Chapter 7: The Empty House

I spent the night at my sister's apartment.

For the first time in seven years, I fell asleep without waiting for Callum to come home.

There was no phone call.

No message asking whether I had eaten.

No familiar footsteps outside the bedroom door.

Strangely, the silence didn't hurt.

It felt peaceful.

***

The next morning, my sister found me sitting by the window with a cup of tea.

"Did you sleep?"

"A little."

"Are you sure you're okay?"

I looked down at my hands.

"I'm not okay yet."

"But I'm going to be."

She didn't push me for anything more.

She simply sat beside me.

That was enough.

***

Across town, Callum hadn't slept at all.

He had spent most of the night sitting alone in the living room.

Brielle had taken Poppy upstairs after noticing how pale he looked.

"Callum, you should rest," she said softly.

"You've been working nonstop."

He didn't answer.

His eyes remained fixed on the empty hallway.

The house had never felt this large before.

Every room reminded him of me.

The kitchen where I used to prepare his breakfast.

The couch where I would wait for him after work.

The nursery I had spent months decorating.

Now, it was nothing but an empty room.

Brielle approached him carefully.

"Maren will calm down eventually."

Callum finally looked at her.

"Don't talk about her like that."

Brielle froze.

"I didn't mean anything by it."

"I know."

He rubbed his tired eyes.

"But she isn't throwing a tantrum."

His voice was quiet.

"She's really gone."

***

Later that morning, Callum opened the drawer beside his bed.

Inside was an old photograph.

It showed two teenagers standing beneath a tree, smiling at the camera.

I was holding a pink umbrella.

Callum was standing beside me, looking annoyed because I had forced him to take the picture.

He stared at it for a long time.

Then he remembered something I had said years ago.

"I'll always be here, Callum."

He had believed those words were permanent.

He had mistaken my love for a promise that I could never break.

Now he finally understood.

Love wasn't permission to hurt someone endlessly.

And seven years didn't mean seven more years were guaranteed.

***

His phone suddenly rang.

It was the hospital.

Callum immediately answered.

"Dr. Merrick, we need to discuss Poppy's follow-up treatment."

"I'll be there."

He hung up.

Brielle walked into the room with Poppy beside her.

"Callum, we're ready."

He nodded.

But as he picked up his coat, his eyes fell on the empty space where my suitcase used to sit.

For the first time, something inside him cracked.

"Maren..."

He whispered my name so quietly that neither of them heard it.

***

At the hospital, Callum went through Poppy's records.

The doctors explained that she would need regular monitoring.

They also warned him that her condition was complicated and future transfusions could become difficult.

Callum listened carefully.

Then one sentence made him go completely still.

"The blood she received was from Maren Ellis, correct?"

"Yes," the doctor replied.

"Her stored blood was a rare match."

Callum lowered his gaze.

"I see."

The doctor continued reviewing the file.

"There is something else you should know."

Callum looked up.

"What?"

"Because of Ms. Ellis's rare blood condition and recent pregnancy loss, her own medical situation requires careful follow-up."

Callum's fingers tightened around the folder.

"How serious is it?"

"Serious enough that she should not be under unnecessary stress or left without proper medical support."

His face changed.

Suddenly, every conversation we'd had replayed in his mind.

"You're perfectly healthy right now."

"Don't make a scene."

"Stop acting like such a victim."

He had said those words while knowing exactly how vulnerable I was.

Callum slowly closed his eyes.

For the first time, guilt hit him with its full weight.

***

Meanwhile, I sat in my sister's apartment and opened my laptop.

The wedding planner's email was still sitting in my inbox.

Venue confirmation.

Guest list.

Final dress fitting.

Honeymoon reservation.

A future that had once seemed certain.

I selected every email.

Then I deleted them.

One by one, the plans disappeared.

I wasn't erasing my life.

I was making room for a new one.

Then my lawyer called.

"Maren, I received something from Callum's attorney."

I frowned.

"What is it?"

"He wants to meet you."

I leaned back in my chair.

"No."

"I thought you'd say that."

There was a brief pause.

"But there's something else."

"What?"

"Callum is requesting a private meeting because he says he has something important to tell you."

I stared out the window.

Once, hearing that would have made my heart race.

Now, I felt nothing.

"Tell him he can say it through his lawyer."

I ended the call.

I thought that was the end of it.

Then my sister walked into the room holding my phone.

Her expression was strange.

"Maren... you need to see this."

She turned the screen toward me.

A hospital statement had just been posted online.

And beneath it was Callum's name.

For the first time, I wondered what he was planning to do next.