Preston Maxwell’s colleague, Daisy Palmer, was very pregnant. She waltzed through the front door, belly first, demanding the last gift from her registry, right as I was putting the finishing touches on our wedding decor. “Are you serious?” I managed, my voice raw. Preston looked utterly bewildered by my reaction. “I just helped her out with a sperm donation, Cathy. I’ve been nothing but faithful to you.” Then, he actually took her to the mall to pick out the gift. I immediately shared the story to our synchronized family group chat, canceling the wedding. But everyone seemed to think I was overreacting. Preston’s mother, Mrs. Maxwell, spoke in a long-suffering, patient tone: “Preston is handsome and has an Ivy League degree. Genes like that should be passed on. It’s practically a public service.” His father, Mr. Maxwell, scoffed: “He didn’t cheat on you. Why are you making such a big deal out of nothing?” My own father was so enraged he nearly had a heart attack: “You stubborn fool! This is a perfect match. You dare throw it away?” My mother wailed dramatically: “Cancel this, and you’ll never find another husband!” “Then I’ll never marry!” I shot back, my eyes burning. But then my phone buzzed with a message from someone else: “Cathy Jensen, when do I finally get the way to the top?” ... That evening, Preston gently ushered Daisy Palmer through the door. They had bought a massive box of toys for the unborn baby. Daisy lightly stroked her bump, and they exchanged a look that was undeniably filled with the shared, uncomplicated joy of impending parenthood. When she saw me, Daisy offered a small, neatly wrapped box. “Cathy, this is a gift I picked out just for you. I only found out today how upset you were about all this, so please take this as… a small apology.” I didn’t even look. It hit the bottom of the Restoration Hardware trash bin with a satisfying, hollow thud. Daisy’s practiced smile evaporated. Tears immediately tracked down her cheeks. “Cathy, I… I’m so sorry.” She choked back a sob and instinctively shrank behind Preston. Preston immediately shielded her. He looked at me with a weary, almost patronizing air. “Cathy, don’t be like this.” “I was just doing my part to donate high-quality genes, in line with the department’s initiative. Daisy’s a committed single mother by choice. She just wanted a baby, not a husband.” “We’re just colleagues. Seriously, there’s nothing going on.” “Just colleagues?” My voice shook. “Colleagues who text ‘Good morning’ and ‘Good night’ every single day? Colleagues who share a private Spotify playlist? Colleagues who cover for her at client dinners and drive her the twenty extra miles home after a late shift?” He pinched the bridge of his nose, a gesture of exhaustion. “There you go again. I’ve explained all of this. It’s just professional courtesy. You’re being paranoid and reading into things.” I laughed, a sharp, cold sound. His excuses were pathetic and weak—casual workplace exchanges, a mentor looking out for a junior team member. They were full of holes, yet for five years, I had chosen to stitch them shut with my trust. But five years of my life. I couldn’t just let it end like this. I gritted my teeth, pointing at Daisy’s stomach, testing him one last time. “Fine. I’m the paranoid one. I misunderstood everything.” I stared into Preston’s eyes. “She can get rid of the baby. And I’ll consider everything forgotten. The wedding is back on.” “Absolutely not!” Preston’s voice cracked with sudden rage, though he quickly forced it down. “The baby is Daisy’s. I have no right to decide that.” Daisy instantly went pale. Then, with a dramatic gasp, she dropped to her knees. She clasped her hands over her stomach. “Cathy, there’s nothing between Preston and me. The baby is eight months old. He was just kicking me. I can’t, I can’t…” She was sobbing, trembling like a leaf. Preston’s face was a mask of internal conflict. After a few agonizing seconds, his composure broke. He helped her up, his smile forced and weak. “Cathy, asking her to terminate the pregnancy now is like tearing her heart out.” I watched him, a cold smirk twisting my lips. “Oh. Does that hurt your heart?” Preston visibly flinched. A look of genuine pain flashed across his face. “I didn’t think you could be so ruthless. If this is a condition of our marriage, then we truly aren’t the same kind of people… We should break up.” “Preston is innocent, Cathy! Don’t take this out on him!” Daisy suddenly shrieked. “If you want to blame someone, blame me! I can’t give up my baby… I’ll prove our innocence by ending my own life right now!” Before the words were out, she made a stumbling rush toward the balcony, making a show of trying to climb over the railing. My heart flew into my throat. I automatically started