Not possible?

Emily felt the blood in her veins freeze. It was like being dropped into a snowstorm-her ears went numb, her mind blanked out. Nothing registered.

She stared at him in disbelief. WHY was he so sure?

Sure, her health had always been fragile, but that didn't mean she couldn't get pregnant. They'd been sleeping together regularly, and since they'd both agreed to try for a baby, they hadn't used protection...

For a second, she questioned her own memory. But she had just seen the doctor yesterday.

There was no way she could be wrong.

Then his hand gently covered hers, resting on her skirt. His voice still carried that soft, almost teasing tone.

"I know you're trying to fix things, but you don't have to pull something like this just to get my attention."

Pull something like this?

To get his attention?

Emily felt like her whole world cracked open. She couldn't believe what she was hearing.

She had thought about their three years of marriage. Thought carefully before deciding to tell him about the baby-because she didn't want to make this choice alone.

But this... this was what she got in return?

Aaron seemed to notice her blank expression, finally realizing she wasn't playing coy. His smile faded a bit as he shifted his tone to something more "concerned."

"WHAT'S WRONG? Are you not feeling well? Maybe that's why you're thinking like this?"

Emily couldn't even process it. She shook her head instinctively.

"Didn't your period just end, like, a week ago? Even if you were pregnant, there's no way you'd be feeling anything this soon."

Aaron reached out and ruffled her hair like he always did, like she was just his clueless little wife making silly mistakes.

Her dull, lifeless eyes stared straight at him.

That was the kind of husband he was-attentive to a fault. He even remembered her cycle. But this time, he got it wrong.

Her period hadn't come.

She was usually like clockwork. That's why she'd tested so early. Just to be sure, she'd even waited a few extra days before going to the doctor-she hadn't wanted to cause a fuss if it turned out to be nothing.

Maybe he mixed up the dates because he'd been out so much lately. Or... maybe there was another reason. Emily felt her breath catch in her throat. She didn't want to keep thinking.

Right then, she had the urge to pull out the report and slap it in front of him. Prove to him that he was the one who was wrong.

But something inside her held her back. Some instinct stopped her.

Aaron noticed how long she'd gone silent, saw how hollow her expression had become. His brows furrowed.

"Should I go with you to the hospital tomorrow? Just to make sure?"

"NO NEED." Her voice was drained, flat. 

His touch suddenly made her feel sick. She turned her head away from his hand.

His arm hovered awkwardly in the air before he pulled it back and rested it on his thigh, his face twitching for a second before going blank again.

Emily took a quiet breath, staring at her nails, trying to pull herself back together.

"You promised to go with me to visit my grandma tomorrow."

Aaron looked up, like he'd forgotten. After a beat, he nodded, "Right. I'll come back at lunch and we'll go together, okay?"

"No," she cut in, voice hard.

The tension in the room thickened instantly.

Catching the shift in his mood, she added casually, "You're busy. No point running back and forth. I'll just meet you at the hospital."

That seemed to calm him a little.

"Alright. Whatever you want."

Trying to smooth things over, he reached out again, lacing his fingers with hers, "It's been a while since we had dinner together. Come on, let's eat."

Something about his touch made her skin crawl. Emily bit the inside of her cheek and pushed down the wave of revulsion. She let him lead her to the dining room.

She just wanted to see her grandma-soon.

Maybe to avoid repeating the awkwardness from earlier, Aaron didn't say anything about how little she ate. After dinner, she excused herself, saying she felt dizzy, and headed back to the bedroom.

Before he could come upstairs, Emily pulled the medical report from her purse and tucked it deep into the bottom of her lingerie drawer.

After her shower, she lay in bed, pretending to sleep, leaving only one small lamp on. She heard Aaron's quiet footsteps enter the room.

He came to her side, close enough that she could feel his breath. Then he reached out, gently brushing a strand of hair off her face. 

After a moment, when he seemed convinced she was really asleep, he turned and walked to the closet.

The walk-in closet had been designed with an entrance on her side of the room, for convenience.

Even the softest sound carried-and Emily heard it clearly.

Aaron was going through her purse.

A minute passed, the noise stopped. Then came his footsteps again. He paused at her bedside for a moment... before finally leaving the room.

Emily had planted the seed of doubt the moment he reacted the way he did downstairs. That's when she decided to keep the pregnancy to herself-for now.

She knew Aaron.

Even if he said he didn't believe her, someone as suspicious as him wouldn't just let it go. He'd definitely try to find proof.

But she'd already moved the report. He wouldn't find anything.

Still...What about in another month?

The next day at noon, when she headed out again, the bodyguards didn't stop her this time. One of them followed her car as it pulled away, trailing behind as they made their way to the hospital.

