When Love Descends Into Darkness

Just then, the doorbell rang. A deliveryman stood at the door with his arms full of packages for Yvette.

She barely spared me a glance as she rushed forward to tear open one box after another.

"Caleb picked out everything himself because he's worried about me being uncomfortable during pregnancy. I swear he'd bring home the whole mall if he could. This must be a freebie. My baby won't need it—why don't you take it?"

Caleb frowned. "Yvette," he warned.

But instead of looking chastised, she only pouted and wrapped herself around his arm.

"Caleb, you know how important a pregnant woman's emotions are. If you keep scolding me like this, the baby might get scared."

It was a blatant act, but Caleb fell for it. The irritation on his face vanished instantly, replaced by a flicker of concern as he reached out to touch her stomach.

As if the barely formed fetus inside her could even feel fear!

I said nothing and walked back slowly to my room.

And at that moment, the child I had longed for—the baby I had once cherished the thought of—felt like a mistake.

Caleb followed closely and shut the door behind him. His gaze was sharp as he looked down at me.

"Natalie, you know Yvette's situation. If I don't help her, she has no one. You're my wife. You should understand that. If there was anything between me and Yvette, you and I wouldn't be married right now."

I remembered the day Yvette had found out she was pregnant. She had run straight to Caleb, shaking in his arms, looking fragile.

Caleb had softened instantly and murmured reassurances, telling her everything would be okay.

Then, her parents, Patricia Fletcher and Albert Grant, had arrived—furiously shouting shouting, ready to beat the shame out of her.

Yvette was terrified. She had buried herself deeper in Caleb's arms, trembling so violently that it had seemed like she might shatter.

The Grant family had a spotless reputation and a strict moral code. Something like this was entirely unacceptable.

So Yvette, in her fear, had pinned the responsibility for the baby on Caleb. And to protect her, he had admitted to being the baby's father.

"Natalie, all that matters is that I know the child you're carrying is mine. What other people think doesn't matter."

Something inside me cracked, but I still asked the question that had been clawing at my throat.

"Why can't she get rid of it?"

"Yvette wants to keep the baby. You and I are having a baby, too. But she's afraid people will call hers an Illegitimate child, so…"

"So now her child is legitimate, and ours is the fatherless kid. Is that it?" I wasn't crying anymore. I just stared at him with a mocking smile.

Caleb's jaw tightened. A storm brewed in his eyes.

"No matter what anyone says, this is still my child. And you are my wife—that will never change. Natalie, can't you be more understanding?

"Yvie is sweet and innocent. She shouldn't have to suffer because of rumors," Caleb said.

That was when it hit me. She was too fragile to suffer, but it was perfectly fine if I did.