toward her. Preston was already moving, pure panic on his face. But before either of us could reach her, Daisy simply collapsed onto the floor, hyperventilating and weeping uncontrollably. Preston immediately wrapped her in his arms, his whole body shaking. After a long moment, he looked up, his eyes glacial as they fixed on me, still standing there. “Charlotte Jensen! Your baseless accusations nearly killed her!” His look was utterly cold, as if he were staring at a stranger. “She’s a young woman, pregnant, and vulnerable. You can stand there and watch her suffer, but I can’t.” His voice was vibrating with emotion. He carefully lifted Daisy into his arms. As he passed me, he growled, “Move.” I stood paralyzed, trying to form the words. “I wasn’t going to…” “Preston, the baby… I think the baby is coming.” Daisy moaned weakly, then went limp in his arms. “Daisy!” Preston’s face went white. He shoved past me with urgent force, carrying Daisy out the door. I sank onto the floor, biting down hard on my lip, trying to contain the freezing despair welling up inside me. I stayed awake, staring at the ceiling until dawn. My phone finally lit up with a text from Preston: I was out of line last night. I said things I didn't mean. Cathy, I'm sorry. My nose started to sting. Tears immediately welled up. For years, he was always the one to apologize first after a fight, and I would always take the graceful path back to him. But this time was different. This was a line I could never uncross. Before I could reply, he sent a photo. It was of him and a newborn baby. The tiny infant was tucked gently into his arm. He was looking down at her with a tenderness that made his eyes look like soft spring water. Daisy had an early labor, but they’re both safe. The baby looks exactly like me. She’s alone, so I’m staying here at the hospital for three days to help out. Let’s push the wedding back a week. I can’t deal with all the planning right now. These simple, everyday words, every single one of them, felt like a spike driven through my chest. I numbly stood up and began systematically peeling the wedding stickers off the walls. Then I took scissors to the gown, reducing the silk and lace to a heap of worthless scraps. My fingers were shaking uncontrollably as I packed my suitcase. Just as I zipped it shut, Mrs. Maxwell burst in, her face beaming. “Preston asked me to bring him a change of clothes at the hospital. Honestly, I’m so eager to see my granddaughter!” When I didn’t speak, she took my arm with false warmth. “Cathy, look, Preston was wrong. He shouldn’t have kept the ‘donation’ a secret and embarrassed you. But it’s not some unforgivable sin, is it?” “We know you two are solid. You can’t let something this small ruin everything. Just forget what you said in the group chat. It was just heat of the moment.” “Come on, let’s go see the baby together. Give Preston an out, and we’ll forget this whole messy thing ever happened.” Like a puppet, I allowed her to drag me along. When I finally came back to myself, I was standing outside the hospital room. Daisy was lying weakly on the bed, her pale face still streaked with tears, a clear indication of a difficult labor. Preston was holding the baby, softly humming a lullaby. Mr. Maxwell smiled, a rare sight. “Preston’s an airline executive. Let’s call her Clarity. A clear new start.” “Don’t be ridiculous!” Mrs. Maxwell chided. “That’s no name for a baby girl!” She eagerly reached out to take the baby. Preston shifted away. “Mom, don’t. You’ll hurt her. I’ve got her.” He glanced up and caught sight of me. His eyes instantly lit up. “Cathy, come look at her. Look how tiny her hands and feet are.” He leaned down to kiss the baby, then stopped abruptly, looking panicked, like a scolded child. “Wait, wait, Dad can’t give you any germs.” I had never seen him look so tender, so endearingly clumsy. This was the clumsy, gentle side of a new father. He was desperate to show his joy to the world, but I was the one person who should have been excluded from it. My face felt stiff as I managed a tight smile and turned to leave. Preston rushed to catch me, carefully presenting the swaddled infant to me. “Cathy, look. Doesn’t her nose and mouth look exactly like mine?” I looked down. The tiny face was indeed an exact, uncanny miniature of his. The similarity stabbed my eyes. My throat felt instantly thick. I coldly pushed the bundle away. Staring at Preston’s expectant face, I suddenly didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of my pain. “Take her away. She’s ugly. She’s annoying to look at.” The baby started to wail. Preston’s expression instantly turned cold. He gently patted the child, comforting her. Mrs. Maxwell glared at me, her gaze like a knife. “You’re the one