"Darling, I miss you..."

"Tomorrow, okay? It's late... What if she gets suspicious?"

"Then wait for me."

Archer ended the call and saw me standing by the glass door.

His face went stiff. I played along, acting like I just woke up, pushed open the patio door, and walked into his arms as if nothing was wrong.

"Why didn't you wake me when you got back?"

I yawned, rubbing my eyes.

Seeing my act, Archer visibly relaxed. "Didn't want to disturb you," he said.

Then he noticed my bare feet. "Why aren't you wearing slippers? You'll catch a cold!" he fussed.

His concern caught in my throat, but my heart felt like ice.

Back in bed, after I lay down, Archer came to my side. He crouched down, touched my face, then rested his hand on my stomach.

I felt the warmth I used to cherish and looked into his eyes.

Archer flinched, his gaze darting away.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

He feigned a complaint. "Got an urgent call from the office. They need me back. I don't want to go, though. I'd rather stay home with you and the baby."

Looking at his fake concern, I felt sick.

But I forced a smile. "Work comes first. You should go."

I heard the front door close. A sharp pain shot through my lower abdomen. I stumbled to the bathroom and threw up again.

Sitting on the bed, dazed, my phone buzzed twice.

I picked it up and saw the photos I'd received.

They were from the private investigator.

Just as I'd suspected, Archer hadn't gone to the office.

One photo showed his car parked outside an apartment building.

A woman stood by it, seemingly waiting for him.

Under the streetlight, Archer took off his jacket, draping it over her slender shoulders.

Scrolling down, I saw them go upstairs together.

I returned to the chat window, typed a quick reply, tossed the phone aside, and lay back down.

The result was, as expected, exactly what I'd feared.

The figures in the photos weren't crystal clear, but I recognized the woman.

It was Lilith Bishop, my best friend since middle school.

Lilith and I had met in middle school.

I was always the quiet type, often spending P.E. classes reading under a tree.

No one really bothered me back then.

Then, one day, Lilith just barged into my quiet little world.

She was super bubbly and outgoing, yet she insisted on sticking by me, the quiet, reserved me.

And so, we'd been inseparable for years.

These two people I knew best – when did they start seeing each other behind my back?

Even though I should have accepted it the moment I saw the messages on Archer's phone, a tiny sliver of hope had clung on.

Until I saw the photos, the undeniable intimacy, and that last shred of hope shattered.

Feeling dizzy, I thought maybe this was all just a really bad dream.

With that thought, I drifted off to sleep.

In my dream, I was back in high school, walking to and from school with Archer.

Seventeen-year-old Archer in his school blazer, shyly confessing his feelings.

Archer on the basketball court, turning to wave at me after sinking a three-pointer.

Archer, flustered and blushing, fetching hot water for me when he found out I had my period, making me herbal tea.

All these were memories from when we were seventeen.

Later in the dream, the mood shifted drastically.

I saw, in a corner I'd never noticed before, that when Archer waved on the basketball court, he wasn't just waving at me. He was also waving at Lilith, who was smiling behind me.

The herbal tea? He'd borrowed it from Lilith. She'd teased him until he blushed, he shot her a glance, and walked away.

And finally, our graduation prom. Archer proposed to me.

With tears in my eyes, I watched him slip the ring onto my finger, our friends cheering.

Archer leaned in to kiss me, but his eyes never left Lilith's. A silent, unwavering gaze passed between them over my shoulder.