Chapter 3

Viola's POV

Joshua mistook my silence as confirmation. "I mean, what did I even do? So I didn't take care of you when you were sick because I went to be there for Lynnie after her breakup. So I bought the wrong medicine and got you menstrual pain medication instead of fever reducers.

"I already apologized! What more do you want me and Lynnie to do?"

My grip tightened around my glass of water. I stared at Joshua, who was acting as if he'd done nothing wrong. "So, you knew."

He knew I was ill. He knew he had bought the wrong medication.

There was no misunderstanding, no concern, only annoyance and blame because I dared to be upset.

Apparently, I was supposed to be understanding enough to give up my boyfriend while I was sick so he could be there for his heartbroken childhood sweetheart. I also shouldn't have pointed out that he had bought the wrong medicine.

Joshua needed a girlfriend who was magnanimous enough to accept everything between him and Lynn. Unfortunately, I couldn't be that person.

…

That night, Lynn still slept in the guest bedroom.

After washing up, I locked the door to the master bedroom.

Realizing he couldn't get in, Joshua texted me, demanding, "Are you trying to tell me you want us to sleep in separate rooms?"

While browsing house listings, I slowly replied. "I have a cold. I don't want you to catch it. I couldn't care less if you sleep on the couch or in the guest room."

Joshua replied almost immediately. "You're shamelessly taking advantage of my feelings for you, Viola. You know I like you, so you think you can do whatever you want!"

Joshua's affection for me only existed in his words. His love for Lynn, however, was something he couldn't hide even if he tried.

Like and love weren't on the same level. Much like Lynn and me. She was always more important than I was in his heart.

That was why, time and time again, he chose her over me.

…

Early the next morning, I went to the hospital for the blood test the doctor had ordered. Fortunately, the results came back clear. The infection hadn't progressed into pneumonia.

I was about to leave when the doctor stopped me. Looking at my blood test results with a grave expression, he asked, "Are your periods usually regular?"

I shook my head. Then, the realization hit me like a ton of bricks.

My mouth went dry, and my heart began to hammer against my ribs. Joshua and I had done it once… two months ago, on my birthday.

The doctor pointed to a specific value on my report. "This level indicates pregnancy. I suggest you head over to OB-GYN for a proper examination. If you really are pregnant, I wouldn't recommend keeping it. The medication you've been taking could have harmful effects on the embryo."

Heart heavy, I followed his instructions and went to the OB-GYN. The moment I received the pregnancy test report, the heart—which I had long thought was numb—still throbbed with a dull ache.

After speaking with the gynecologist, she gave me the same recommendation as the previous doctor. I shouldn't go through with the pregnancy.

I unlocked my phone and stared at Joshua's contact at the top of my chat list. His profile picture was no longer that familiar beam of moonlight he'd used for five years. Now, it was the koala from Lynn's nine-photo collage post, and it was silently mocking my thoughts.

I obtained a surgical consent form for an abortion from the nurse's station. While I was waiting in line to pay the fees, Joshua walked past me with Lynn. "Viola, what are you doing at the hospital?"

Without looking up, I responded half-heartedly, "I haven't recovered from my last cold."

Joshua didn't think much of it. "It's just a minor cold. Why are you making such a big deal out of it? I can't believe you'd come to the hospital for a checkup."

Looking at Lynn, who was leaning weakly in his arms, I immediately understood why he was here.

Lynn forced a smile. "Don't get the wrong idea, Viola. Josh is just accompanying me to see a doctor for my period cramps."

He looked a little distressed. "You've had this issue for ten years, and it still hasn't gotten any better. I swear, these doctors are useless!"

The nurse called out a number, and it happened to be my turn. I handed her the form and walked into the operating room right in front of Joshua.

Yet, he didn't even notice. His head was lowered as his hand rested on Lynn's stomach. He looked anxious and concerned, and he didn't spare me a single glance.

The procedure was over in the blink of an eye, leaving behind nothing but a cold, stinging pain in my abdomen. In a mere 30 minutes, the gift that had briefly appeared in my life vanished.

My phone chimed with a notification from the airline, confirming my itinerary. My ticket to Frostheim had been issued. I locked my phone and left the hospital.

Gale-force winds whipped torrential rain across the streets, making it nearly impossible to hail a cab. As I took shelter at the bus stop, a Maybach zoomed past, flashing right in front of my eyes. Even though it was only for a brief moment, Joshua's and Lynn's faces still appeared in my line of sight.