Chapter 4: The Family He Had Already Chosen

She walked up to Callum and tugged on his hand. Asked hesitantly.

"Daddy, can I really live here?"

"Of course you can."

"Mommy said this is my home now. And that I get to be with Daddy every day. Is that true too?"

Brielle stiffened.

Callum instinctively looked at me.

I looked right back at him, waiting to see how he would answer.

Two seconds later, he avoided my gaze. He patted the girl's head affectionately.

"Yeah. This is Poppy's home from now on. Daddy will be with you every single day. And all those pretty little toys in your room will be with you, too."

I stared at him blankly for a moment.

Then I finally stood up.

I reached for the consent form on the table, but he grabbed my wrist.

Callum looked at me.

"Maren, be reasonable."

Be reasonable.

The moment those words dropped, the last shred of warmth in my chest died.

I shook him off and walked into the bedroom.

I pulled my suitcase out of the closet and started packing.

Callum followed me in and shut the door.

"Maren, stop throwing a tantrum."

"Poppy is just a kid. She hasn't recovered yet. What Brielle and I said was just—"

I cut him off and finished his sentence for him.

"I know. You were just trying to comfort her."

"If you know that, then why the long face? Why do you insist on being petty with a child?"

When those words left his mouth, a dead silence filled the room.

Callum realized he had gone too far.

He took a deep breath and reached out to hug me.

"Stop this. You're pregnant and running a fever. Don't be stubborn. I'll pay more attention to your feelings from now on."

I dodged him.

His hand froze in midair.

A soft knock came from the door.

"Callum? Poppy says she wants you to tuck her in. Could you spare a little time?" Brielle asked.

Poppy was calling for him at the door, too.

"Daddy! I want Mommy and Daddy to sleep with me, just like the other kids! Will you come stay with Poppy?"

Callum frowned.

A few seconds later, he pulled his hand back.

"You rest first. I'll be back as soon as the kid falls asleep."

Look at that.

That was him paying more attention to my feelings.

He got to the door, then suddenly remembered something.

"What was that piece of paper you were holding?"

I clenched the abortion consent form in my fist.

Then I let go.

I ripped it to shreds right in front of him and tossed it into the trash can.

"Nothing important."

Callum gave me one last look, then walked out.

My vision blurred.

I slowly slid down to the floor, utterly drained.

At this point, even disappointment felt like a waste of energy.

Halfway through packing, I sat on the edge of the bed.

Eventually, I passed out from exhaustion.

When I woke up again, it was way past time for work.

I walked out to find Callum coaxing Poppy to eat her breakfast.

Seeing me, he got up to fetch some soup from the kitchen.

"You were sleeping so soundly, I didn't want to wake you."

Poppy stared at me.

She slowly put down her utensils and whispered to him.

"Daddy, I'm done eating. Hurry up and take Mommy and me to take your wedding photos."

It felt like a needle pricked my heart.

But it didn't even hurt that much anymore.

Callum froze.

Brielle sprang up in a panic and rushed to explain.

"Maren, a storybook we read to Poppy last night had a picture of wedding photos. She thought Callum and I... She hasn't recovered yet! We just pretended we were going to take them so she wouldn't get upset..."

Hearing her words, Poppy burst into tears.

"Why are we pretending? Aren't Mommy and Daddy in love? You said last night you'd stay by my side forever..."

She cried her heart out.