Unlovable Beyond Smoke

The neon lights along the street made Alicia’s eyes ache. Matteo did not seem to hear her. He lowered his head slightly. “What did you just say?”

Before Alicia could repeat it, his phone rang.

He looked at the screen, and his face immediately darkened. His grip on her bag loosened.

In the next second, he composed himself. He gave her an almost perfect apologetic smile. “Something came up at the port. I have to go now. Tonight is off the table. I’ll make it up to you another day.”

With that, he got into the car and left. He did not give any extra explanation.

But Alicia saw it clearly.

She had seen the name on his phone. It had been far too intimate to be a random person. The called ID was “Babe.”

She stood where she was. She suddenly felt the necklace was as heavy as a chain around her neck.

Ten minutes later, she drove to the hotel herself.

The suite at the end of the corridor was not fully closed.

Warm yellow light filtered through the gap in the door. It was like a provocative and humiliating invitation to her.

Alicia stopped outside the door. She did not push it open.

She heard Sophia’s voice. She sounded like she was smiling. “Why’re you in such a hurry today? Didn’t you say you were going to be with your wife?”

Matteo said something in a low voice. It was too soft to hear clearly.

Then, she heard the rustle of fabric. Then a woman’s breath. It was drawn out on purpose. Then, she heard the soft sound of high heels falling onto the carpet.

She heard Sophia asking, “So, what is it? You can’t bear to leave, or you just don’t want to?”

This time, Matteo said clearly, “Don’t ask pointless questions at a time like this.”

Sophia seemed pleased. She laughed even more sweetly. “Then, I’ll ask something else. When you hold me now, do you still think of her?”

The room fell quiet for a moment. Then, the man said carelessly, “No.”

The word was like a red-hot knife. It drove straight into Alicia’s heart and twisted again and again. The pain made her whole body seize. She almost lost her balance.

She knew this already. But what she saw and heard with her own eyes and ears hit far harder than she had imagined.

Her whole body turned numb. It felt as if her blood was frozen.

She took a deep breath. She could not stay there any longer. She turned and stumbled away. She almost ran from the place.

Alicia got back into the car. She started the engine and slammed the accelerator.

The sports car surged forward like a wild horse. It raced through the night.

The scenery outside the window rushed past as streaks of color.

Memories flashed through Alicia’s mind. She could not stop them.

She saw Matteo’s burning gaze when he chased her. She saw him drop to one knee when he proposed. She heard the vows he made at their wedding. She remembered the countless times he whispered sweet nothings in her ear.

Before she knew it, her vision blurred with tears.

She did not even notice the intersection ahead.

By the time she realized it, it was too late.

A sharp screech of brakes cut through the air.

Alicia jerked the steering wheel. She turned it all the way. The car went out of control and crashed into the roadside barrier.

Bang!

After the violent impact, everything went dark.

…

Alicia regained consciousness in the hospital.

She slowly opened her eyes. Jenna was by her bed.

“Alicia, you’re finally awake!” Jenna was teary-eyed. “The nurse called Mr. Vitale many times, but no one answered… That’s why I came.”

Alicia’s voice caught in her throat. She did not even have the strength to laugh at herself.

Matteo did not answer the phone.

What important matter could he be busy with? He was with Sophia, of course. He had no time for anything else.

“But there’s good news,” Jenna said. She let out a breath. She sounded relieved. “The baby is healthy. There’s no serious problem at all.”

The baby?

Alicia froze. Her hand moved to her belly.

She was pregnant!