The next second, she suddenly clutched her chest and bent over in pain, her face contorted with agony. “It hurts so much, Reynaldo, I feel so uncomfortable…” However, Reynaldo seemed to have not heard her cries; his cold, deep eyes glared fiercely at me. Anton was still supporting Kimberly as he shouted, “Reynaldo!”

Reynaldo finally released me and turned to help Kimberly. Her face turned pale, and she weakly cried, “Reynaldo, did I do something wrong? I’m sorry, I won’t make Ms. Duffy angry in the future. I…” “It’s not your business, it’s her problem,” Reynaldo said indifferently.

I bit my lower lip, trying hard to hold back tears. I’d always known he liked Kimberly and disliked me. It didn’t surprise me that he treated me harshly because of her. But I felt a deep sense of sadness and injustice. He had coaxed me to sleep with him last night and this morning, yet now he acted this way.

Anton told Reynaldo, “Take her to see the attending physician.” Reynaldo, without much comment, picked up Kimberly and ran toward the director’s office. Anton hurried after them, then stopped and turned back to me. “Esmeralda, where are you going? Let me accompany you.”

Reynaldo also stopped, but didn’t turn around. I glanced at his cold back and, after a moment, calmly told Anton, “Okay.”

Coming out of the outpatient department, I hung my head in silence. Anton, hands in his pockets, casually asked, “What’s wrong? Are you sad?”

“No.” I took a breath and looked up at him. “Mr. Pruitt, you can go back; I don’t need you to accompany me.”

Anton furrowed his brows, then chuckled coldly. “So, you were just trying to provoke Reynaldo by using me?” I pursed my lips, offering no reply. In that moment, I had intensely resented Reynaldo and truly wanted to use Anton to provoke him. Looking back, my plan was ridiculous—using another man to try to get a reaction from a man who didn’t love me.

Anton looked at me a moment, then sighed. “Let’s go, I’ll walk you.”

“I really don’t need to,” I refused. “There are many cars outside. I can catch one easily.”

Anton didn’t insist. “Okay, suit yourself.” He paused, then added, his voice slightly cold, “I hope next time you won’t use me to provoke that man again.”

I was surprised he cared. I quickly said, “I’m sorry, I won’t do it again.” Anton glanced at me for a few seconds, said nothing more, and returned to the clinic. I stared at his back, realizing he probably still had business at the hospital. Fortunately, I hadn’t let him accompany me.

I walked out of the hospital gate feeling downcast. Thinking of Reynaldo tending to Kimberly, I self-deprecatingly tugged at my lip. Now, I desperately wanted to leave this city and escape that man. Did he want me to have a baby with him and Kimberly? Ha, he was dreaming!

I lowered my gaze, slowly caressing my flat abdomen, a sourness welling up in my heart. Baby, don’t be afraid; no matter what, I won’t let him take you away.

I returned to my rented house in a daze; it was past four in the afternoon. The boxes remained unpacked. I walked to the window and opened it. The rain outside was continuous; the autumn wind carried a touch of sadness. My eyes welled with tears. Especially remembering last night and this morning, and everything at the hospital, my heart ached.

I knew he liked Kimberly and disliked me. But when he defended her and was cruel to me, I felt wronged and saddened. What should I do? My feelings for that man were increasingly difficult to control. I wanted to leave right now, to stay far away. But he would never let me go. No matter how big the world is, where can I hide?