who’s annoying!” Mr. Maxwell simply pointed toward the door. “You’re not welcome here. Get out!” Daisy, on the bed, suddenly stirred. “Cathy…” She pleaded with the Maxwells. “Could I please speak with Cathy alone?” As soon as the door closed, Daisy offered a small, apologetic smile. “Cathy, I don’t want to break you two up. Preston really loves you. Actually, that night, he was drunk, and we just…” My mind went blank with a sudden roar. “It wasn’t a sperm donation?” She looked away. “Preston insisted on keeping it a secret so you wouldn’t be hurt.” “By the time I found out I was pregnant, I was three months along. He was furious. He said he’d pay me a huge sum for hush money once the baby was born and told me never to mention it again.” “Then why are you telling me now?” I asked coldly. “Why did you intentionally show up at my house, pregnant? Why didn’t you keep the secret forever?” She clearly hadn’t anticipated my directness. Her face shifted colors before she finally pursed her lips and stayed silent. I laughed with a bitter edge. “You’ve won. Preston and I are over. Your family of three can live happily ever after. What is it you’re still worried about?” She suddenly looked up, her eyes flashing with a strange, triumphant light. The next second, she rolled straight off the bed in front of me, landing on the floor with a loud thud. She immediately began screaming in terrified hysterics. “Cathy! I was wrong! Please don’t hit me!” I was stunned, utterly speechless. Before I could react, a powerful force yanked me away. Snap! My cheek burned, and I instantly tasted the metallic tang of blood in my mouth. Mr. Maxwell’s face was dark with fury. He pointed a trembling finger at me. “You brazen fool! This is a hospital! You think you can act like an animal here?” He raised his hand to strike again, but Preston intercepted him. “Dad, she’s my fiancée. I’ll handle it.” He pulled me into the hallway, found a packet of ice, and gently held it to my swelling cheek. “I didn’t push her…” I mumbled, looking down. “Mmm,” he replied softly, neither angry nor curious. I knew him too well. That silence was the worst kind of denial. If he believed me, he would fight for me. If he didn't, he would simply say nothing. But if he didn't believe me, why was he being so gentle? Tears finally overflowed, splattering hot and wet onto the back of his hand. He snatched his hand back as if burned. He stood up. “If you’re just going to stand here and upset Daisy and the baby, you should go home.” I reached out, grabbing the edge of his jacket, tears blurring my vision. “Just trust me this once. Please?” He let out a deep sigh. He gently unpeeled my fingers one by one. His face was etched with total disappointment. “Cathy, I can overlook all the crazy things you’ve done. I love you too much not to. But you need to be honest with me.” His phone suddenly rang—Daisy’s specialized ringtone. It was a cheesy, emotional pop ballad called, “Heaven Is a Place on Earth.” I once asked him, “Is it appropriate to have a special ringtone for a female colleague?” He looked baffled. “She likes the song, I set it for her. Don’t overthink it.” I watched him answer the call, then turn and walk away without a backward glance. I sat alone on the bench, my cheek throbbing, laughing and crying all at once, like someone suddenly diagnosed with a terminal illness. He told me I needed to be honest? Had he been honest with me? I went back to the apartment and collected my things. I thought about going to my parents’ house, but they video-called me first. My father clutched his chest, pointing a trembling finger at me. “The Maxwells called! They said you showed up at the hospital like a maniac and attacked the poor girl who just gave birth! What were you thinking? The hospital CEO is my friend! He’s asking what the hell is going on! You’ve embarrassed the Jensen name!” My father started gasping. My mother rushed to get his pills, then glared at me. “Preston already explained everything! She’s just a colleague! You forced him to cheat! You’re driving him away!” She spotted the swelling on my face and sneered. “Serves you right!” “What did I do wrong that you all have to condemn me?” I took a shuddering breath, my voice hoarse. “Why will you believe total strangers over me?” “Believe what? Tell us!” my parents demanded, speaking over each other. Looking at their cold, resolute faces, I just deflated. “Never mind.” I frantically hung up the call. I couldn’t let them see my tears. Otherwise, I’d just hear the usual, “What else are you good for besides weeping?” In that moment, I realized I had nowhere to go. My phone vibrated. Sam Sullivan: “Cathy, when do I finally get the way to the top?” “Now.” I replied instantly, without thinking. Sam, the high school