Traffic was light, and they arrived ten minutes earlier than expected. Her grandma had been placed in a private room in this hospital, receiving top-tier care. Emily knew full well-on her own, there's no way she could've afforded this kind of medical treatment for her grandma.

She took off her sunglasses and pushed them up onto her head, then headed toward the reception desk like she always did.

VIP rooms didn't have strict visitation limits, but every visit still had to be registered-no exceptions. The log sheet was filled mostly with her and Aaron's names. The rest were rare, barely one or two visits each.

Her useless brother, Francie, had only shown up once in the past six months. She sighed and shook her head, signed her name, then handed the sheet back to the nurse.

"Mrs. Lopez, please wait here for a moment." The nurse gestured to a nearby chair.

Emily frowned. "I can't go in?"

Registration was usually just a formality. She came by so often that nearly every staff member here knew her-she never had to wait. But today, she caught a flicker of hesitation in the nurse's eyes.

"What is it? Is something wrong with my grandma?" she asked, voice suddenly tense.

"She's doing well, physically. It's just that..."

"What?" Emily cut in, brows knitting-just as a familiar voice spoke above her head.

"What's going on?" Aaron's voice came from behind, his large hand settling on her shoulder.

Emily's heart skipped a beat. She looked up and noticed the nurse immediately stiffen.

"No issue," the nurse said quickly. "You can both go in now. Mr. Lopez, please just come back and sign the register afterward."

"But earlier you said-" Emily started to protest.

Aaron gently patted her arm, cutting her off,  "Your grandma's probably been waiting a while. Go on, she'll be happy to see you."

Three and a half years ago, Grandma Ruth had undergone major heart surgery. Her right coronary artery had been completely blocked-her complexion so pale she looked like she'd lost all her blood. 

Emily had been shaking all over, terrified she wouldn't get the chance to repay the woman who raised her... terrified Grandma wouldn't live long enough to enjoy any peace or happiness.

The doctors had initially said she might need open-heart surgery-a huge risk. But the moment Aaron found out, he stepped in without hesitation. He had her transferred to a private hospital and brought in a top international cardiac specialist. 

Instead of traditional surgery, they opted for a minimally invasive catheter procedure using imported stents. Three were placed in total, and it saved her life.

Three years after that procedure-just six months ago-her stents had started narrowing again due to tissue buildup. She'd begun experiencing chest pain, shortness of breath, and extreme fatigue. Aaron immediately arranged for her to be hospitalized for observation... and she'd been there ever since.

Her room was huge-more like a suite than a hospital room. It had a living room, dining space, private bathroom, and even a companion bed. It looked nothing like a typical ward.

Even though Ruth could move around just fine on her own, Aaron had still hired two caregivers to rotate 24/7. Emily had never seen the bills, but she didn't need to-they had to be astronomical.

She softened her expression and forced a smile before stepping inside. Aaron still had his arm around her shoulder as they walked in together. The bed was empty, so they naturally headed toward the lounge area.

The curtains were drawn, and the midday sun was pouring in.

"Granny!" Emily called out.

Ruth, who had been sitting with her back to them, turned around, her eyes crinkling into a smile. "Oh, you're here." She reached out to pull Emily over.

She'd just finished lunch and was relaxing on the couch while the caregiver tidied up. Aaron followed behind and greeted her as well, settling into the armchair across from them.

"Good, good," Ruth said warmly, her gaze shifting from him back to Emily. "Last time you said you weren't feeling well-how are you now?"

She was referring to Emily's visit last week.

A flicker of discomfort passed through Emily's eyes, "I'm fine now, just a bit dizzy that day. Nothing serious."

She quickly changed the subject. "Enough about me. What did the doctor say about you?"

"Same as usual," Ruth replied with a sigh. "Honestly, I could've been discharged ages ago. This place is starting to feel more like a retirement home."

She still wasn't used to being watched 24/7-it felt excessive. But at Aaron's insistence, and because Emily had been worried, she'd reluctantly agreed to stay.

"Are you feeling bored staying here?" Emily asked. "If the doctor says it's okay..."

"If you're feeling cooped up, we can bring you books or something to keep you busy," Aaron chimed in.

Emily looked up at him. He was smiling kindly... but it didn't feel like warmth to her. Not anymore.

"There's not much to do around here," Emily said.

"Granny, remember that mystery novel series you mentioned last time? I bought the whole set-it'll be delivered this afternoon," Aaron said.

Ruth's eyes lit up as she nodded happily.

That was the second time Aaron had interrupted Emily. She frowned slightly,  "It doesn't have to be in the hospital. Grandma could read just as easily at home."

