably.

So, I desperately pulled my blanket closer, tighter. Alas, not a single sliver of warmth stayed under my self-imposed swaddle.

My father was the only family I had. He was the only one I had for my whole life.

Something ugly welled within me. I shoved Henry away like a maniac and accused him of making up stories. I was so deep in denial and rage that I grabbed my pillow and hurled it in his face, screaming at him to leave.

My breath came in short pants. I tried to inhale deeply, but I began to hyperventilate and fall back to the bed. Henry called for a doctor, and they managed to resuscitate me until I could breathe on my own again, slowly.

Henry was in front of my bed, his face dark and stormy. Still, a smile curled his lips when he noticed I'd regained consciousness. He wiped the tears off my face and comforted me. "Just respiratory alkalosis, it's alright."

"My father was healthy. Why did he…"

A conflicted look filled Henry's face. He told me to get some rest and let him handle the rest. I yanked the IV needle out and struggled to get out of bed. "If you're not answering, then I'll get the answers myself!"

Zoe moved into the Brook Residence after she returned to the country, and everyone made a huge fuss about it.

Everyone and their mother talked about how Tim's true love had finally come home, while the bargain-snagging wife that was me had to scurry away like a rat.

My dad went and demanded an explanation, but he somehow fell down the stairs and had a brain hemorrhage. The doctors failed to save him.

Tears slid down my cheeks as I sobbed silently, splashing against the ground. My hatred surged in my heart like a vengeance. My eyes were glued to the tear stains on the ground. Something metallic was surging up my throat, but I choked it back down.

When I spoke, my voice was deathly calm. "Where is it? The thing that'll take Tim Brook down?"

I remembered Henry holding me in his arms after I lost consciousness that day. As he rushed me to the hospital, he babbled how he'd gotten some very interesting evidence in a way a child would ask for praise.

As I snapped back to the present, I saw Henry pulling out a stack of documents from a drawer. My eyes scanned through them quickly. A malicious smile curled my lips, while the gaze in my eyes turned colder with every passing moment.

The TV was showing Zoe's welcoming event. They were in the hall, and Tim was holding her hand. Cece was standing next to them, and they looked like a perfect family. To me, they were a perfect eyesore.

The emcee loudly announced Zoe's success in curing the girl's aphasia. Tim wanted to hold a ceremony right away and have Cece call Zoe her godmother.

I ripped the IV needle off my hand once again and pushed my already weakened body off the hospital bed. Then, I hissed with the remaining strength I had left, "We're going there. Right now. There's no reason for the legal mother to be absent at such an audacious kind of event."