She caught sight of the hickey on his neck.
Evan sensed her gaze but couldn't see anything amiss when he looked down, furrowing his brow as he pulled her toward the bed. Zoe allowed him to lead her to the bed.
"It's snowing," he said.
She gazed at his face, her eyes brimming with unbidden tears. Oblivious to her unusual demeanor, he lifted the covers. "I'll take you for a prenatal checkup tomorrow."
She turned away, closing her eyes.
"Talk to me," Evan urged, receiving no response, and nudged her emaciated back.
Zoe turned back to face him, nestling into his embrace despite the lingering perfume that made her queasy again. He froze for a moment, then smiled, drawing her closer and feeling her slightly hardened belly.
She was truly thin, her bones jutting prominently.
"Eat more, you're too skinny," he urged, still not receiving a reply. He held her close as they drifted off to sleep.
Zoe's long lashes dampened, blinking twice before she closed her eyes again, slipping out of his embrace. After freshening up, Evan woke up just as she finished.
It was still snowing
Layered up against the cold, she stepped into the snow, each footprint sinking slightly into the white blanket. Glancing down at her tracks, she followed Evan.
She was afraid of the cold, but because of him, she had grown to love snow.
It was a busy weekend at the clinic.
Evan received a call, handing her the appointment slip before rushing off. She glanced at the crumpled paper in her hand, stuffing it into her pocket.
With no seats available due to the crowd, she stood.
"Zoe?" A familiar voice called out. Zoe turned to meet Edward's furrowed brow and file-clutching figure.
"You're pregnant?" he asked.
She nodded nervously.
"You're not in a condition to carry a child right now. Not taking your medication for so long could worsen your condition into cancer," he warned.
Zoe's lips quivered, but she said nothing.
Edward swallowed his impending lecture, changing his tune. "If you refuse the IV, at least take the medication."
He scolded her gently, closing his file, intending to persuade her that illness necessitated medication.
Zoe forced a strained smile, her lips drooping.
"Your health is your responsibility. I've called you so many times, and you never answered, even blocking me eventually," Edward lamented, his face stern.
Edward, face stern, lamented her disobedience as a patient.
Suddenly, someone called her name. She glanced over, smiled, and walked over.
Zoe retrieved the crumpled slip from her pocket, causing the examining doctor to frown at its condition.
Isn't folding better than making it this wrinkled?
To her surprise, Edward waited for her after her examination.
"Come with me for another check later. It'll be difficult if things get worse. You haven't had breakfast, have you?" he asked.
She shook her head.
"Then let's go."
Edward walked a few steps before turning back to see her standing still.
"Come on, let's get you checked again."
She shook her head, brushing past him hastily towards the corridor.
Edward was taken aback, then spotted Evan at the end of the hall, his icy gaze warning him off. Edward pursed his lips.
Zoe took Evan's hand and turned the corner. After watching her emaciated figure disappearing from sight, Edward turned into the medical office.
Was this woman risking her life? Knowing her serious condition, she still insisted on having a child. His eyes darkened, resolving to wait for her when the test results came out in the afternoon. He had to convince her.
Children could be conceived again, but life, there was only one.
Chapter 41
Jocelyn was pregnant again, and Evan felt a twinge of annoyance.
As he drove, his tone was less than pleasant. "Don't have any contact with him.
He reeks of that perfume again. She had just suppressed her nausea to hold his hand, and now she rubbed her palm on her clothes, hoping to erase the scent.
Zoe turned her head to gaze at the endless expanse of whiteness outside.
The phone rang again. Evan glanced at her, freeing a hand to answer the call. Jocelyn's voice dripped with honey, "Evan ... would you accompany me for dinner tonight?"
"Not available," he replied, his brows knitted in rejection.
"Oh... are you very busy? Then, should I come to your office? I just want to eat with you." She pouted, trying to cajole him.
He turned to look at the back of Zoe's head, then withdrew his gaze.
"Alright."
He hung up.
Evan dropped her off at home before heading to the office. Mrs. Aldrich returned from grocery shopping, wishing to chat with her, but with Zoe unable to speak, there was little she could do.
The silence seemed suffocating, enough to make her ill. The kitchen and balcony were close by, and as Mrs. Aldrich prepared food, she chatted to herself, hoping Zoe could hear her thoughts.
Zoe lay in the rocking chair, staring blankly at the falling snowflakes, tuning out Mrs. Aldrich's words.
Evan collected the prenatal report; the fetus appeared normal, though she neither knew nor cared. He didn't return for two more days.
On Christmas Eve, Mrs. Aldrich prepared a sumptuous dinner for her before leaving to celebrate with her family.
Zoe, looking at the full table, had no appetite and wandered to the balcony instead.
The night sky exploded with vibrant fireworks, a stunning spectacle.
At this time of year in previous years, they would watch the fireworks together, sharing loving kisses and basking in their love's warmth.
Now, she felt a chill seeping through her bones. She stared blankly at the fireworks, which ended only to start anew.
Zoe, without a phone, relied on the clock on the wall to tell time. It chimed once at midnight. When the relentless fireworks finally ceased, she looked down at her disheveled hair and went in search of scissors.
He liked her long hair, so she grew it; but with his affection gone, it served no purpose. Snip, snip – the eerie sound echoed in the bedroom.
Pain shot through her hand as she found a chunk of flesh missing from her ring finger, blood trickling down.
That was really hurt; in the past, such pain would have brought tears. But now, what was pain? She didn't know.
Zoe gathered the last strand of hair and cut it off before heading to the bathroom. The water was chilly, yet she washed her injured hand under the faucet.
With a cut and bleeding, she searched for band-aids, applying two until the bleeding stopped. She cleaned up the fallen hair, went to bed before midnight, and fell asleep.
Pain emanated from her stomach, waking her. Dawn had broken. She rose, poured herself a glass of warm water.
In the mirror, her uneven haircut looked comical. She ran their fingers through their hair and tried to give herself a smile, but the attempt failed.
A month later, Evan returned home.
Business trips had kept him busy, and Jocelyn's persistent clinginess consumed all his free time.
He stared in surprise and irritation at Zoe's short hair, "Why did you cut your hair without my permission?"
