Chapter 39

Angela POV

"Or are you actually insecure about him?"

She didn't flinch, but I could see her jaw tighten. For a moment, we just stood there, staring at each other.

Seeing she wasn't going to give in that easily, I softened my voice, stepping a little closer to her.

"Look, don't worry. Elizabeth's surgery is in a few days. Just hang in there a little longer. As long as everything goes as planned, I'll leave, and I won't come back for five years."

She folded her arms, her voice quiet but firm. "Alright. I'll trust you-for now. But you'd better keep your word when the time comes."

With that, she turned and walked out of my office without another word.

The sound of her footsteps faded, leaving the room in a thick, almost eerie silence.

I exhaled and let my gaze drop, my hand instinctively resting on my stomach.

"Baby," I whispered softly. "Let's just hope everything goes smoothly. When it's time, I'll take you to meet your grandfather. He'll love you so much."

The thought of my father brought a bittersweet ache to my chest. I had meant to tell him about the pregnancy. But every time I called, he was too busy.

The first time, he had rushed through the conversation, his voice distracted. The second time, he barely gave me a chance to speak before hanging up.

I understood why. His career was his focus right now-his comeback, his work.

The day before Elizabeth's surgery, Sean and I decided to visit her at the nursing home, hoping to ease some of her anxiety. We picked up a few gifts, wanting to lift her spirits.

As soon as we arrived, I started sharing some funny stories from work-tales of strange clients and bizarre situations that had happened over the past week. Elizabeth's laughter filled the room, and for a moment, I could see the tension in her face start to fade.

Sean didn't say much, just sitting quietly beside me, watching. I caught his gaze more than once-gentle, warm, and strangely soft. It was a look I didn't often see from him.

As the evening wore on, I suggested that I stay the night with Elizabeth. I thought she might appreciate the company before her surgery tomorrow, but she waved it off with a tired smile.

"No need," she said. "I'm not a child. You two should go home and rest. Come back tomorrow."

I hesitated, but Sean stepped in and gently placed his hand on my arm. "Since Grandma says so, we'll come back early tomorrow."

Elizabeth nodded. "Exactly. It's late, and I need to rest."

I gave in, though reluctantly, and stepped forward to give her a hug.

"Alright," she said, reaching up to pinch my nose with a teasing grin. "You're getting more and more talkative, huh?"

I smiled, but inside, my heart tightened. I couldn't shake the feeling that it might be the last time I saw her. I pushed the thought away, not wanting to dwell on it.

Once we were back at home, sean slipped off his jacket, and his deep voice cut through the silence.

"Go take a shower, then rest early."

"Okay," I nodded, turning to grab my clothes.

But before I could leave, something lingered in my mind. I had been holding onto a question all day, one I wasn't sure was the right time to ask.

"Sean," I said, turning back around, "I need to ask you something."

He had already begun untying his tie, but when he heard my voice, he stopped. His dark eyes fixed on mine, sharp and unreadable.

"Go ahead,"

I hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Should we go to the divorce office before Grandma's surgery tomorrow, or wait until after?"

As soon as the words left my mouth, I felt the atmosphere shift. It was as if the air had grown colder, heavier.

I immediately realized it probably wasn't the right time to ask, especially with everything going on with Elizabeth. She was about to undergo surgery, and Sean was likely feeling the pressure of it all.

"I'm sorry," I said quickly, rushing to backtrack. "I shouldn't have brought this up now. Let's wait until after her surgery. You should rest."

But before I could turn to leave, Sean stepped forward, blocking my path. His voice dropped low, almost like a warning.

"You really want to get a divorce tomorrow, don't you?"

That wasn't what I meant, but before I could explain, he cut me off, his tone turning ice-cold. "Then, as you wish. We'll go to the civil affairs office when it opens tomorrow."

"Sean..." I stood there in shock for a moment, not sure what to say.

Sean didn't wait for me to respond. Without another glance, he turned and walked into the bathroom, his back stiff with tension.

The bathroom door slammed shut with a deafening bang.

I stood by the bed, my eyes lingering on the wedding photo still sitting on the bedside table. It felt surreal to look at it now, like a