While I Was Losing Our Baby, He Was Celebrating Her Dog’s Puppies Chapter 05

While I Was Losing Our Baby, He Was Celebrating Her Dog’s Puppies Chapter 05

I stumbled back several steps.

My right cheek burned, and a high, steady ringing filled my ears.

I looked up at Ethan, unable to believe he had really hit me.

He seemed just as shocked by what he had done.

For a moment, he simply stood there staring at me.

Then he saw Blair crying beside him.

The shock on his face quickly hardened into disappointment and disgust.

“What gives you the right to touch Blair, Erin? Because she exposed your lie? Aren’t you always saying journalists believe in facts? You actually lied about your own parents being dead. At least for the sake of the baby you’re carrying, stop saying things that cruel. Either apologize or take that filthy rag and get out. Cause any more trouble, and I’m calling the police.”

I no longer remembered how I got home.

I only remembered clutching the ruined scraps of fabric while the rain soaked me through and I shivered from the cold.

The rain washed away some of the filth, but the sweater was already beyond saving.

All that remained was a wet, dirty bundle of cloth.

It had been the last sweater my mother ever made to keep me warm through winter.

I sat in the living room until dawn.

Then I tore up the agreement I had prepared for an amicable divorce.

Ethan had been right about one thing.

A reporter’s job was to put the facts in front of the public and show the evidence.

So that was exactly what I would do.

Late that night, I felt something cool touch my cheek.

The swelling gel smelled faintly of mint as it spread across my skin.

I opened my eyes and saw Ethan holding the tube.

He looked guilty.

“Erin, does it still hurt? I’m sorry. I lost my temper today, but you shouldn’t have said those things about Blair in front of her customers. She’s single, and her business depends on her public image. What you said could destroy her reputation.”

I pushed his hand away.

“So?”

Ethan was silent for several seconds before continuing.

“Could you apologize to her publicly? Say your pregnancy hormones made you lose control and that none of it was true. The day after tomorrow is the second anniversary of Blair’s pet boutique. You know plenty of influencers, so you could give her some free publicity while you’re at it.”

At that moment, the gel smelled more disgusting to me than the litter box.

“Ethan, I’m only going to ask you this once. Are you sure?”

He lowered his eyes and avoided mine, but his answer was firm.

“Blair’s been crying nonstop. Think of this as making it up to her. And stop dragging the baby into this and making everything worse. If you agree, I promise I’ll go to every prenatal appointment from now on. I’ll make it up to you and the baby.”

I stared at him, unable to believe this was the man I had once loved.

After a long silence, I smiled.

“Fine.”

Ethan relaxed and reached for me, but his phone kept buzzing with new messages.

I did not need to look to know who they were from.

Sure enough, he went back to Blair again.

This time, I felt nothing.

A few minutes later, Blair called me.

“Erin, do you have any self-respect at all? You’re pregnant and still pretending to be helpless just to get Ethan to come home. And how did that work out for you? Oh my God, I sent one message, and he came running right back to me. If it weren’t for that baby, he would’ve left you a long time ago.”

In the past, I would have hung up.

This time, I rested a hand on my now-flat stomach and smiled.

“That’s right. You know I’m carrying his child. Ethan’s parents care more than anything about keeping the family together, and Ethan cares just as much about his public image. Let me guess. You two use protection every time you sleep together, don’t you?”

Blair went silent.

She did not deny it.

“Then you should understand that as long as I have this baby, Ethan will never divorce me for you. An affair will always be just an affair. His marriage, his house, and his child are his real life.”