The Years Between Signing and Seeing novel Chapter 4

“What?!” Stella, who had been sitting, shot up from the sofa in shock.

Suzie ignored her dramatic reaction, quickly pulling an ultrasound report from her bag and placing it on the table. “And one more thing,” she added. “I’m pregnant. Two months along.”-

“What?!” Stella shrieked again.

“Suzie, have you lost your mind?” Stella’s hand trembled as she picked up the report. “Let me… let me get this straight. You’re divorced, you’re leaving with nothing, and you’re carrying his baby. No, no, no, Suzie, you’re crazy! That bastard Jamie is even worse than I thought. He’s taking advantage of you…”

“Stella, calm down,” Suzie interrupted her gently. “He’s the one who asked for the divorce. Leaving with nothing was my choice. As for the baby… he was drunk two months ago. He probably doesn’t even remember us sleeping together.”

That night, he had been drunk, though she didn’t know how drunk. It was the only time. The first time he had kissed her, the first time they had been husband and wife. But when she woke up the next morning, he was gone. After that, he was the same cold man he’d always been, as if that night had never happened.

She remembered that when they first married, he at least slept in the same bed, in the same room, even if he didn’t touch her. But soon, he started sleeping in the guest room, the study, or just not coming home at all.

“His heart isn’t with me. Stella, you’re the closest person I have in the world. I need you to understand and support my decision.” Suzie’s voice grew calmer, as if she were discussing something trivial.

But Stella, with her fiery personality, couldn’t accept it so easily.

“Divorce? I’ve always supported that. I was against you marrying him in the first place! Look at the life you’ve lived for the past year.”

“But…” Stella still wanted to argue.

“Stella!” Suzie interrupted her again, her voice firm.

Stella froze, studying her friend’s face for a long moment. Finally, she saw the unshakable resolve in her eyes.

Sighing heavily, Stella tapped the ultrasound report. “Fine You’re the same as always. You’re usually soft-spoken, but once you decide something, nobody can talk you out of it. It was the same when you insisted on marrying him, even when I told you not to… All right, let’s not talk about it. What are your plans? Just tell me what you need me to do.”