In the end, I squatted on the ground. My hand gently stroked on my belly. I then cried until my body trembled. 

I said in my heart, ‘So he loves Eleanor Celeste. He can take my child's life and my whole life to sacrifice?’

***

I didn't know when I fell asleep.

When I woke up, Orlando was already in the living room with Eleanor Celeste.

Orlando, who had never cooked at home, was busy preparing lunch in the kitchen at this time.

After seeing me, he somewhat awkwardly explained, “Richard has been a bit busy these days, Celine. Eleanor's fetus isn't very stable, so I wanted to bring her home to recuperate for a few days. It’s okay, right?”

I sat to the side in silence.

I knew Orlando worked hard and those hands were extraordinarily precious.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that on weekdays at home, he did not dip his fingers into the water of spring.

Now I ate the food cooked in Eleanor's favor. I also ate the rice he cooked.

Eleanor had a bad appetite. She was just listlessly beeping and saying that she had no appetite.

Orlando then held up his spoon.

It was different from the silence and detached politeness when he was with me.

Now he was almost humble to the dust, coaxing Eleanor to eat.

Probably he noticed my gaze.

He turned his head and smiled awkwardly. Then he put another big prawn into my bowl.

I looked up. I had no appetite at all.

Eleanor was clamouring to eat mango. It made Orlando then remind her like a child that she had diarrhoea the last time she ate too much mango.

I silently threw the shrimp into the trash.

I still remember the first time I was allergic after eating prawns. Orlando cried and pulled my hand tightly. He also said it was all his fault. He promised me that he would never forget this incident in his life.

Now he was still very careful, but the object of care was no longer me.

I didn't have much of an appetite. I then pushed away my cutlery. I wanted to leave.

Eleanor Celeste suddenly called out to me from behind. She came over to my side and shook the amulet on her chest with a smile.

“I heard from Orlando that this amulet is still the one that Auntie begged for, Celine. With this, the baby in my belly will definitely be born safely.”

I knew she purposely emphasized the word ‘safe’.  I couldn't help but move closer to her. However, I was suddenly pushed away by Orlando.

He protected Eleanor tightly in his arms. Orlando frowned and condescendingly looked at me.

“An amulet is just an amulet, Celine. I'll give you as much as you want, okay? Eleanor has thanked you, so don't be so small-minded.”

My eyes were instantly red. My fists also clenched.  “Orlando Humphrey, do you still remember what you said when I gave you this amulet?”

I had always been calm at this moment. But it was the first time he had seen me so out of control.

After a moment of surprise, he just wanted to reach over to wipe my tears. On the other side, Eleanor was still behind him. She suddenly held her stomach and screamed. It made Orlando instantly panicked. He held Eleanor and rushed towards the hospital.

I leaned against the table and my stomach tightened. With difficulty, I walked to the entrance of the neighbourhood to take a taxi.

Just as I arrived at the hospital, I saw Orlando holding Eleanor in line. I silently turned to another line.

After paying the fee, I was waiting at the door of the ultrasound room. Suddenly I was dragged into the stairwell. When I was caught off guard, my cheek was slapped hard.

It was Eleanor Celeste. Her small belly was slightly bulging. She looked at me with a disdainful face.

“Celine Reverie, are you cheap? Back then, when you went into premature labour, why didn't you die with that cheap bastard of yours?”

I was silenced. I looked at Eleanor with a frown. 

“You have to know that I told Orlando that I didn't want you to get pregnant with his child. So he cut one side of your fallopian tube during the operation. But now you're actually pregnant again?”

Hearing her mention that child, my heart twitched and tightened. It was because I knew that Orlando didn't love me that I didn't tell him about the pregnancy.

I realized that this child was mine alone. I promised I would take him with me. Then I would raise him well. My child would be the most important and the only family I had.

I also didn't expect that the man who comforted me countless times in the middle of the night, just watched me blame myself for not being able to give him a child. He also said that it didn't matter if there was no child. But he would actually be the cause of all this.

My heart seemed to be clenched by someone. I opened my mouth to gasp for air.

“It's a pity that even if you were pregnant, Richard Athelstan still chose me. Guess, who will Orlando choose this time?”

A bad premonition rose in my heart before I could react.

She had already pulled me towards the stairs and rolled down.

Behind me, Orlando's anxious voice exploded, “Save me.”

In a panic, I desperately grabbed the handle. I watched as Orlando chose to pull Eleanor into his arms with one hand between me and Eleanor Celeste.

I didn't care about my fall injury. The severe sharp pain coming from my belly made me suck in cold air.

I saw Orlando standing on the stairs. He only nervously checked Eleanor's injuries. Then he looked at me angrily with a disgusted gaze that I had never seen before.

“Celine Reverie, I have always been heartbroken that you lost your child and have taken good care of you. But I never thought that you would actually be so vicious like this. Just because you lost your own child, so you want to kill Eleanor Celeste's child too?”

I wanted to defend myself. Unfortunately, the pain made me unable to say a word. He carried Eleanor in his arms and left in large strides.

My eyes went black for a while. Before I lost consciousness, all I saw was his determined back.

When I woke up again, the doctor's regretful voice sounded in my ears, “The baby is healthy, what a pity.”

I let out a bitter smile at this moment. I didn't get to keep anything in the end. After opening the cell phone, Orlando's messages appeared on the notification screen. All of them were just very strong accusations.

Orlando: [Celine, do you know that Eleanor was in shock? She is now scared and crying all the time.]

Orlando: [You're so vicious, Celine.  You can't see anyone else's good!]

Orlando: [Even if it's just a child in the womb, it's still a living being, Celine. How could you do it?]

Orlando: [If you don't kneel down and apologize to Eleanor this time, don't even think about me forgiving you, Celine.]

I just looked at these text messages numbly. After catching up with the teaching team, I simply pulled out the phone card. It wasn't until the hospital couldn't find me in the evening that they called Orlando.

“Excuse me, may I ask if you are the family member of Celine Reverie who is in labour? Now we can't find anyone. We would like to ask if the embryos are handled by yourselves or if we will help you handle them?”