Chapter 7

Ten years ago, before Daniel and I were married, I discovered I was pregnant.

I was young.

Terrified.

Our families were strict.

We weren’t married.

Everyone feared scandal.

Daniel was terrified too.

We cried.

We argued.

Then, together, we made a decision neither of us would ever truly recover from.

We ended the pregnancy.

Afterward, we barely spoke about it.

We simply continued with our wedding plans.

Years passed.

But the memory never disappeared.

I kept a small box hidden in my closet.

Inside was the only thing I had left from that time.

A hospital bracelet.

I hadn’t opened that box in years.

Until Daniel asked me to come back.

That night, I took it out.

I stared at the bracelet for a long time.

Then I noticed something beneath it.

A folded piece of paper.

I didn’t remember putting it there.

I opened it.

My hands began shaking.

It was Daniel’s handwriting.

And the first sentence read:

“Clara, if I ever become the man you hate, please remember that I loved our child.”

I stopped breathing.