Chapter 2

I didn't sleep all night. The dull ache in my abdomen never stopped.

I dug the box of progesterone pills from my suitcase and read the instructions by the light of my phone.

Two tablets each time, taken with warm water.

There was no warm water in the room. I swallowed the pills dry.

Through the wall, I could hear laughter from the main hall.

Chloe's voice. Adrian's low responses. The clink of glasses.

I put the remaining four pills away and pressed my palm against my belly.

I couldn't feel anything. But it was there.

In the small hours, the lock clicked.

Adrian came in carrying a bowl.

"Still angry?"

I didn't speak.

He set the bowl on the table and sat on the edge of the bed. He touched my forehead.

"You're so cold. If you're not feeling well, say something. You always keep everything bottled up."

His hand was warm.

My eyes stung for a moment. I had told him. He just never remembered.

He propped me up and brought the bowl to my lips.

"Drink."

I'd barely opened my mouth when his phone buzzed.

Chloe's ringtone. It had gone off countless times throughout my marriage.

Adrian glanced at the screen and immediately set down the bowl.

"Drink it yourself first. Chloe's window is broken—I'm going to check on her."

He stood. Didn't even grab his coat.

I reached out and caught his sleeve. "Adrian, can you not go?"

He looked back from the doorway. "Don't wait up. Get some sleep."

The door opened, then closed.

The steam from the bowl dissipated quickly. I didn't drink a single sip of that ginger tea.

In the second half of the night, the dull ache turned into a dragging, wrenching pain.

I curled up on the bed, cold sweat streaming down my back. A rush of warm liquid surged out.

Wet. Sticky. Blood again.

I called Adrian's number. No answer.

Second time. No answer.

Fifth time. The phone finally connected.

It wasn't him who answered.

"Emma." Chloe's voice carried the lazy softness of someone just woken. In the background, a man's steady breathing.

"Boss was too tired. He's asleep."

She paused, then laughed lightly.

"Don't worry, nothing happened. He's just leaning on the couch. I didn't want to wake him."

"Whatever it is, it can wait till tomorrow."

The line went dead.

I held the phone. I didn't call a sixth time.

I braced myself against the wall, went to the bathroom to clean up, then lay back down, my palm pressed to my belly.

By the time the pain peaked, I was numb.

After dawn, I changed into clean pants and walked out.

Everyone was eating breakfast in the main hall.

Elena spotted me first.

"Emma, you look awful."

I managed a smile. "I'd like to cut the trip short. You all keep enjoying yourselves."

Everyone froze.

Adrian looked up from the couch, still holding that thermos.

"What are you making a fuss about now?"