Baby Dream Blocked, Ring Tossed

His lame excuse just made me feel hollow.

Afraid I'd be hurt? Then why cheat?

Worried about my feelings? Then why shove birth control down my throat?

What a joke. Joshua Merck—the guy's got zero shame.

I let out a bitter laugh, watching guilt squirm across his face.

Seeing the guilt and unease on his face, I couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh. "For years, I barely slept—stressed out, hair falling out in clumps—losing my mind over not having a baby. Do you have any idea what that did to me?

"And you? You fed me birth control like it was nothing. Those hormones destroyed me—I can never have a baby now! You RIPPED AWAY my chance to be a mom just so SHIRLEY could have your kid. You're a MONSTER, Joshua."

My heart tightened, and tears wouldn't stop streaming down my face. When the doctor told me the truth, it felt like my whole world shattered. Joshua crushed my dream of having a daughter.

I hated him.

I never wanted to see him again.

I spun around and headed to the bedroom. As soon as I sat on the bed, my phone buzzed.

Sean.

[Nadia, why aren't you answering me?]

[If you don't want to see the northern lights, we can pick a different place.]

Sean—my childhood sweetheart. He moved abroad after college, and my parents didn't want us together.

Over the years, he'd sent me a ton of messages. Invites to go surfing, hike mountain valleys, watch the sunrise over the desert...

So many chances—none of which I ever took.

Even that one message asking to get back together.

But no matter how much I ghosted him, Sean never gave up. He kept sharing bits of his life like I was still part of it. My chat app was packed with his unread messages.

I couldn't bring myself to look—couldn't reply.

Because I was someone else's wife.

I'd stuck to my morals while Joshua crushed my dignity and wrecked my body without a second thought.

My sacrifice? Just pain.

I broke down, crying hard enough to feel hollow by the end of it. After what felt like forever, I took a deep breath and finally opened Sean's chat, scrolling through everything I'd missed.

[Nadia, I graduated today!! Got my Ph.D.! Wish you were here to celebrate with me.]

[Hey, I found this shop with your favorite vanilla cake!]

[Nadia, did you get the gift I sent?]

[I miss you. A lot.]

His words hit me like a dagger to the heart—regret and longing tangled up in one tight knot.

My phone buzzed again. I glanced at the screen—Joshua had just sent me three million.

A message popped up right after:

[Honey, I know I was wrong. This three million is my way of apologizing—please don't be mad at me.]

I let out a bitter laugh. Seriously? Three million?

Did he really think that was enough to buy my forgiveness? To make up for the way he wrecked my life and my health?

Pathetic.

I was done sacrificing for him. From now on, I was living for myself.

I opened Sean's chat and typed:

[After watching the northern lights, I still want to see penguins in Antarctica.]