Ruth blinked in surprise. "You're the one who always insisted I stay here, and now you're siding with me?"

"You mentioned wanting to see your old friends, remember? And you're doing fine physically. As long as you're careful, I don't see why not," Emily explained.

She'd thought a lot about it last night...

Before Ruth could respond, Aaron stood up and walked over to Emily, "Granny wants to go out and you're just letting her? She's got the best doctors looking after her here."

If it were before, Emily would've thought her husband was being thoughtful-caring for her family like his own.

But now?

Now it felt suffocating. Less like concern, and more like control.

She couldn't tell anymore-was she just being overly sensitive lately, or was this something more?

Sensing the shift in mood, Ruth chuckled softly. "I know you both care about me. Honestly, it's not so bad here. Look..."

She reached into a basket beside her and pulled out a ball of yarn, "I've gotten back into knitting."

She held up a half-finished vest and held it against Emily, measuring, "Not sure I'll finish this before the weather warms up."

Emily forced a smile. She didn't want to start a fight in front of her grandma, "If you're the one knitting it, I'll wear it no matter the season."

She stayed with grandma for another two hours. When Ruth said she was ready for her afternoon nap, Emily finally got up to leave.

Aaron had stayed by her side the entire time-which meant she still hadn't gotten the chance to speak to her grandma alone.

Outside the hospital, just as Emily was about to get back into the same car, Aaron reached for her arm.

"Em," he said, "I know you weren't thrilled with what I said in there, but you know I'm only doing this for your grandma's sake."

Emily closed her eyes for a moment, "I didn't argue with you in front of her because I didn't want to upset her... but you do know she could've been discharged ages ago, right?"

"The doctor never said she couldn't leave," Aaron replied, "but isn't it better having someone look after her around the clock? And this place is close to home."

Nothing he said was exactly wrong-and that made it harder for Emily to fight back. She knew taking back control over her life wouldn't happen overnight.

The Aaron she used to know-the one she trusted without question-was now using that very love and care like a leash around her neck.

"Forget it," she exhaled. "I don't wanna fight with you. You'd win anyway. You've got power, money... in the end, you always get to decide."

"Emily," his tone tightened, "do you HAVE TO talk like that?"

"If you really care about us," she said quietly, "then stop making all the decisions on your own."

"CAN you stop being unreasonable for once?" he snapped. "I've been crazy busy lately, but I still made time to be here-for you, and for her."

"Unreasonable?" Emily let out a short, bitter laugh. "I never asked you to come. But tell me-why wouldn't the nurses let me in unless you showed up first?"

Why, after just a few days, did it feel like even her movements were being monitored?

She stepped closer, voice low but sharp.

"Aaron, do you think just because I haven't worked these past three years, I've gone STUPID? Or is it that you really think I'm that naive-easy to lie to?"

Aaron paused, caught off guard by her sudden confrontation.

"I've never thought that," he said, his voice tightening. "But your emotions lately... they've been all over the place."

He turned his face away, clearly done with the conversation, "I'll arrange for a therapist to come tomorrow."

Emily took a slow breath, stunned by how neatly he could spin everything. In just a few words, he'd managed to shift all the blame onto her-like everything was just her being "too emotional."

"Well, right now I feel very calm," she said coldly. "I just think you're terrifying."

Would he be a good father?

It was a question Emily had asked herself just days ago-and now, she had her answer.

No. Aaron would never be a good father.

His need for control was too strong. All it took was one threat of divorce, and before she could even make another move, he'd already tightened his grip on her, like it was effortless.

Convincing her to quit her job had been the first step. Emotionally and practically, she lost her independence, leaving her with no choice but to rely on him.

Did she regret it?

Regret letting herself get too comfortable, letting her wings get clipped?

Yes.

But none of those feelings mattered anymore.

She and Aaron had, once again, ended things on a sour note.

On the way home, she was about to call her younger brother Francie when another call came in-this one from the police. They asked her to come down to the station.

As soon as the driver was informed, he immediately called Aaron for approval.

After a quick summary of the situation, Aaron gave the green light. He didn't come along himself this time-clearly, the two hours he'd just spent at the hospital were already more than he was willing to give.

The reason for her visit was-unsurprisingly-Francie again. He'd gotten himself into trouble, and for once, Emily was glad Aaron wasn't with her.

The driver waited outside. One bodyguard followed her in but kept a two-step distance behind. Emily walked up to the front desk.

"I'm Francie Caulden' sister. He was brought in this afternoon for a traffic violation..."

The officer checked her ID and handed it back. "He's giving his statement right now. Please have a seat over there."

