Chapter 6

After sending Tessa to the hospital, Eric originally intended to rush back to the private room to rescue me.

Even though he believed those people probably wouldn't dare to harm me, the look in my eyes as he walked away haunted him.

He couldn’t shake the pain that crept into his chest.

He didn’t want to abandon me like that.

But Tessa’s condition had been urgent—and she was pregnant.

Even though this child wasn’t one he had wanted, the fact remained that she was carrying his baby. And she was still young.

He had to take responsibility.

I had always been gentle, understanding, easy to appease.

Usually, when he made a mistake, a soft apology and a few small gifts were enough.

I would forgive him without making a scene.

Thinking of this, Eric let out a small sigh of relief.

He began to plan how to explain everything to me later and turned to leave the hospital room.

But just as he stepped forward, Tessa reached out and grabbed his sleeve. Tears welled up in her eyes.

“Eric, please don’t go. I really don’t feel well. Stay with me, okay? The baby… the baby wants his daddy by his side.”

Eric looked down at her, but for some reason, an image of me flashed through his mind.

I was also six months pregnant, yet I had never clung to him the way Tessa did.

Every time he told me he had work or needed to go out, I always supported him.

I never begged for his company. Never demanded his attention.

He had once promised me that he would never make me unhappy.

That he would always be by my side.

But now?

What was he doing?

His heart turned cold as he realized the betrayal in his actions.

His face went pale.

He instinctively took a few steps back.

Tessa noticed the shift and a flicker of anger flashed in her eyes.

She knew exactly who he was thinking about.

Her voice trembled with manufactured hurt as she looked at him.

“Eric, what’s wrong? Are you thinking of Melanie?

If you’re that worried about her, then go back and save her. I’ll be fine on my own.”

As she spoke, she gently touched her stomach.

Tears fell perfectly, as if on cue.

Eric hesitated.

He had wanted to leave—he was ready to go back.

But when he saw Tessa crying like that, he stopped in his tracks.

“Never mind,” he muttered. “There are a lot of people in that room. She should be fine.

Melanie isn’t that naive. I’ll take care of you first.”

His tone was distracted, almost distant.

A satisfied gleam flashed in Tessa’s eyes.

Even though she knew Eric was worried about me, he still stayed.

That was enough.

By the time he got back, I would probably already be ruined.

The thought made Tessa smile faintly.

Eric, distracted and unaware of her expression, pulled out his phone.

After hesitating for a moment, he sent a message to his assistant.

[Find someone to bring Melanie out of the private room and take her to the hospital. She’s pregnant.]

As he typed those final words, a wave of guilt surged through him.

I was pregnant, too.

And he had used me to take Tessa’s place in that humiliating dare.

Worse, I was further along than Tessa.

What if something had happened to me?

His hand clenched tightly around his phone, concern flashing in his eyes.

Soon, Tessa was discharged from the hospital.

Eric brought her back quickly to the villa.

He hadn’t received any updates from his assistant.

He assumed I had already returned home.

Maybe I was waiting for him right now.

He forced himself to ignore the growing anxiety gnawing at his chest and hurried inside.

The moment he stepped through the door, he called out loudly.

“Honey, I’m home! I was wrong about tonight!”

He tried to coax her, his voice hopeful.

“I remember you told me once how much you wanted to go to the Maldives. After you give birth, I’ll take you there—just the two of us, to relax. Sound good?”

He paused, waiting.

But no answer came.

He searched the entire villa—room by room—but couldn’t find me.

And then he noticed something that made his blood run cold.

So many of our things were gone.

Our wedding photos.

The trinkets, souvenirs and small treasures from all the trips we’d taken together.

All of it—gone.

I had always been the one to cherish those things the most.

I once said I wanted to save them until we were old.

Then, when our hair turned white and our hands wrinkled, we’d take those items out, one by one and reminisce together.

Thinking of that, Eric felt the panic rise in his throat.

And this time, he couldn’t suppress it.

He rushed upstairs, his heart pounding, only to find the bedroom completely empty.

Not a single sign of me.

Eric didn’t know what he was thinking—he just moved on instinct.

He went straight to the drawer where I always kept my ID.

Sure enough, it was gone.

“Melanie… Melanie, where did you go?”

His voice trembled.

His face turned deathly pale as he gripped the wardrobe door. His hands were shaking.

Tessa, who had quietly followed him upstairs, quickly wiped the satisfied smile from her face and stepped forward, feigning concern.

“Don’t worry, Eric. Melanie is a grown woman. What could possibly happen to her?”

“I think she’s just throwing a tantrum—running away from home to get your attention. After a few days, once she realizes you’re not panicking, she’ll come back on her own.”

“You’re right…” Eric murmured, repeating her words as if trying to hypnotize himself. “Melanie wouldn’t leave me. She loves me. She’s just upset. She’ll come back…”

It sounded like he was trying more to convince himself than to make a statement.

Tessa placed a soft hand on his shoulder.

“Since Melanie is gone for a few days… why don’t we stay in the same room?” she suggested, her voice low and sweet.

“It’ll be easier for you to take care of me at night…”

Her words carried an obvious undertone.

Eric understood exactly what she meant—but right now, he wasn’t in the mood.

He brushed her hand off and was about to speak when his phone suddenly rang in his pocket.

His expression brightened with hope.

He snatched it up without hesitation.

“Melanie? You finally called? Do you know how worried I’ve been?”

“You—”

But before he could finish, a panicked voice cut through on the other end.

“Mr. Trevor! Bad news! The company’s biggest investor just pulled out of their investment!”

“And the biggest client—we just received word—they’ve terminated their contract! Mr. Trevor, you need to come in right away!”

Eric shot to his feet.

“What?! Call Mr. Parsons from the investment firm immediately! Find out what’s going on! I’m on my way!”

Without sparing Tessa another glance, he pushed her aside and bolted out of the villa.