Chapter 3The Vanishing Stocking

Vincent never mentioned Erin again.

Their chat history was strictly professional.

It was a clean break.

“Chloe, I’m up for the VP position, so things are going to be really busy for a while.”

His voice sounded distant over the phone.

Unreal.

“I transferred some money to your account. Go out, do some shopping, buy yourself something nice. Don’t put all your energy into me.”

He would come home after I was already asleep.

He would leave in the morning while I was still dreaming.

There was always breakfast he’d warmed up for me in the microwave, and my dirty clothes would be washed and hung to dry on the balcony.

Every corner of the house held a trace of Vincent.

I could see him.

But I could no longer reach him.

I could feel us drifting apart, our relationship rusting over.

If you polished away the rust, it almost looked the same as before.

But it was lighter now.

Floating. A strong gust of wind could send it tumbling away.

I was planning to take the money and leave, but then came the biggest complication of all: I was pregnant.

At first, it was just fatigue, loss of appetite, constant nausea.

I told Vincent. The next day, he brought home a bag full of pills for me to take. He didn't even give me any instructions before rushing out the door again.

It wasn't until I felt terribly sick from the medication that I went to the hospital and found out.

“We’ll have to run more tests to see if you can keep the baby,” the doctor said, her brow furrowed. “After taking so many antibiotics, there’s a risk of birth defects.”

Two nurses had to help me out of the examination room.

I spent the next six hours in the waiting area, the most agonizing six hours of my life.

The backs of my hands were covered in bruises from where I’d dug my nails in.

My eyes were wide open, streaming with tears of guilt.

I cursed myself for not realizing sooner.

For not being more careful with the medication.

For just swallowing whatever Vincent handed me without a second thought.

“For now, everything looks okay. Come back for a follow-up next month.”

I was flooded with relief. My mood lifted, and I even ate an extra bowl of rice that evening.

Vincent came home late that night.

He reeked of alcohol, his cheek was split open and bleeding, and one of his eyes was swollen shut.

“Did you get into a fight?”

He mumbled something and went straight to the bathroom.

His work phone, which he’d tossed on the bed, buzzed with a notification.

【Erin: Vincent, thank you so much for standing up for me today. Otherwise, my ex-husband would never stop harassing me.】

【Erin: I’ve been so helpless. If it weren’t for you being there for me these past few months, my son and I wouldn't have made it. Leo loves you so much. He waits every day for Daddy Vincent to come play. Vincent, please, give us a family.】

The words hammered at my nerves.

It hurt. My whole body felt like it was about to explode.

Daddy Vincent…

Then who would my child call daddy?

Give us a family.

Then what about my family?

The one thing I had longed for my entire life, a safe harbor from the storm, was gone.

Torn to shreds by Vincent’s own hands.

I bit my tongue, the pain forcing me to stay focused as I scrolled through their entire chat history.

They had never stopped talking.

They had just moved from the open to the private.

From his main account to a private one filled with friends and family, where every photo with Erin and her son was met with joyful blessings.

I had been abandoned. Again.

【Erin: I found a ring in the stocking. Is your girlfriend planning to propose? I can bring it back.】

【Vincent: No need. Just pretend you never saw it. I'm not ready to get married yet.】

I couldn’t maintain my composure any longer.

With trembling hands, I typed a reply: 【You like being the other woman that much? You can have my trash. He’s all yours.】

“Chloe, what are you doing with my phone?!”