Blanche's POV
I opened my eyes to sterile white walls and the familiar antiseptic smell of a hospital room. Patty appeared at my bedside, clipboard in hand. "A couple more days, then you can head home. But you need real rest—no rushing back to work."
I agreed with a quiet nod. Extended time off work seemed right. My body deserved better treatment than I'd been giving it.
Once Patty disappeared down the hall, I reached for my phone. The blank screen stared back at me—no missed calls from Zain.
Last night clearly hadn't registered with him at all. But something fundamental had shifted inside me. The crushing weight of hope and disappointment finally lifted, leaving behind an unexpected sense of relief.
My thumb found the video app almost automatically. Joanna's latest post sat at the top of my feed, with that coy hint that we might be connected somehow. The clip showed her holding a small hand—even from behind, I knew it was Carry immediately. The caption was simple: "It feels good to be needed." The background was unmistakably our living room at Blissfield Villa.
A bitter smile tugged at my lips before I pressed down on the post and hit "Not Interested." No more watching their perfect life unfold from the sidelines.
That door had slammed shut forever.
After my discharge, I arranged for a live-in nurse and followed every piece of medical advice to the letter. Extended rest at home. When my recovery period ended, I paid the caregiver, slipped into a plain dress, touched up my makeup, and drove straight to Oakwood.
The scheduled day had arrived—our planned attempt at expanding the family. Physical intimacy with Zain had never brought me joy. He always finished quickly, his thoughts already racing back to Joanna. But tonight wasn't about conception. Tonight, I would finally ask for a divorce.
I pulled into Alexander Villa in the early evening. Cherry immediately bustled toward the kitchen when she spotted me.
Dinner passed quietly, then I climbed the stairs to the study.
The divorce papers lay exactly where I'd left them a month ago, completely untouched.
Zain obviously hadn't set foot in this house since then.
I settled in to wait, but late in the evening, my patience had worn thin.
Footsteps echoed in the hallway, and I looked up hopefully. But Cherry appeared in the doorway instead. "Mrs. Jacob, Mr. Jacob just phoned. He's tied up tonight and won't make it home. He wants you to try again next month."
A harsh laugh escaped my throat. I'd shown up this month, but next month? I wouldn't be here. This marriage had become a prison, and I was done serving my sentence. After a moment, I stood and grabbed my purse. "When he finally comes home, tell him I left something important on his desk."
Cherry nodded wordlessly.
I walked out of Alexander Villa with no clear destination in mind. My car moved through the city streets on autopilot until I found myself parked outside Oakwood Auditorium, watching crowds of young people stream out after some performance.
The crowd thinned until only a few figures remained. Zain and Joanna strolled together, each holding one of Carry's hands. Their faces glowed with shared happiness, a perfect family portrait that stopped my breath.
Carry tugged on Joanna's arm, her voice bright with excitement. "Miss Joanna, you sparkled like magic up there! Your piano was amazing. Will you teach me when I'm bigger? Please say yes!"
Joanna practically radiated beauty in her flowing white gown, luminous under the streetlights. She crouched to Carry's height, her smile warm and genuine as she tapped the girl's nose. "If you really want to learn, of course I'll teach you."
Carry practically vibrated with joy, then turned those bright eyes on Zain. "Daddy, isn't Miss Joanna the most wonderful person ever?"
Zain's expression softened completely, his face full of tender pride as he nodded.
Carry beamed. "I want to be exactly like Miss Joanna someday."
I sat frozen behind the windshield. That look of pure adoration in my daughter's eyes—I'd never been on the receiving end of it.
Marriage had swallowed me whole. Years of giving everything to this family had slowly erased who I used to be. To Carry, I was just the woman who cooked her meals, while Joanna seemed like some unreachable goddess. The truth cut through me like a blade.
At the auditorium entrance, Carry suddenly stretched her arms up high. "Miss Joanna, lift me up!" Zain moved smoothly between them, clearly concerned about Joanna's delicate evening dress. Carry's face fell immediately.
But Joanna read the situation perfectly. With a musical laugh, she scooped Carry into her arms, giving Zain a reassuring glance. "Don't worry, I've got this."
Zain's protective frown melted into something achingly tender as he watched them, his eyes soft with unmistakable love.
Joanna carried Carry down the steps, the little girl curled against her shoulder while Zain trailed behind, carefully lifting Joanna's gown to keep it from dragging. The same man who commanded boardrooms now gently protected a woman's dress. Within moments, all of them had climbed into the car and disappeared into the night.
A bitter laugh bubbled up from my chest. So this was his "important business."
I remained motionless in my seat, staring at nothing, until my phone suddenly buzzed.
Laird Dominic's name lit up the screen.
Laird ran the pediatric department where I worked.
Despite my surgical qualifications, returning after years as a stay-at-home mom meant starting over as a junior doctor. "Mr. Dominic," I answered professionally.
His voice came through crisp and clear. "We're fast-tracking your training completion. You can start regular shifts this Monday."
I hesitated, then ventured carefully, "What about that rural outreach program? The children's health screenings? I'd like to volunteer."
Laird sounded genuinely surprised. "That's demanding work with minimal career advancement. It's purely voluntary—the hospital isn't assigning anyone."
But my mind was already made up. "I want to go, Mr. Dominic. Consider it my therapeutic break."
Hearing my determination, Laird stopped arguing and approved an extended assignment.
——
Zain's POV
Time passed quickly. Carry had adapted beautifully to preschool. With family expectations mounting after consecutive failed months, I arrived at Alexander Villa earlier than expected on the scheduled day.
I walked through the door in the early evening. Cherry looked startled to see me before Blanche's return. "You're here early tonight, Mr. Jacob?"
Without responding to her question, I headed for the stairs. "Send Blanche to the bedroom when she arrives," I ordered curtly. Cherry nodded silently, watching me climb the steps.
I bypassed the study completely. There was no point in stopping anywhere else. My sole purpose for coming home was attempting to conceive another child.
After a hot shower, I settled into bed to wait for Blanche. Early evening became late evening, but Blanche never appeared. Just as my irritation peaked, footsteps finally approached the door.