bChapter /bb458 /b

    Jessica decided to let him have his way. Once the doctor examined her, she believed that he’d finally ept the truth.

    ‘But when will ! finally ept it myself?‘ Jessica thought, staring down at the phone pressed beneath her palm, her eyes darkened.

    Madeline had just sent her another message with a photo that must have been taken yesterday. She was sipping the milk she’d been drinkingtely, posing with Brian for amemorative photo in front of the elementary school they’d just visited.

    Jessica stared at Brian’s sharp profile in the picture, her mind wandering. ‘So that’s why you knew the school so well. You’d already been there with Madeline before. Are you really nning to do what she said and send her kid there once it’s born?‘ she thought.

    The thought made Jessica sick to her stomach. “Ugh-” She doubled over with another wave of dry heaving.

    Brian’s anxiety spiked when he saw her condition, and he pressed harder on the gas pedal. “Just hang in there a little longer. We’re almost at the hospital.”

    Jessica grabbed a wet wipe and cleaned her mouth,pletely ignoring him.

    Brian assumed she didn’t want to talk because she felt so awful, so he didn’t dare bother her further and just focused on getting to the hospital as quickly as possible.

    The moment they arrived and the car stopped, Brian scooped her up and rushed into the emergency room.

    The attending doctors saw his panic and thought Jessica had some serious illness, so they all crowded around her. After examining her thoroughly. discovered it was just ordinary morning sickness. The doctors were all speechless.

    “Doctor, how is she? Can you treat this? Her morning sickness is really severe–this time she even threw up stomach acid Brian asked franc

    But the doctor shook his head. “No, there’s currently no effective treatment for morning sickness in the medical field. Pregnant women just have los tough it out on their own.”

    “What? How can there be no solution?” Brian couldn’t ept this answer and tried to pull the doctor aside for more questions.

    Jessica had had enough of this embarrassing scene and forcefully dragged him away. “That’s enough! I told you it was just normal morning sickness and we didn’t need toe to the hospital, but you insisted. Are you satisfied now?”

    Even after being scolded, Brian showed no reaction and just kept his head down, looking defeated.

    Jessica frowned. ‘Was he really that crushed by this?‘ she wondered. She was the one suffering here, after all.

    “Hey, I’m trying to tell you-” Jessica continued, but before she could finish her sentence, Brian cut her off.

    “I’m sorry, Jessica. Maybe I really shouldn’t have gotten you pregnant. This is too hard on you.” His voice was unusually fragile, and Jessica worried that one more harsh word from her mightpletely break him.

    “Jessica, I had no idea it would be this difficult. I was being so selfish. You already gave me Jake. I should have been satisfied with that. You’re right, I don’t deserve to be a husband.” Brian continued his self–criticism.

    Jessica could see he was beingpletely sincere/He genuinely felt sorry for her pain, and he genuinely wished his past self hadn’t put her through this

    pregnancy.

    ‘But is that really possible? Isn’t he supposed to care about the baby more than anything?‘ Jessica thought.

    Her resolve began to waver again. Jessica even started to wonder if Brian’s pursuit and care for her during this time might not be just babout /bbthe /bbchild /b

    after all.

    If it was only about the baby, then he wouldn’t be regretting his decision now just because he bfelt /bsorry for her.

    1

    Did I really misunderstand him?‘ Jessica thought. The possibility made her heart tremble.

    The sudden notification sound jolted Jessica back to reality. She stared down at her phone, a bitter smile tugging at her lips.

    ‘What am I even thinking?‘ Jessica thought. ‘Of course Brian cares about the child. Madeline’s baby is still out there. Stop dreaming, Jessica

    The thought of Madeline and her child instantly chilled Jessica’s heartpletely.

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