"Cut to the chase! What do you want from me?!"
She was on the verge of losing her mind because of him.
Evan paused for a moment but continued taking out the food containers.
"I'm not doing anything except wanting you to have a child for me."
Perhaps then, she wouldn't leave.
"You're really crazy."
He ignored her, opening each container one by one, filling the room with appetizing aromas.
"Eat first. You didn't have lunch."
Zoe's face was pale, her stomach aching from lack of food and medicine.
Anger couldn't justify self-neglect, so she reluctantly started eating.
Evan sat beside her, engrossed in his phone.
Her appetite seemed small; she was full after only a few bites.
Patiently, he cleaned up the coffee table, discarding the containers in the trash.
This was how he used to be.
Zoe found it unsettling and retreated to her room.
After washing up, she heard the door closing. Rushing out, she checked the living room door—it was still locked.
She leaned against it barefoot, sliding down and hugging herself tightly.
The sky had darkened, and as she looked towards the balcony, her eyes reflected no light.
After a long while, she dragged her stiff body back to her room for medication and sleep.
Sleep was an escape, where nothing needed to be pondered.
In the darkness, she felt someone on top of her. Jerking awake, she tried to push him off but couldn't budge him.
Evan buried his face in her neck, licking the bruised collarbone he had inflicted.
"You're mine, for this lifetime and beyond."
"Don't disgust me." Her eyes and tone were filled with revulsion.
He couldn't see her expression, and that was enough for him.
She was being pathetic, loving him so deeply before.
His rough movements elicited a muffled groan from her.
"Give me a child, okay?"
His mind was fixated on having a child.
"Aren't you tired of repeating yourself?"
"Not at all. Will you, please?"
Zoe sneered, "Sure."
He traced her neck, finding her lips once more with precision.
The next day, she accompanied Evan to the hospital.
The results indicated that with some adjustments, she might have a slim chance of conceiving.
The doctor suggested in vitro fertilization.
Upon hearing this, Evan stepped out.Zoe sat on a bench in the hallway, her expression blank.
He joined her, getting straight to the point, "Let's do in vitro fertilization."
"Okay."
Surprised by her quick agreement, he turned to her. "Why the sudden consent?"
Contempt flickered in her eyes. "Are you crazy? You asked for a child yourself. Now,you wonder why I consent?"
"Alright." Evan kissed her stiff face gently.
Afterwards, they underwent comprehensive checkups again.
With the schedule set, they returned home.
A month and a half later, the formed embryo was successfully implanted in her womb.
That day, Zoe caressed her belly, lost in thought for a long time.
It was late November, and the weather was turning colder.
She didn't particularly enjoy living here, where snowfall typically began mid-December and persisted endlessly, chilling her to the bone.
But she stayed because of him.
She became a complete recluse, with medical checkups conducted at home by visiting doctors with their equipment.
Evan forbade her from going out, and she didn't argue, spending her days on the newly installed lounge chair on the balcony, lost in thought for hours.
Zoe could only observe the outside world through the balcony.
