But he came at the wrong time.


    If I brought him into this world, his life would never be a happy one.


    It''s better for him to leave now than to suffer with me.


    I nced at my phone, and it was filled with messages and calls from Antonio.


    "Grace! Stop pretending, okay? If you''re looking for an excuse, at least make it a good one. Stop being so pathetic!


    "You''re seriously angry over some baby stuff? I haven''t even mentioned how the cheap baby products you bought gave the baby a rash! What''s there to be upset about?"


    Even though I had already let him go in my heart, seeing those messages made my eyes sting with tears again.


    This was the man I had loved for so many years.


    And in the end, all that was left was exhaustion.


    ***


    On the fifth day in the hospital, I was discharged.


    I requested a two-week sick leave and decided to take some time away.


    I had the divorce papers drawn up, signed them, packed my things, and moved out of Antonio''s ce that night.


    As I was putting thest suitcase in the car, I heard his voice.


    Chateral


    "Grace!"


    I froze for a moment but didn''t turn around..


    I closed the car door and tried to leave.


    But Antonio wasn''t ready to let me go.


    He stormed up to me. grabbed my wrist, and his face darkened.


    "What''s this all about? You''re not answering my calls, not responding to my messages! You seriously want a divorce?"


    "You just want me toe back and apologize, don''t you? Well, I''m here now. Are you happy now? Can you stop bothering me? I''m busy, I don''t have time for your pregnancy moods!" he snapped. I pressed my lips together, calm and detached.


    But my face still carried the pale traces of my exhaustion. I looked at him.


    Antonio froze, his hand reaching up to touch my gaunt face, his eyes softening with a


    flicker of regret.


    "Why have you gotten so thin?"


    "Stop pretending." I snapped, pulling his hand away.


    I was cold, unfeeling.


    "You didn''t go to work. You didn''t


    go


    on a business trip. Do you really think I''m this stupid? Antonio, do you feel proud of tricking me for four years?"


    He stood still, his eyes full of guilt.


    He fumbled for words, but couldn''t find any.


    I smirked, staring into his eyes with disdain.


    "On New Year''s Eve. I performed a C-section. The patient was Sarah.


    "You still n to keep lying to me? That so-called business trip...


    Wasn''t it just an excuse to be


    her?"


    I took a few steps closer.


    His confused, stunned expression barely


    Sgistered as I yanked on his


    shirt, exposing the dark, familiar hickeys underneath.


    "I know everything. You disgust me.


    "I can''t believe I wasted all those years loving you. I really up."


    Only then did his gaze drop to my t stomach.


    Want to throw


    His face drained of color as his eyes slowly filled with horror.


    His voice shook as he spoke.


    "No... no, Grace, it''s not like that."


    "Your stomach... Wasn''t it five months along? Didn''t I feel the baby movest time? Where is it now?"


    I tugged at the corner of my lips, forcing back the tears in my eyes.


    Then I pped him hard across the face.


    "It''s gone."


    "You switched me to hormone pills, remember? The baby''s been deformed and died. Is that what you wanted?"


    I didn''t wait around to see Antonio''s reaction.


    I got in the car and drove off.


    The new ce was one I had bought before we got married, and aside. from a little dust, it was ready to move in.


    By evening, I was at the airport, waiting for my flight.


    My phone wouldn''t stop ringing.


    I finally answered, and Antonio''s angry voice red through.