Chapter 3: Meredith Returns

The following morning, Madeline woke before sunrise.

She sat quietly beside the window, one hand resting over her stomach.

The previous night's events kept returning to her mind.

Jeremy had taken her to the hospital.

He had waited until the doctor confirmed that she was safe.

He had even looked at the ultrasound image.

It wasn't love.

She knew that.

But perhaps it was the beginning of something else.

Hope.

Madeline immediately warned herself not to get carried away.

She had loved Jeremy for twelve years.

She knew how easily hope could turn into disappointment.

By the time she went downstairs, Jeremy had already left for work.

A note was resting beside her breakfast.

"Don't skip meals."

Madeline stared at the handwriting.

The message was short.

Almost cold.

But she still smiled.

"Thank you," she whispered.

She had no idea Jeremy had written those four words after standing in the kitchen for nearly ten minutes, wondering whether they sounded too concerned.

At Whitman Corporation, Jeremy sat through a morning meeting without concentrating.

His executives discussed a major merger.

Numbers appeared on the large screen.

Contracts were reviewed.

But all Jeremy could think about was the ultrasound image.

That tiny shape.

His child.

He leaned back in his chair.

"Mr. Whitman?"

His assistant repeated the question.

"Yes?"

"Should we postpone the afternoon meeting?"

"No."

"Continue."

He forced his attention back to business.

This was ridiculous.

He shouldn't be thinking about Madeline.

He certainly shouldn't be thinking about the child.

His heart belonged to Meredith.

At least, that was what he had always believed.

Around noon, his phone rang.

The caller was Meredith.

Jeremy answered immediately.

"Meredith."

"Jeremy, are you busy?"

"Not really."

"Can you come see me?"

"Something happened?"

"I just... need you."

Jeremy stood immediately.

"I'll be there."

He ended the call.

The decision was automatic.

He always went whenever Meredith asked.

Several hours later, he arrived at the café where she was waiting.

Meredith stood as soon as she saw him.

"Jeremy."

"What's wrong?"

She smiled sadly.

"Nothing serious."

"I just missed you."

Jeremy's expression softened.

"I missed you too."

Meredith reached for his hand.

"Are you still unhappy at home?"

Jeremy's expression darkened.

"It's complicated."

"Because of Madeline?"

"Yes."

Meredith lowered her eyes.

"I don't want to come between you."

"You aren't."

"But she is your wife."

"Only legally."

Meredith looked at him carefully.

"Do you still love me?"

"Yes."

The answer came instantly.

Meredith smiled.

But something was hidden behind that smile.

"Then I can wait."

"I don't need you to wait."

"I'm going to resolve everything."

"How?"

"I'll find a way to end the marriage."

Meredith nodded.

"I trust you."

After leaving the café, Jeremy returned to the office.

He stared at his phone for several seconds.

He thought about calling Madeline.

He didn't.

That evening, Madeline received an unexpected visitor.

Meredith entered the mansion carrying a box of gifts.

"Madeline."

"I brought you something."

Madeline looked at the box.

"What is it?"

"Some things for the baby."

Madeline was surprised.

"You bought these?"

"Of course."

"I'm going to be an aunt."

Madeline carefully opened the box.

Inside were tiny clothes, a soft blanket, and a small pair of white shoes.

Everything was beautiful.

"Thank you," Madeline said sincerely.

Meredith smiled.

"Jeremy told me about the pregnancy."

Madeline's expression changed.

"He told you?"

"Only recently."

Madeline immediately understood.

Jeremy had shared the news with Meredith before he had even discussed his feelings about it with her.

The realization stung.

"I'm happy for you," Meredith continued.

"Really."

"You and Jeremy will make wonderful parents."

Madeline looked at her.

"You think so?"

"Yes."

"Although..."

Meredith hesitated.

"Although what?"

"I sometimes worry about Jeremy."

"Why?"

"He has always dreamed of having a family with someone he loves."

Madeline's fingers tightened around the blanket.

"I know."

"And he still loves you," Meredith continued softly.

Madeline looked at her in surprise.

"He doesn't."

"He told me last night that he doesn't know what to do anymore."

"He feels trapped."

Madeline's face turned pale.

It was exactly the kind of information designed to hurt her.

"Why are you telling me this?"

Meredith sighed.

"Because you're my sister."

"I don't want you to misunderstand Jeremy."

"He isn't trying to hurt you."

"He just doesn't love you."

Madeline looked down at the tiny white shoes.

The joy she had felt that morning disappeared.

"I understand."

"Good."

Meredith stood.

"I should go."

Before leaving, she gently touched Madeline's shoulder.

"Take care of yourself."

"And please don't make Jeremy feel guilty for loving someone else."

The door closed behind her.

Madeline remained standing in the living room.

For several minutes, she didn't move.

Then she picked up the tiny shoes.

Her eyes filled with tears.

"I won't," she whispered.

"I won't make him feel guilty."

That night, Jeremy returned home late.

Madeline was sitting in the living room.

She had prepared dinner.

"You're home," she said quietly.

"Yes."

He looked at the table.

"You waited?"

"I thought we could eat together."

He sat down.

For several minutes, neither spoke.

Then Madeline asked,

"Did Meredith visit today?"

Jeremy looked up.

"No."

"She came to the house."

His expression changed.

"Why?"

"She brought gifts for the baby."

Jeremy's eyes softened briefly.

"That's kind of her."

Madeline smiled faintly.

"Yes."

She looked down at her plate.

"She also told me you still love her."

Jeremy didn't deny it.

"I do."

Madeline's chest tightened.

"I know."

"And she told me you feel trapped."

"I didn't say that."

Madeline looked at him.

"Then what did you say?"

Jeremy was silent.

"Madeline, my feelings haven't changed."

"I know."

"But you're pregnant."

"I know."

"I don't want to hurt the baby."

Madeline gave a small smile.

"Then don't."

"You don't have to love me."

"Just don't hurt our child because you hate me."

Jeremy frowned.

"I don't hate the baby."

Madeline looked at him carefully.

"Good."

That was all she said.

Later that night, Jeremy found the box Meredith had brought sitting on the table.

He picked up the tiny shoes.

For some reason, he couldn't stop looking at them.

He imagined a small child wearing them.

His child.

The thought unsettled him.

He placed them back down.

Across the hallway, Madeline stood silently behind the bedroom door.

She had seen him holding them.

For the first time...

She wondered whether there was still a part of Jeremy that could love the family they had never chosen to build.

What she didn't know...

Was that Meredith had already begun planning how to make sure that possibility never existed.