The Delivery I Scheduled, The Love I Ended Chapter 04

The Delivery I Scheduled, The Love I Ended Chapter 04

My mother went home to bring clean clothes.

I lay alone in the hospital bed.

My screen lit with the marital settlement agreement from Attorney Claire Dawson.

I reviewed it, confirmed every term, and thanked her.

Outside, daylight slowly faded.

Ethan requested a video call.

After a moment, I answered.

He sat in a dim upscale restaurant wearing a perfectly tailored suit.

“Why is it so dark? Aren’t you home?”

I pointed the camera toward the white ceiling.

“I’m in the bedroom, about to sleep.”

The hospital ceiling was plain enough that he accepted the lie without looking closely.

“Already?”

Ethan smiled.

“Serena and I finished negotiating a major project, so we’re celebrating.”

He turned the camera toward escargot, beef Wellington, and two glasses of wine.

“This French place is excellent. I’ll bring you next time.”

The table had been set for two, and the wine had already been poured.

Serena appeared at the edge of the screen.

“Mr. Vance, Mallory can’t eat raw seafood while she’s pregnant.”

Ethan touched his forehead.

“Right. I forgot.”

“I’ll bring you after the baby is born.”

The tenderness in his eyes looked absurd.

“Ethan.”

“Yes?”

“Did you change the spouse and emergency-contact record at work?”

His smile disappeared.

“Why are we discussing that again?”

“I told you I didn’t want employees disturbing your rest.”

“I understand.”

My voice remained flat.

“Stop obsessing over small things.”

“I’ll make time to attend your prenatal appointment tomorrow.”

He made the offer sound like a gift.

During six months of pregnancy, he had rarely rearranged his schedule for me, but he expected gratitude for offering once.

“No.”

The appointment he believed I should attend no longer existed. By the following morning, there would be no pregnancy left to examine.

“Your pregnancy is advanced. It isn’t safe to go alone.”

“I have something else to do.”

His irritation returned.

“What could you possibly have to do?”

“You stay home all day.”

“If you don’t need me, Serena has a follow-up appointment for her stomach tomorrow.”

“I’ll take her.”

Even while pretending to worry about my safety, he needed only one refusal before choosing Serena again.

“Fine.”

My immediate agreement surprised him.

He was accustomed to hearing me protest whenever he chose Serena, and my lack of resistance unsettled him.

He studied the screen as though searching for sarcasm.

“You’re truly not angry?”

“No.”

“Good. Sleep early and don’t overthink.”

The call ended.

The door opened.

The doctor and nurse entered with a tray.

“Mallory, it’s time to prepare for the procedure.”

The video call had ended with Ethan celebrating beside Serena. Mine ended with hospital staff waiting to take me into surgery.