When I was five months pregnant, I found out that Benjamin had bought a set of lingerie for his childhood friend, Ari. I confronted him, asking for an explanation. He brushed it off, saying, "It's just a piece of clothing. Is it really worth making such a big deal out of it?"

"Besides," he added, "you're pregnant now. It's not like we can do much together."

Ari seized the moment to taunt me, and I was so upset that I nearly had a miscarriage. In desperation, I pleaded with him to take me to the hospital. Instead, Ari accused me of being dramatic and locked me in the trunk of the car.

"Being five months pregnant doesn't mean she'll miscarry so easily, Ben. She's just trying to get your attention!" she said.

"Let's hurry up, or we'll miss the movie."

By the time Benjamin remembered me, he only found a pool of blood in the trunk, sending him into a state of panic.

---

The argument Benjamin and I had because of Ari's post was the biggest fight we'd ever had. "So what if I bought her some lingerie? Is that really worth throwing a fit over?" he snapped.

"So you didn't come home last night because you were with her?" I challenged, showing him the incriminating photos on my phone.

Benjamin glanced at me with irritation. "Ari was sick. I just went over to check on her, Sasha. Why do you have to be so controlling?"

His guilty expression felt like a punch to the gut. He couldn't even come up with a plausible excuse.

The photos Ari posted didn't make her look sick at all! I suppressed my feelings, gently touching my stomach. "You know I'm pregnant, so why wouldn't you come home?"

Benjamin was looking at his phone, a faint smile on his lips. I had no idea what amused him, but he looked at me blankly and said, "You're pregnant, so just rest at home and stop overthinking everything."

"Besides, even if I stayed with you, you're pregnant now, and it's not like we can do much together."

My shoulders trembled uncontrollably, and I clenched my fists. When Benjamin said those words, I felt lost. Since when had he become like this? Was it just because I was pregnant and couldn't meet his needs that he grew distant?

Watching the meal I had carefully prepared go cold, I said nothing more. In the next moment, I dumped it all into the trash.

Benjamin noticed my odd behavior and grabbed my hand. "Why do you always get upset over such small things?"

He knew my temper, how I would stop eating when upset. From eagerly awaiting his return to feeling utterly disheartened when I saw his photos with Ari, my heart had gone numb.

"Fine, I'll stay home with you today to make it up to you," he conceded.

"You can't just not eat. It's not about starving yourself; it's about the baby."

I scoffed, "Do you even care about the baby?"

Benjamin finally lost his patience. "Sasha, stop being so unreasonable! I'm already trying here, and this is how you respond?"

As he was about to blow up, the doorbell rang unexpectedly.

"Sasha, why is Ari here?" Benjamin's eyes lit up at the sight of her.

Ari's gaze landed on me, "Benjamin, did you have a fight with Sasha?"

I wondered what Ari's appearance meant at such a crucial moment.

"Sasha's pregnant now and her emotions are all over the place. You should be more considerate. If it's because of me... then I won't see you anymore."

Benjamin quickly reassured her, "Ari, it's not your fault." He glanced at me with a frown. "Don't think you're special just because you're pregnant! All you do is compete for attention. Look how sensible Ari is!"

Ari looked at Benjamin pitifully. "Don't be so harsh, Benjamin. If you fight because of me, I'll feel awful too!"

I watched the scene unfold without saying a word. Ari then walked over to me. "Sasha, are you upset because Benjamin bought me lingerie?"

She inexplicably handed me the bag. "If you really mind, I'll just return it to you."

"But..." she said, casting a shy glance at Benjamin, "the clothes are all torn now. They're unwearable."

Ari Hudson's words were sharp and cutting. Benjamin Peterson watched, seemingly in approval, and then turned to me, saying, "Go on, weren't you always fighting me over this? Ari's handing it to you now, so what do you have to say?"

I was incredulous, almost bemused by the boldness.

As if the Victorian-style dress was the catalyst for my anger. Ari's generosity cast a stark shadow on my apparent pettiness and narrow-mindedness. Still, I didn't reach for the dress.

"Oh, I forgot what size you might need now, Sasha," she sneered, her eyes lingering on my swollen body with a malicious grin.

Then, in a whisper meant only for me, she added, "No wonder Ben's disgusted with you. He told me seeing you like this makes him sick."

"And just between us, Ben would never let me suffer through childbirth."

"He said if you die during labor, he'll let me raise the child without any fuss."

Ari concluded with a smile full of hidden meanings. I stared at her, my fingers digging into my palms, white from the pressure.

Benjamin hadn't heard Ari's whispers; he just urged, "Ari, forget about her. Didn't you want to catch a movie today?"

Ari ran to wrap her arms around his, teasing, "Aren't you worried Sasha will be upset if you leave her behind?"

