Pain ripped through Vivi's body as she ruminated on her past as an orphan before getting adopted, and she couldn't tell if it was mainly from the bleeding or her heartache.
She clutched her stomach, her face blurry with tears, and the nurse stroked her back, her face filled with sympathy.
In the last twenty-four years of her life, she had lived as an orphan until her foster parents took her in.
She had clung to Alder as proof that someone could accept her despite her past. And now even that was slipping away.
The only reason why she hadn't broken down completely and lost it despite Alder's affair rumors with Lyra was because of her baby.
She used to think Alder was the best thing, a man that could accept her despite her being an orphan, but then, he proved her wrong.
"Please, Mrs. Duvall," the doctor urged,
"You must make the decision before it's too late."
Vivienne reached for her phone with trembling hands, braving her pain. She had texted Ken hours earlier, but still there was no response.
As she made to dial Alder's number again, a new message lit up her screen and it turned out to be from a former colleague at Alder's company.
She opened it, hoping for news. Instead, a video played.
It was Alder, carrying Lyra in his arms, dressed in the same clothes she had seen that morning. He set her into his car as if she were a rare jewel he was guarding.
The sight shattered Vivienne's last thread of hope as the video played again. With a cry, she hurled the phone to the floor in anger.
"Mrs. Duvall?" the doctor called, startled.
Vivienne gripped the bed rails, her voice low but firm through her tears.
"I consent."
The doctor motioned for the nurses, and her bed was pushed toward the operating room.
Two agonizing hours later, Vivi barely survived surgery, but Alder never arrived.
She was wheeled back into her private ward, alone and without anyone by her side.
The only person she had left in her whole life was her foster mother, who was sick and dying in the hospital.
Despite how much she wanted to cry, Vivi couldn't find any more tears, and it seemed like the tears on her face disappeared too, along with her child.
Despite her grief, exhaustion pulled her under, and she fell asleep, waking up much later to her head pounding from the anesthetic.
She turned weakly to grab a glass of water, but a hand beat her to it, holding the cup out to her.
Alder.
He was standing in front of her with his rigid, expressionless look.
Vivi didn't flinch and pretended not to see him. She grabbed another glass and poured the water herself, then placed the glass aside.
She heard him sigh, then drop the glass in his hand as well, and sit next to her.
Alder reached out to hold Vivi's hand, but he changed his mind again and simply asked her about the doctor's report.
"I heard from Ken that the baby was removed," he said, as if the baby wasn't his own flesh and blood.
"When did the doctor say you will be able to leave?" he asked.
"Really?" Vivi thought in disbelief, turning her face away.
He couldn't even wait to stay with her for a few hours and was already eager to leave.
"You can leave if you want. I will be staying here for a few days," she answered him, grumbling, and Alder stood up.
"I will ask the housekeeper to bring you whatever you will need then. I need to get back to work," he told her, but Vivi didn't care.
She heard him walking away and wanted to turn again, but heard him return to her side and frowned.
"I'm sorry you lost the child," he said, and Vivi couldn't be more furious at him.
Of course, he was sorry.
He never once cared about the child. When she told him the news about her pregnancy, he simply nodded and told her congratulations.
She was the one who got all excited and asked that they celebrate the good news.
But then, he ditched her to go work overtime in a hotel with Lyra.
The tears that seemed to cease earlier flowed freely again, and this time, Vivi tried to stop them, but her emotions were too strong.
She sobbed quietly, trying not to let him hear her, but he did and came closer.
"Vivi…" he said, but the door creaked open, stopping whatever he had to say, and Lyra walked in.
She wore a black dress, Alder's favourite color, and red heels, with mild makeup.
Her heels struck the floor with a silent sound, and she looked even more beautiful with that careless smile resting on her face.
"Vivienne," she called, her face etched with worries.
"Oh my god, I'm so sorry about your baby," she muttered, placing her hand in Alder's.
"I know it must be hard losing your first child," she added, resting her eyes on Alder.
Vivi scoffed bitterly, angry that they couldn't be bothered to hide their nonsense even in front of her.
"Thank you," Alder replied to Lyra, holding her hand as well.
Vivi's stomach twisted and she felt irritated at their sight.
"Why are you here?" she asked coldly.
"Alder tried to leave the office as soon as we got your call," Lyra answered, not letting go of his hand.
"But my monthly visitor came and we couldn't leave immediately. Please don't blame Alder," she said, like she was sorry that her menstrual cycle caused Alder to come to her only now.
Her menstrual.
Vivi laughed at her own stupidity. She had been fighting for her child's life, bleeding and screaming on the hospital bed, while her husband stayed away to care for another woman's menstrual cramps.
She stared at Alder, who had his eyes on Lyra, ignoring the pain and anger in hers.
"What did the doctor say? When will you be fit to return to the house?" Lyra went on.
Vivi didn't answer. She just turned her back to them.
Alder stood up and turned to Lyra, asking her to stay with Vivienne while he went to meet with the doctor.
The moment they were alone, Lyra's gentle face melted into a smug smile, and she moved closer to Vivienne on the bed.
"You must feel very awful," she said, her words filled with mockery.