Chapter 4
I stayed in the hospital until noon the next day. While I was there, Brandon sent me one message: Jen’s ceiling is leaking, so I’m taking her back to our place. I knew right away it wasn’t from him–it had Jenna’s fingerprints all over it. When I got home, the door code didn’t work. As I was about to try again, the door opened from the inside. Jenna stood there in my apron, smiling brightly. “Sylvia, you’re finally home! The old code was too hard for me to remember, so Brandon changed it to my birthday. Come in, I’ll get you some water!” She welcomed me like she owned the place. The smell of food drifted in from the kitchen. She ran to the doorway and called out, “Brandon, Sylvia’s back!” Brandon stepped out, wearing the same couple’s apron I’d bought for him. He used to say it was too childish and refused to wear it. Now that I saw him in it, I thought he looked ridiculous. He glanced at me briefly and said softly to Jenna, “Go rest in the bedroom for a bit.” Jenna nodded, grabbed a bag of nuts and snacks, and disappeared into my bedroom. It was just me and Brandon now. His expression hardened. “So, you finally decided to come home?” I ignored the accusation in his tone and asked calmly, “Jenna… is eating nuts?” I remembered when Jenna first got pregnant. I’d made her a special meal, and I’d sprinkled a few nuts on it. She’d had a severe allergic reaction, and Brandon had lost it on me. Brandon frowned, clearly confused. “What are you talking about?” It was obvious he didn’t remember. I wasn’t about to explain it. “Never mind.” He didn’t push, just looked me over. “Anyway, go freshen up. It’s Jen’s birthday, and I’ve booked a private room at the karaoke bar. Just keep it light on the makeup, okay? Don’t outshine the birthday girl.” I shot back without thinking, “I’m busy. You guys go ahead.” Brandon frowned, irritation flickering in his eyes. “Jen already told her friends we’re throwing her a birthday party. If you don’t show up, it’ll be embarrassing for her. Look, I know you’re feeling jealous because she’s young and can have kids, but it’s not Jen’s fault you can’t get pregnant. Why keep competing with her? Here’s the deal: you celebrate her birthday tonight, and I’ll grant you a wish later. You can pick anywhere you want to travel.” I hesitated for a moment, then smiled and said, “Okay.” That evening, I put on my best makeup and arrived at the KTV room right on time. When Brandon spotted me, he was momentarily speechless. He walked over and took my hand, looking a little awestruck. Jenna’s expression shifted slightly, but she quickly regained her composure and introduced me to her friends, acting all graceful and charming. Her long-distance boyfriend lounged in the corner, lazily blowing smoke rings as if he were the king of the room. A waiter wheeled in the three-tier cake Brandon had ordered for her, and the atmosphere buzzed with excitement. As she made her wishes, Jenna clasped her hands together, her smile radiant and serene, like a princess. “I have three wishes! First, Brandon can’t call me a little troublemaker anymore!” “Second, Brandon can’t ignore Sylvia because of me!” “Third, I wish I could pass my easy-pregnancy genes to Sylvia so she can have a baby for my brother soon!” Just as she finished speaking, my bag slipped from my hand, and a piece of paper tumbled out. Brandon picked it up, and when he saw the words “Post-Abortion Care Instructions” printed on it, his face went pale. “Sylvia, what’s this?”