Chapter 2 CHAPTER
CHAPTER 002
Eilidh lost her sight while watching Callum walk away. He moved without delay and without turning around. He ascended the staircase without turning back while she remained frozen in place to watch him go. His words became a heavy burden that crushed her chest.
The expected outcome did not align with this reality.
Her heartbeat raced as she hurried after him while her feet pounded against the stairs. Her heart dropped when she entered their bedroom. It was empty. The unmade bed appeared icier than it had ever been before. She swallowed hard.
Callum had spent multiple sleepless nights in this bed. She had convinced herself that he required time to himself. She believed everything would return to its previous state. His decision seemed to have been made before she reached him.
She knocked on the guest room door with a clenched fist. Silence. She hit the door with increased force.
The door swung open abruptly. Callum stood there with clear irritation on his face. His eyes appeared exhausted with dark circles forming under his eyelids.
She spoke with composure while her hands shook uncontrollably.
He exhaled sharply. "Eilidh, this won’t change anything. We rushed into this. We both know it."
She refused to accept his position. You cannot decide this for yourself. We made vows. We promised each other."
Callum shook his head. "Some mistakes are irreversible."
Her chest ached. "And our baby? Is that a mistake too?"
He froze. His face showed a momentary softness before returning to its previous expression. Hope flickered in her chest.
He let out a cold laugh that held no humor. "Get rid of it. I don’t care."
The words struck her with the force of a slap. Her stomach twisted violently when he shut the door on her face.
She took a step back as her breathing became rapid. The air felt thick, suffocating. She pulled the ultrasound report from her pocket while her hands trembled uncontrollably. The small, muddy image on the paper faced her.
Tears blurred her vision. She would have avoided visiting Dr. Lachlan McAllister for help with conception if she had predicted this outcome. Her desperation to repair something that was already damaged led her to this point.
She had been such a fool.
Callum displayed relief when she informed him about her pregnancy during the previous months. Their rushed marriage turned out to be a mistake because she had mistaken her pregnancy symptoms.
She had attempted to rectify the situation. She wanted to provide him with the family he believed he had lost. The relationship had never revolved around love. Just duty. Obligation. Their shared child failed to keep him from leaving.
She spent an unknown amount of time gazing at the door, which remained shut. Her legs finally brought her back to the master bedroom. She took a seat at the edge of the bed while her eyes remained fixed on nothing.
She felt happiness this morning before everything changed.
"You're pregnant, Eilidh. Dr. Lachlan delivered the news about her pregnancy at eight weeks gestation with a tone of genuine happiness.
Her happiness exploded right away without any restraint. She embraced him tightly as she laughed while crying. "Thank you. Thank you so much."
She held the ultrasound report tightly to her breast as she spoke softly to her unborn child, "You and I are all we have now."
Sleep never came. She hid under the sheets while listening to the empty room because her heart felt heavy with sadness.
The sudden phone call woke her up from her fitful sleep the following morning.
She struggled to reach the phone while her voice sounded heavy from fatigue. "Hello?"
The person on the phone spoke with an icy tone. The voice-like tone snapped at her, "How long are you staying inside my son's house?"
Eilidh sat up, muscles tensing. "Good morning, Elspeth."
"Don’t call me that. You are not family. You never were. You used deception to make my son marry you by pretending to be pregnant.
Her breath caught. "I never faked anything. I truly believed—"
"Lies." The word dripped with disdain. Sign the divorce documents, then depart from this place. My son deserves better."
Eilidh held the phone so tightly that her fingers turned white. "I’m carrying his child."
Silence. Then a cruel laugh echoes through the room. The truth of your pregnancy status remains unchanged. He doesn’t want you."
The burning sensation in her eyes did not stop her from holding back her tears. I will not let anyone force me to abandon my home.
Elspeth sneered at Eilidh with contempt and ordered her to stay and face humiliation. Callum will never change his position about their relationship.
The line went dead.
Eilidh stared at the phone receiver, her heart pounding uncontrollably.
She had dedicated numerous years to her pursuit of this marriage. She stood before the destroyed remains, unsure of what she should continue to fight for.