failure who used to be at the bottom of the class, suddenly transformed his senior year and followed me to the same university. He’d relentlessly pursued me for years, and I had rejected his hundred proposals. Who would want the cute, but utterly useless, class clown? Even if his smile made my heart skip a beat, the answer was always no. After college, I got with Preston. Sam went to Switzerland for grad school, but his messages never stopped. From daily check-ins and sharing life updates to the relentless question every few days: “When do I finally get the way to the top?” I had never replied. He was like a tireless robot, never giving up. Thinking of this, I sent him another text: “Three days from now. Straight to the altar. You want that spot or not?” Slam! The apartment door flew open. Preston stood in the doorway, his face a thundercloud, his eyes locked on me. “Charlotte Jensen! What the hell did you do to my shirt!” “Wh—" “Shut up!” He lunged forward, grabbing my wrist and slamming me against the wall. I had never seen him look like this. His eyes were bloodshot, his breath ragged. “I was wearing the shirt you brought me when I held the baby. Within ten minutes, she had a full-body rash and respiratory distress! She’s in the NICU right now!” “She’s a newborn! Cathy, you give me an explanation!” “I didn’t do anything!” My wrist felt crushed. I struggled to break free. “Let me go…” Before I could finish, he swung his fist. I instinctively squeezed my eyes shut and turned my head. There was a sickening crack next to my ear. His fist had struck the wall beside my head. When I opened my eyes, I saw blood seeping from his knuckles. “Preston,” I whispered, my voice shaking uncontrollably. “Were you… were you actually going to hit me?” He seemed to snap out of a trance. He instantly released me and pulled me into a desperate embrace. “Cathy, I… I panicked. I’m so sorry.” “I told you I could overlook anything you did. But this is too far. Daisy is crying, saying she wants to die with the baby. Go down on your knees and apologize to her, okay?” Hot tears dripped onto my neck. “Do it for me, Cathy. I promise you, if you just apologize, we can still get married.” The man who hadn’t cried when he shattered his ribs in a flight training accident was crying now. A man’s tears meant he had a weakness. Daisy and the baby were his. I looked at his trembling shoulders and smiled, a strange, hollow smile. “Fine. I’ll apologize.” He visibly relaxed, relief washing over him. “Good. We’ll go to the hospital right now.” He reached for my hand. I pulled away, my face expressionless. “I can walk myself.” “Okay,” he nodded, but still hurried me. “Come on. I’m worried about Daisy losing it…” When we reached the entrance to the NICU, Daisy dropped to the floor and grabbed my legs, holding on for dear life. “Cathy, please! You can take my life! Just let the baby be okay!” She was screaming hysterically, sobbing and shaking. I was so angry I laughed. I reached down to pull her up. “Stop the act. I should be the one kneeling. Please, Miss Palmer, take my fiancé and leave me alone.” She snapped her head up. A flicker of triumph crossed her eyes, instantly replaced by terror. “No! No, that’s not it! Preston is yours forever. I would never dream of stealing him! I just want to live quietly with my baby.” “Get up!” I’d completely lost my patience. She grabbed my hand. I yanked my hand away in disgust. She used the momentum to throw herself backward, her head hitting the floor with a heavy thud. She let out another bloodcurdling shriek. “Enough!” Preston rushed over to help her up. He looked at me as if I were a terrifying monster. “Cathy Jensen, don’t come back here if you won’t apologize! Daisy just gave birth, and the baby is fighting for her life. How can you be so cruel?” I just looked down, unable to find anything to say. He wouldn’t believe me anyway, would he? After a long silence, Preston gave a self-deprecating laugh. “Forget it. Why do I expect an explanation? I’ve seen you hurt Daisy and the baby with my own eyes. Just go home. You’re only making things worse here.” “The baby’s parents! Who are the baby’s parents?” a doctor suddenly called out. Preston turned without hesitation, escorting Daisy away. The doctor scowled at me. “Non-essential personnel, don’t cause a disturbance.” He was right. They were the parents. I was the extraneous personnel. Twice in one day I had subjected myself to this humiliation. To everyone here, I was just a vicious, insane woman. Suddenly, all my strength left me. I swayed backward, only to fall into a warm embrace. Sam Sullivan steadied me. He looked intensely excited. “Cathy Jensen, you said ‘Now.’ Is the way to the top for real?”
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