The Day He Proposed, the Day He Picked Her Up, the Day I Threw Away the Baby Chapter 04

The Day He Proposed, the Day He Picked Her Up, the Day I Threw Away the Baby Chapter 04

I’d already requested the day off before I cried myself to sleep last night.

Today, I went to the hospital.

The doctor didn’t even look up, just kept typing as she asked, “Married or unmarried?”

Something twisted painfully in my chest.

I opened my mouth, my voice hoarse, “Unmarried…”

The doctor continued in the same flat tone.

“Do you want to keep the baby?”

I didn’t hesitate. “No.”

But when I signed my name, my hand wouldn’t stop shaking.

The procedure was scheduled for three days later.

I planned to move out.

I was staring at Garrett’s chat window, typing and deleting messages, when his call suddenly came through first.

His tone was softer than before. “Have you eaten?”

“Yeah.”

“Something urgent came up at work. I have to go out of town for a few days.”

“Call me if you need anything.”

“Okay.” I was about to hang up when he suddenly stopped me.

“Wait. About yesterday… I want to apologize.”

I gave a quiet hum in response and ended the call.

After I got home, I started packing.

I didn’t have much. Two suitcases was all it took.

Not being legally married really did make things easier. Didn’t even need to file for divorce.

Then I froze for a second.

Was this even a breakup? Had we ever truly been together? What was I to him, exactly?

Whatever. I was already leaving. No point dwelling on it now.

I didn’t know how to explain things to my family, so I rented a small apartment for the time being and didn’t tell anyone.

That night, Garrett sent me photos from his hotel along with the city skyline outside the window, like his usual check-ins.

This time, I didn’t reply.

In the middle of the night, my phone suddenly rang.

Still half-asleep, I fumbled for it and glanced at the screen.

My entire body went rigid. A chill shot down my spine, and my fingers began to tremble.

It was a photo from Tessa.

Garrett was asleep on his side. The blanket hung low on his hips, leaving his shoulders and bare chest exposed.

She didn’t send a single word with it.

After high school, she went abroad. I thought she was long gone from our lives.

But this photo told me they had never really cut ties at all.

So this was Garrett’s “business trip.”

Tears splashed onto the screen. I let out a bitter smile.

A sharp cramp twisted through my lower stomach. Cold sweat slid down my back.

Curled up on the bed, I stared at the ceiling.

From the fake marriage to him kissing me and saying, “Then take it seriously.” To the proposal. To now. Turns out, from beginning to end, I was the only one in it.

Then let it end with me.

When I woke up the next morning, there were several messages and missed calls on my phone.

All of them were from Garrett.

First, a few hotel and restaurant photos. His usual updates. Then, a picture of a necklace.

[Don’t be mad. I got you a gift.]

[What are you up to? Why aren’t you answering?]

[Pick up.]

I curled my lips into a faint smile and replied: [Let’s end this.]

Then I opened his profile and deleted him. And blocked his number.

I thought I’d fall apart completely.

I thought I’d cry until I couldn’t breathe.

But the truth was… it didn’t hurt as much as I thought it would.