"Doctor, I don't want this baby."
Autumn Caldwell glanced at the test report on the desk, her brows knitting tight.
"You need to think this through carefully. Your uterine wall is unusually thin. If you terminate this pregnancy, there's a very real chance you may never be able to have children again. And..." The doctor looked at Autumn's pale face with quiet seriousness, then tapped the ultrasound sheet with one finger. "It shows two embryos."
"Two?" Autumn froze for a second. A flash of fear crossed her face. She stood up too fast, fingers turning cold, and lowered her head as she said, a little flustered, "Then... I'll think about it a bit more."
"Mm. Talk to your boyfriend properly. For something this big, it's better not to make the decision alone." The doctor watched her reaction and had a rough idea of what was going on. She got up, walked over, and gently patted Autumn on the shoulder.
Boyfriend?
The moment she heard that word, the light in Autumn's face dimmed completely.
Her hand tightened hard around the report, so hard the paper crinkled. A sharp ache spread through her chest.
If that woman hadn't come back, this would have been huge news, the kind that could turn everything around.
But now...
"Thank you, Doctor. I'll be going first." Autumn gave a small, polite nod of thanks, then turned and hurried toward the stairwell.
"Looks like another accidental pregnancy. How many is that today? Kids these days, seriously..." The cleaning lady by the door had just seen Autumn come out of obstetrics looking totally out of it. She curled her lip and leaned over to gossip with the woman wiping down the chairs beside her.
The second Autumn stepped out of the hospital, the phone in her bag started vibrating.
She pulled it out and saw the name flashing on the screen, the one she least wanted to see right now—
Ethan Mercer.
Her lips pressed together, but in the end, she still answered.
"Where are you? I need to talk to you about something." Ethan's voice was as cold and distant as ever, not a trace of warmth in it.
"I'm out shopping." Autumn lowered her eyes to the report in her hand and lied.
"Come home right now."
He hung up the second he finished speaking.
Autumn let out a bitter little laugh. She stared at the phone held in midair, now gone black, then silently slipped it back into her pocket.
She folded the report carefully, then tucked it into the innermost pocket of her handbag like she was hiding some secret too heavy to carry in the open.
As soon as she reached the villa gate, Mr. Watson, the housekeeper, came forward to greet her.
"Young Madam."
Autumn smiled and nodded at him, but his expression looked stiff, off somehow, so she asked, "Mr. Watson, what's wrong?"
"Ma'am, please go in first. Mr. Mercer is waiting for you inside." Mr. Watson smoothly sidestepped everything, as usual, and reached out, wanting to take Autumn Caldwell's handbag.
Autumn quickly pulled the bag behind her back. "It's fine. I've got it." Then she headed inside on her own.
She had barely taken two steps when a familiar laugh drifted over from the living room. Autumn stopped cold.
That fast?
She had only gotten the news this morning that Serena Voss was back in the country.
"Autumn, you're back." Serena rose gracefully, smiling like nothing was wrong as she greeted her. "Ethan just mentioned you were coming. Wait a sec, I'll go get him."
With that, she turned and walked toward the kitchen.
Autumn's eyes followed her instinctively.
In the kitchen, Ethan Mercer had his head lowered, washing grapes at the sink. He was still wearing his office clothes, a white dress shirt and black slacks, which made the whole scene hit even harder. The contrast was almost absurd.
Autumn's expression turned uglier by the second.
They had been married for three years. Forget washing fruit for her—Ethan had never even poured her a glass of water.
She used to think a rich young master like him, raised with people waiting on him hand and foot, probably just didn't know how to take care of anyone.
Turns out, that wasn't it at all.
He simply had never wanted to take care of her.
"Ethan, Autumn's here. Let's go over." Serena's voice was soft and gentle, light as a feather.
Autumn stood by the doorway, her body stiffening for a second.
What Serena had said was, "Autumn's here."
Not, "Autumn's home."
Heh.
Autumn laughed at herself in silence, then walked over to the sofa.
Ethan had already sat down, setting the fruit on the glass coffee table along the way.
Serena smoothed the hem of her white dress, then naturally took the seat right beside him, like that spot had always been hers.
Autumn's gaze dimmed. She sat on the sofa across from them and placed her bag next to her.
"Autumn, have some grapes," Serena said, holding one out to her with a warm smile. "They're really sweet."
"Thanks, but I don't like grapes." Autumn declined politely.
Only then did Ethan lift his head and glance at her, casual on the surface, but not really.
Feeling that measuring look land on her, Autumn met his eyes calmly. Open, steady, unreadable. Not a flicker of emotion showed on her face.
"Ethan, here." Serena leaned in slightly and raised a grape to his lips.
Ethan didn't hesitate. He opened his mouth and bit into it.
"Autumn, Ethan and I both love grapes. Too bad you don’t." Serena Voss smiled and settled back into her seat.
Autumn Caldwell’s head was still ringing with the doctor’s words, so she barely noticed what Serena was doing. In her daze, she only caught the last sentence and looked up, confused. "What did you just say? What’s too bad that I don’t like?"
"It’s nothing important. I asked you to come back because Serena just returned to the country. Her family is overseas, and her house is still being renovated, so she has nowhere to stay for now. She’ll stay at our place for a month first." Ethan Mercer frowned, clearly annoyed by Autumn’s distraction. His tone turned cold and impatient.
Autumn’s gaze swept over Serena and Ethan. Sitting side by side like that, the two of them looked more like the people who belonged here, while she was the outsider. She paused for a second, then forced herself to speak. "Actually, Miss Voss could stay at a hotel. If she stays here, I’m worried it might be a little inconvenient..."
"There’s nothing inconvenient about it. It’s settled." Ethan cut her off without leaving her any room to continue. He stood up, smoothed the wrinkles from his shirt, then turned and walked toward the staircase. "Serena, I’ll show you your room."
"Sorry, Autumn. I’m only borrowing the place for one month. Once the renovation is done, I’ll move out right away." Serena rose gracefully, a faint smile curling at the corner of her lips. She glanced down at the slightly stunned Autumn with quiet superiority, then followed Ethan upstairs.
"Young Madam..." Mrs. Langford looked at Autumn helplessly, completely at a loss for what to say.
"Mrs. Langford, have you ever seen Ethan wash fruit for someone?" Autumn tugged at her lips into an ugly, brittle smile and asked in a low, self-mocking voice.
"Uh, Young Madam, don’t overthink it. Young Master, he..." Mrs. Langford looked at Autumn’s pale face and let out a quiet sigh. She had seen it once before, three years ago. Back then, Young Master had washed fruit for Miss Voss too. But she didn’t dare say it. If she did, Autumn would probably look even worse. After the marriage, Autumn had cared for Ethan with wholehearted devotion. Everyone in the house had seen it. But Ethan had always stayed distant, icy as ever. And now... sigh, things would only get harder.
"Mrs. Langford, that’s enough. I’m going back to my room first." Autumn drew in a deep breath. The last trace of color had drained from her face. She got up and walked toward the stairs.
When she passed the second floor, she heard Ethan’s voice.
"Serena, you’re finally back."
Autumn’s body swayed for a moment. Her chest tightened so hard it almost hurt to breathe. She quickened her steps and headed for the third floor, afraid that if she stayed even one second longer, she would hear something else that would cut even deeper.