Chapter 11
In that instant, Eugene felt like he’d been struck by lightning. The vague guess that had formed in his mind was now confirmed – Nerissa wanted to break up with him!
But why? They were supposed to be getting married on that day, and he knew it was something she’d dreamed of for years. How could she bear to give it up?
An image of Nerissa looking overly calm before he’d left the apartment appeared amid the chaos in his mind. It suddenly struck him that she’d wanted to say something to him at the time. However, he hadn’t bothered letting her finish because he’d been in a hurry to get to the hospital to check on Cassandra.
He remembered catching a final glimpse of Nerissa out of the corner of his eye before shutting the door. She’d been seated on the couch, her face devoid of any joy over their imminent marriage and wedding. She hadn’t even looked mad that he was leaving her the night before the wedding to see Cassandra.
She’d been still and unaffected, like a lake without ripples.
Was that what Nerissa had wanted to tell him the night before? That she wanted to call it quits?
Eugene fell onto the couch, feeling weak. His mind was a mess. His phone, which he’d thrown onto the coffee table, kept ringing with calls from his parents and friends. He didn’t have the strength to answer, though.
He couldn’t understand why Nerissa wanted to end their relationship. According to the hotel’s staff member, she’d canceled the wedding two weeks earlier.
Two weeks?
Eugene suddenly remembered that that was the day he’d learned about the artificial insemination being a success and that Cassandra was pregnant. He’d originally wanted to bring it up to Nerissa again so he could persuade her into agreeing to it.
But Cassandra had texted him and told him the results were out. She’d shared the good news with him. The joy had overwhelmed him, and he’d cut the conversation short so he could hurry to the hospital.
Memories of the past two weeks grew clearer in his mind’s eye. He remembered canceling the pre–wedding shoot and going on a trip with Cassandra… Yet Nerissa had acted like none of these things had to do with her! In the past, she would have kicked up a huge fuss.
Eugene’s panic and confusion grew. Had Nerissa already been planning to leave him at the time? But she knew Cassandra was his savior and that he was only doing this to repay her. Why couldn’t she be more understanding?
He’d only kept the artificial insemination from her because he’d thought it wouldn’t be successful on the first try. Cassandra wouldn’t have had much time left if he’d waited to do it after getting Nerissa’s permission–she would’ve missed out on the chance to experience the baby’s birth. That was why he’d donated his sperm so quickly.
His plan had been to continue persuading Nerissa while donating his sperm. He had faith that she would ultimately cave because of how much she loved him.
But he hadn’t expected things to work out so quickly, and that they would hit the jackpot on the first try. It had completely disrupted his plans.
Still, when Nerissa had found out about Cassandra’s pregnancy at the hospital, she hadn’t reacted with outrage or opposition. She also didn’t bring it up after that day. So, why would she want to end their relationship a day before the wedding?
Eugene had no idea that Nerissa hadn’t opposed anything because she’d already known about the pregnancy. The decision to break up with him also wasn’t one that she’d made hastily. The idea had taken root in her mind two weeks earlier; she’d only used the past 15 days to slowly drain herself of the remainder of her love for him.
He picked up his phone, unwilling to accept this. He called Nerissa again, and anger replaced his panic when the call connected
