The clock struck six thirty in the morning when Alice woke up, as she did every day. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the kitchen as she prepared breakfast, even knowing that he probably wouldn't even touch it.
That's how it was. It always had been. And she, stubborn, kept trying.
She set the table, put out the toast, fruit, coffee... Everything in its place, in the foolish hope that, who knows, today he would notice. Who knows, today, he would ask about the baby, or at least look at her.
She heard Henrique's firm footsteps approaching. The sound of his shoes hitting the floor always caused a mixture of anxiety and pain.
"Good morning," she said, with the sweetest voice she could muster, holding back a smile.
He entered, adjusting the buttons of his shirt, and replied, dryly:
"Morning."
He sat down, took a cup of coffee, but didn't touch anything else. His eyes were fixed on his cell phone. He typed, replied to messages, and, from time to time, a smile appeared... a smile that Alice hadn't seen in so long.
She clasped her hands in her lap, trying to disguise the discomfort that was beginning to burn inside.
"Will you be late today?" she asked, trying to sound casual.
He didn't even look up.
"I don't know. I have some appointments."
"Appointments?" She frowned. "From the company?"
Henrique put down his cell phone for a moment, took a deep breath, and replied, impatiently:
"Alice... I don't have to give you an account of every step I take, do I?"
It was like a punch. She lowered her head, not knowing whether to hold back tears or anger.
"No... of course not," she replied, swallowing the lump in her throat.
He got up, grabbed his blazer, and, before leaving, said without even looking at her:
"Take care of yourself. And... rest. It's better for the baby."
And, just like that, he left.
The door closed, taking with it any hope that Alice still harbored.
She took a deep breath, protectively squeezed her belly, and, with a choked voice, whispered:
"He... he's never going to love me, is he?"
Hours later, in the office, Henrique was restless. He shuffled papers, but his concentration was zero. His thoughts were... on her.
Bianca.
The cell phone vibrated, as if the universe were conspiring.
Message from Bianca:
"I thought about you all day yesterday... Can we see each other today?"
Henrique squeezed his eyes shut, took a deep breath. He was fighting against something inside himself. Against reason, against the little responsibility that still remained.
But, in the end, his finger slid across the keyboard:
"Tell me the place and time."
Upon sending it, he felt the weight of the mistake... but didn't stop.
Late afternoon. Alice, alone in the waiting room, awaited the doctor for another check-up. In the room, other women laughed, accompanied by their partners. Holding hands, sharing knowing looks, smiles full of love.
She looked at the empty chair next to her and felt her chest tighten.
She wished she didn't care. She wanted to be strong. But it hurt. It hurt so much that it seemed that, at any second, she would collapse there, in the midst of strangers.
The doctor entered, smiling.
"So, Mom, how are we doing?"
Alice forced a smile.
"We're fine... I think."
"And Dad, couldn't he come?"
She just lowered her eyes, clasping her hands in her lap.
"He's busy..."
The doctor noticed, but didn't insist. She just took Alice's hand and said, gently:
"You're not alone. Never forget that."
Those simple words were like a knife. Because, in practice, she was. More alone than she had ever imagined being.
Meanwhile, in an elegant restaurant in the city center, Henrique held a glass of wine, looking at Bianca, who smiled, seductively.
She touched his hand, sliding her fingers smoothly, provocatively.
"I missed you so much," she whispered, looking into his eyes.
Henrique took a deep breath, pursed his lips, and, even though part of him screamed that it was wrong, he let himself go.
Because, at that moment, all he wanted... was to lose himself in her.
Alice arrived home exhausted, physically and emotionally. She threw herself on the sofa, again holding the ultrasound images.
The cell phone, once again, remained silent.
No messages. No questions. No interest.
She closed her eyes, pressed those images tightly against her chest, and, amid tears that she could no longer hold back, said:
"I waited for you, Henrique... I waited for you so much... But, perhaps, the time has come to accept that... I'm tired."
The clock was already past ten at night when Alice heard the apartment door open. Her eyes, swollen from crying so much, immediately turned to the entrance.
For a second—just a second—her naive heart filled with hope. Maybe he had missed her. Maybe he was worried. Maybe...
But the smell of feminine perfume that invaded the room killed any illusion.
Henrique entered, loosening his tie, and didn't even look in her direction. His steps were firm, indifferent. His face? Full of satisfaction. But not from her. Never from her.
"You're late..." Alice's voice came out weak, almost a whisper.
He didn't even bother to pretend.
"Business dinner," he replied, curtly.
Alice clasped her hands, fighting against the tears that were already threatening to overflow again.
"Henrique... you hardly look at me. You hardly ask about the baby..." Her voice broke in the middle. "What's happening to us?"
He finally faced her, but his gaze was cold, distant... almost cruel.
"Alice, don't start." He ran a hand through his hair, impatiently. "You knew from the beginning that our marriage wasn't for love. Don't demand from me what I never promised."
She brought her hands to her mouth, trying to contain the sob that tore through her throat.
"I... I just wanted you to care. Just a little, Henrique... just a little."
He laughed, dryly. A bitter laugh, without any hint of pity.
"Care?" He crossed his arms, staring at her. "You want me to lie? To pretend that I'm happy, that this is perfect? Because it's not, Alice! It never was! And you knew that!"
Each word was like a stab in her chest.
"I'm... pregnant." Her voice came out small, painful. "Pregnant with your child, Henrique! And you... you act as if I were invisible."
He looked away, squeezed his eyes shut, taking a deep breath.
"I didn't ask you for this." His voice came out low, bitter. "I never asked you to get pregnant, Alice."
Her world simply crumbled at that moment.
She held her belly instinctively, as if wanting to protect that little being from the poison that came out of the father's mouth.
"God..." she whispered, staggering backward, bringing her hand to her forehead, as if wanting to wake up from a nightmare. "I don't believe that you... that you were capable of saying that."
Henrique didn't answer. He picked up his car keys again.
"I'm going out." His voice came out cold, as if speaking to a stranger. "Don't wait up for me."
"Go out?" She blinked, incredulous. "With whom, Henrique? With whom? Are you going to tell me it's with Bianca?"
The name made him freeze for a second. Too short for someone who didn't want to be caught... long enough to confirm all her suspicions.
"It's none of your business," he replied, harshly, before slamming the door behind him.
Alice fell to her knees in the middle of the room, crying like never before.
Her whole body trembled. Her soul was in pieces. Never, not even in her worst nightmares, did she imagine that the man she loved would be capable of destroying her heart so much.
She held her belly, between tears and sobs, and whispered, with a broken voice:
"I waited for you... I waited for you so much... But, now... now I'm... tired."
***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***
Updated 51 Episodes
Download
Like this story? Download the app to keep your reading history.
Comments