Chapter 4:
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Before James could speak, Lucy jumped in with exaggerated concern: “Mr. Foster is so busy with work, he’s bound to forget things sometimes. You’re Mrs. Foster now. – what more could you want?”
She was confident Emma wouldn’t reveal their signed divorce papers in public, so she kept twisting the knife.
Lucy picked through the salmon plate and tossed some wilted lettuce leaves onto Emma’s plate.
“Mrs. Foster, if you can’t eat seafood, there’s still vegetables. Or Mr. Foster can order you a salad.” She casually picked up James’s phone, unlocked it with her fingerprint, and ordered Emma a salad.
Emma’s fists clenched involuntarily.
James had always been extremely private about his personal information. In three years of marriage, Emma had never known his phone password.
Yet he’d registered Lucy’s fingerprint on his phone.
Emma looked at James, who chose to remain silent, and felt utterly disappointed. She stood up, ready to leave the restaurant.
“Emma, you…” James instinctively reached out to stop her but was met with her
forced smile.
“I wouldn’t understand your business talk anyway. I’ll head out.”
James slowly released his grip. Perhaps out of guilt, he said, “Drive carefully.”
מקובר
Emma gave a soft “Mm–hmm” and left the restaurant.
It was already ten when she got home. Emma collapsed exhausted onto the couch.
She’d been feeling tired lately, sometimes nauseous too.
She realized she might be pregnant.
In three years of marriage, Emma had always wanted a child, but it never happened.
Now that she’d decided to leave, the baby decided to come.
She ordered a pregnancy test for delivery, but James returned home first,,barely twenty minutes later.
Seeing Emma’s troubled expression, he said softly, “Lucy’s young, she can be
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impulsive. Don’t be angry with her.”
Emma shook her head, speaking quietly, “I’m not angry, just feeling unwell.” James pressed his lips together, at a loss for words.
Something felt off about Emma today, but he couldn’t pinpoint what.
Then James figured he’d already explained and apologized if Emma wanted to sulk, let her.
Feeling frustrated, he retreated to his study to work.
Emma waited until the delivery arrived with the pregnancy test. She quietly slipped into the bathroom to take it – two lines appeared.
For a moment, she felt dizzy.
Everything was happening too fast.
Lost in thought, she heard a knock on the bathroom door. James stood outside, asking, “It’s been half an hour are you done?”
Emma hurriedly hid the test and unlocked the door.
James didn’t notice anything unusual, just saw her pale face and casually said, “Get
some rest.”
Emma nodded and went to the bedroom. James joined her shortly after.
They lay back–to–back, neither speaking.
Emma’s mind was racing. She didn’t want to reconcile, but what about the baby?
And her parents, who’d always hoped she and James would be happily married forever – how could she explain this to them?
Emma lay awake all night, finally falling asleep in the early morning.
James woke her up.
“Emma, I’m up already – why haven’t you made breakfast?”
Emma’s temples were still throbbing, and James’s demanding tone instantly. ignited her anger.
“James, can’t you see how exhausted I am?”
