Leaving in Full Bloom

I left Wildrose Estate and returned home.

Claude didn't come back until the middle of the night.

I felt him wrap his arms around me while I was half-asleep. The air was thick with an unfamiliar perfume, mingled with the scent of roses.

The smell made me nauseous, and I started feeling a dull ache in my stomach. I pressed my hands to my belly, and when Claude saw it, he moved closer, trying to rub it for me.

My tone was sharp as I slapped his hand away. "You smell awful."

His expression shifted. He lowered his head, sniffed himself, then chuckled.

"It's the roses. I've been thinking about our anniversary, so I went to the rose garden again today. I'll go take a shower."

I couldn't be bothered to expose his lie. After all, he'd said he was going to the office earlier.

When he got out of the shower, he lay down beside me. But just as I was drifting off, the sound of his phone woke me.

"Did I wake you? I've still got some work to finish. You should go back to sleep."

I turned my back to him and pretended to sleep.

After a moment, his voice came, testing the waters. "Angelina?"

I stayed silent, and he eagerly slipped out of the room.

"Are you trying to seduce me by sending me pictures like that? I'll make sure you can't get out of bed tomorrow."

After he left, I got a message from Mabel.

"Aren't you feeling old and washed-up? Claude had me all afternoon, and now he's coming back for more. We're going to try some new positions tonight.

"By the way, I got pregnant with Claude after just one night together. It's pathetic that you have to rely on cold, sterile machines and still can't conceive."

A chill spread through me. I took screenshots and saved them, then lay back down.

For the past eight years, I'd always thought I'd met Claude too late, that life was too short. But with just one week left, it suddenly felt unbearably long.

The next morning, as I stepped out of the bedroom, Claude happened to be coming in from outside. "I bought you your favorite cheesecake."

Like a child showing off, he pulled a neatly wrapped cake from behind his back.

In the past, whenever he messed up and made me mad, he'd bring me cheesecake to win me over. And in the past, I'd always softened and forgiven him, simply because I loved him.

But today, what was this sudden cheesecake for?

Because he'd spent the night with another woman and felt guilty?

I picked up a fork and ate it. I wouldn't deprive myself just to spite him.

When he saw my calm expression, he finally relaxed. "I'll be right beside you working. Take your time."

I scrolled through my phone and saw Mabel posting an update.

"He's so good to me. I casually mentioned wanting cheesecake, and my boyfriend immediately bought it for me."

The attached photo showed cheesecake from the same shop as the one in my hand.

Seconds later, a comment from Claude appeared below. "As long as you know."

Not long after, Alicia commented, too. "He has to be good to you. You're carrying his baby. Unlike someone else who can't have kids."

Claude could see this comment.

I looked up to catch his reaction, but he was smiling faintly, completely unbothered.

I let out a short laugh and blocked Alicia's number. I'd been wanting to do that for a long time.

Before breakfast was even over, Alicia called him.

Her sharp voice rang through the phone. "What's wrong with Angelina? She actually blocked me!"

Claude frowned. "Angelina, Mom wanted to bring you food that helps with fertility, but she found out that you blocked her. Is that the case?"