A Weight She Refused to Carry

Half an hour later, Ezra returned to the room and saw Shermaine lying on the bed. Her breathing was steady, like she had fallen into a deep sleep. He let out a quiet sigh of relief.

Before leaving, he made sure to tuck the blanket around her carefully and place a gentle kiss on her forehead. Then, without hesitation, he turned and left.

The sound of the door opening and closing echoed in the silence of the night, jarring in the stillness.

Once Ezra had gone, Shermaine slowly opened her eyes. The bright, clear gaze she was known for now seemed clouded with sorrow, and her face was ashen, devoid of life.

With delicate movements, she propped herself up in bed. Her gaze drifted toward the door, her eyes distant and numb. She felt like a hollow shell.

Before lying down, Shermaine had found a moment to sneak to the bathroom and make herself throw up. Even so, when she stood up, her limbs were still tingling, her strength drained.

The effects of the drug were clearly powerful.

A wave of bitter sadness swept over Shermaine, and despite herself, a small, bitter smile tugged at the corners of her lips. She had to admit she had been a fool. Before the drug took full effect, she had still clung to a small hope.

She had hoped it was all a lie—that the husband who had loved her so deeply could never do such things.

But reality struck like a slap in the face, shattering the illusion of a happy marriage.

Shermaine paused for a moment to collect herself before she stood up, got dressed, and followed Ezra.

Perhaps due to the rush, Shermaine wasn't the best at following him discreetly, but she managed to follow him to a bar without trouble.

She remembered, in the past, how Ezra had quit smoking and drinking for her sake, knowing her aversion to those things. But now, Shermaine realized the truth.

Ezra had only pretended to give them up in front of her.

In the corners where she couldn't see, Ezra's desires had reignited, and with it, his heart had strayed from its rightful path.

Shermaine watched Ezra enter a private room, and she deliberately waited ten minutes before approaching the door.

She peered through a small window in the door. The scene inside shattered her already prepared expectations.

On the black leather couch, a man and a woman were passionately kissing, completely lost in the moment. They seemed oblivious to the passage of time and everything around them.

The man was Ezra. And beneath him was Melanie.

At that moment, Melanie gasped for breath, her face flushed and her eyes heavy with lust. She playfully pushed Ezra away before teasingly unbuttoning her blouse, her voice breathy.

"Ezra, you're so eager every time. Am I the only one who can satisfy you?"

Ezra gulped, his gaze locked on the exposed skin of Melanie's bosom as she continued to undress, his breath becoming ragged. His handsome face was filled with a hunger he had never shown Shermaine.

"You little minx," he murmured as he pulled her closer and kissed her deeply.

Shermaine, watching from the doorway, felt like a heavy weight had settled on her heart. The invisible pressure squeezed the air from her lungs, making it hard to breathe.

Suddenly, a wave of disgust overtook her. She sank to the floor, clutching her mouth to stifle the nausea.

Five years of marriage, and every time they had been intimate, Ezra had been tender and considerate, always putting her feelings first without ever showing any passion.

She had thought it was because he respected her and was uninterested in the physical side of their relationship.

Now, she realized how foolish she had been.

He had reserved his respect for her, but his desires had been given to another woman.

Shermaine didn't want to be discovered at that moment, as it might lead to other problems.

With trembling hands, she snapped a few pictures on her phone, then quickly left. She didn't even remember how she made it home, but as soon as she stepped through the door, pain unlike any she had ever felt gripped her abdomen.

The agony was so intense that it felt as if her very soul was being torn from her body.

Drenched in sweat, Shermaine mustered the strength to grab her phone, but she didn't dial Ezra's number.

An ambulance arrived soon after.

Barely conscious, Shermaine could only remember being wheeled into the operating room. The harsh light above her eyes was blinding.

She heard someone sigh softly beside her.

"The baby's only two months along... I'm afraid we won't be able to save it."