Emily walked over to the long bench like she'd done it a dozen times before. This wasn't her first visit.

The last time, it was because Francie had gotten into a bar fight-punched someone over a dumb argument.

Before that, he'd trespassed onto a construction site to film a video for social media, violating public safety regulations.

Too many incidents to count.

He was seven years younger than her-already twenty-but still impulsive, reckless, and immature. Zero sense of responsibility.

After a while, another officer brought him out. Francie looked physically fine-no visible injuries-but his head was down and his whole vibe screamed defeated.

The officer turned to Emily. "He was speeding well above the limit and ran a red light. Luckily, no one got hurt, but it was extremely dangerous. Also, the motorcycle shows signs of illegal modifications. It'll be confiscated."

And just like that, Emily knew why he looked so miserable.

Francie feared nothing and no one-but that motorcycle? That was his baby. Losing it crushed him.

After explaining the fine, the temporary license suspension, and the requirement to attend a traffic safety course, the officer finally let them go.

The second they stepped out of the station, Francie flipped a middle finger toward the building and muttered angrily, "I'll take the damn fine, whatever-but why the hell are they taking my motorcycle?"

Emily shot him a cold look. "NOT enough punishment for you? Want to head back in for another round?"

She glanced back at the bodyguard, who was now standing farther away-far enough to give them some space. At that distance, he probably couldn't hear what they were saying.

"WHAT? They're being dramatic. I was just testing out a corner! Nothing even happened!" Francie snapped, totally unapologetic.

"That's enough. Are you only gonna regret it once someone gets hurt?" Emily's head was pounding. "Have you even thought about your family? About Grandma? She's not young anymore-she can't take any more stress."

Francie mumbled under his breath, "Well, if you don't tell her and I don't tell her, how would she even know?"

"You-" Emily's anger flared. "You're twenty, for God's sake. Can you grow up already? You're acting out because you've got too much time on your hands. No job, no goals-of course you're making trouble."

Francie scoffed. "And you've got room to talk? You DON'T HAVE a job either."

That was like tossing gasoline into fire. Emily's tone dropped. "What did you just say?"

Francie realized he'd gone too far. He bit down on his tongue and looked away, refusing to meet the glare she was giving him.

"Do I get into this kind of shit every few weeks like you? You in and out of police stations like it's your second home?"

He knew he was in the wrong and kept quiet.

Emily had always been more than just a sister to him. Their parents died when they were young, and their grandmother had to work three jobs just to support them. Emily, being older by several years, had practically raised him.

Francie let out a slow breath, figuring like always, he'd just ride out her lecture and this whole thing would blow over.

"You're not a kid anymore," Emily said, voice softer but tired. "At the very least, visit Grandma more. She misses you."

He leaned against a tree trunk nearby, noting how this time her tone felt different-like she was actually trying to reach him.

But just as she started saying, "You can't depend on other people forever," he sprang upright and grinned playfully, "Nope. I plan to live off my brother-in-law forever."

Emily's face instantly flushed with anger.

"I literally just said you need to rely on yourself. Why the hell would you say something like that? You think your brother-in-law and I are gonna be together forever? What're you gonna do then?"

Francie chuckled. "That's not even gonna happen. Aaron's crazy about you. Unless you're bored out of your mind or looking for drama, there's no way you two are splitting up."

He said it like it was some kind of joke.

Emily took a deep breath.

Aaron's carefully crafted image had fooled everyone-friends, family... including herself. Three whole years. And she fell for every bit of it.

"What if he's got another woman?" she asked, looking him straight in the eye.

Francie's expression shifted. After a beat, he leaned back against the tree again. "Come on, you know Aaron's not like that. He's always been loyal."

When she didn't respond, he started getting nervous. "WAIT-don't scare me. You're just making that up, right? That's not real, is it?"

"Whether it's real or not," Emily said quietly, "what I want you to understand is this: don't be like me. Don't put everything you have into someone else's hands."

Francie's expression twisted, clearly not taking her words to heart.

Instead, he mumbled, "Well... if you guys are really having problems, what's gonna happen to the bar?"

Emily froze. "What bar?"

She grabbed his sleeve. "Francie, what are you talking about?"

He blurted out, "Aaron said he'd help me. Said he'd back me and my friends to open a bar."

What?!

"YOU-" Emily grabbed his cloth tightly, furious. "Open a bar? Have you completely forgotten the last time you got into a fight? The only reason you didn't end up in jail is because we spent months with lawyers to clean up your mess. That was just a few weeks ago! And now this?!"

Francie yanked her hand off him. "You're the one who told me to get a job! Now I try to start a business and you're pissed about that too?!"