Chapter 2

It was an ultrasound report—a pregnancy test result. And the name of the expectant mother was none other than Serafina Rosi.

The gestation period noted on the report made my head spin.

It was clearly written: three weeks pregnant.

This meant that over a month ago, Vincent had already undergone in-vitro fertilization with Serafina. He never once considered discussing this with me, never sought my consent.

Why, then, had Vincent spent the past month relentlessly trying to “convince” me? Was it just to ease his own conscience? What exactly did he take me for?

I felt all the strength drain from my body, collapsing onto the cold marble floor. My heart felt as though it was being squeezed by an invisible hand, making it impossible to breathe.

No wonder Vincent couldn’t hide the glint of joy in his eyes earlier. No wonder he had hurried off after that phone call. He already knew—the embryo had successfully implanted, and Serafina was pregnant.

By now, he was probably at the hospital, celebrating with Serafina and her entire family.

I closed my eyes in agony, a wave of desolation spreading through me. I couldn’t believe it—the man I had loved for so many years was now going to become the father of someone else’s child.

Just two months ago, he had proposed to me. We were planning a grand wedding next month, one that would be the talk of Chicago. We had already booked the Vera Wang wedding gown and secured the banquet hall at the hotel.

I had been so looking forward to that day—walking down the aisle with him, hand in hand, stepping into our shared future.

But now, all those dreams had evaporated, dissolving into thin air.

My phone buzzed, jolting me from my thoughts. It was my professor, Dr. Aya Shama.

I instinctively picked up the call.

Dr. Shama’s clear, rational voice came through. “Eleanor, I know you’re getting married soon, but I wanted to ask you one last time. Have you reconsidered the DARPA project?”

“You’re the most talented student I’ve ever had. The Department of Defense specifically requested you to join. Considering that you’re about to start a family, they’ve made an exception—you’d be allowed external communication once every two months, so you could stay in touch with your husband.”

I had known about the secret laboratory nestled deep in the Nevada desert for half a year. Professor Shama had personally invited me to join the project.

But entering that base would mean complete isolation from the outside world until the project’s first phase was complete. It could take as little as a year or two—or stretch into three to five years.

I hadn’t wanted to be apart from Vincent for that long, nor could I bear the thought of losing contact with him. So I had turned down the offer.

But now, all I could see in my mind was that ultrasound image.

Vincent was already going to be the father of someone else’s child.

If he never cared about our relationship or our impending marriage, then there was no reason for this wedding to happen at all.

My grip on the phone tightened unconsciously.

“Dr. Shama, I’m willing to join the project. No special accommodations are needed. I’ll adhere to the standard confidentiality protocols.”

On the other end of the line, Dr. Shama’s voice lit up with excitement. “That’s wonderful! They’ll be thrilled to have you.”

“When do you plan to come over? How about a week after the wedding? That way, you can at least enjoy a honeymoon.”

I replied softly, “No need. The day of the wedding will be fine.”

My gaze fell on the calendar on the table.

The date—next month, on the 10th—was circled boldly in red marker.

I had marked it to remind myself how close I was to fulfilling my dream.

Now, it had become a countdown to my departure from Vincent.

Fifteen days left.

This would be my final farewell to twenty-odd years of love.

In fifteen days, Vincent Moretti and I would become strangers.