"She's pregnant, and every time we go out, she causes a scene. Why bother bringing her?"

Ari got the response she wanted and shot me a triumphant look. Her words lingered in my mind.

My expression must have been a mix of despair and disbelief as I stood frozen. The stress was too much, and suddenly, I felt a sharp pain grip my abdomen.

"Benjamin, I... I'm in so much pain. Please take me to the hospital..."

The pain was overwhelming, and I looked at him with a desperate plea.

Just as he seemed inclined to help, Ari interrupted, "Every time we plan to go out, she pulls this stunt. How many times now?"

His hand, reaching out to support me, pulled back, his face twisted with annoyance. "Sasha, are you ever going to quit?"

"You're pregnant, so stay home. I'm just taking Ari to see a movie. Do you have to create a scene every time to keep me at your side?"

He thought my suffering was an act, convinced it was all about vying with Ari. But I couldn't muster the strength to explain, only to plead, "Take me to the hospital. I'm really in pain..."

Benjamin draped his arm around Ari, turning his back on me. "Let's see how long you can keep this up!"

I stumbled behind them, struggling down the stairs, my face colorless. "Benjamin, I can't take it anymore. I'm about to lose this baby..."

The words were barely out before I felt a horrifying change in my body. My clothes were soaked in blood.

Cold sweat drenched me. Benjamin's gaze flickered, and he seemed to realize something was different.

He was about to open the car door when Ari chimed in again, "At five months pregnant, it's not that easy to have a miscarriage. Ben, she's just trying to get your attention!"

I no longer had the strength to argue, only to humbly beg Benjamin to take me to the hospital. Even if he left me afterward, I just needed his help now.

But his eyes darkened as he said, "Sasha, stop the charade!"

"Ever since you got pregnant, it's always some kind of pain or discomfort! I've had enough!"

"Isn't that how it is for all pregnant women? You're just too fussy!"

As Benjamin was about to get into the car, I grabbed his sleeve.

"Please... just take me to the hospital. I'm in so much pain..."

I was in such agony that tears were streaming down my face, my expression contorted in pain.

Ari pouted playfully, "Ben, let's hurry to the movies, or we'll miss the start."

"Sasha is so desperate to join us, she's even using a miscarriage as an excuse!"

She tilted her head with a mischievous smile. "Well, let's take her along then!"

"But, Ben, the back seat is full of my stuffed animals. Where's she going to sit?"

Benjamin's car was always cluttered with Ari's stuffed bear, Mr. Fluff. He never let me touch it because Ari claimed that as long as it was in the car, it felt like she was always with him—just like her plush toys filled his bedroom. They even replaced me.

"If Sasha insists on coming, then she'll have to squeeze into the trunk!"

I shook my head furiously, only wanting them to take me to the hospital. But Benjamin shoved me into the trunk, ignoring my pleas. I tried desperately to climb out, but he slammed it shut.

"Stop struggling, we'll be there soon."

Curled up in the cramped space, I ran out of the strength to fight. I could only scream for Benjamin to let me out. They paid no attention. My voice was swallowed in the darkness of the narrow confines. Their conversation reached my ears clearly.

"Ari, who would have thought you'd be so understanding? If only Sasha were half as sensible."

"Ben, since I'm so sensible, how are you going to reward me?"

The tension in the car was palpable, and soon there was nothing but the sound of their heated breaths. Benjamin was lost in kissing her, utterly disregarding my presence. His pregnant wife was abandoned in the trunk while he cuddled his childhood sweetheart, making no secret of their closeness.

In that moment, I was engulfed by a chilling despair. Blood flowed more freely. I reached for my phone, trying to dial 911, but my breath was so short I couldn't manage a coherent sentence. As the car finally set off, my consciousness began to fade.

By the time Benjamin's car pulled up to the cinema, I had lost consciousness completely. He opened the trunk, "Sasha, stop pretending to be asleep. We're here. Are you getting out or not?"

"Is Sasha mad at us?" Ari teased.

Benjamin's impatience flared. "What right does she have to be upset? She insisted on coming!"

Ari nudged me with her toe. "Sasha, if you don't wake up, Ben and I will go watch the movie without you~"

Still, I didn't respond.

Seeing me lying motionless in the trunk, Benjamin's expression shifted from irritation to confusion. The evening was dim, and the streetlights were faint. Had he leaned in closer, he would have seen me lying in a pool of blood.

Benjamin frowned and called my name once more, "Sasha?"

I didn't answer.

Only then did Benjamin notice the unusual scent in the trunk. He quickly covered his nose. As he drew his hand back, he saw the blood staining his palm.

"Blood? Why is there blood?!"