Chapter 11


    Sophia had just cleared security when Ivan finished up too


    They headed to the boarding gate together, keeping a bit of distance one after the other, barely


    exchanging words along the way.


    Once they reached the security hall, they each plopped down onto their own patch of empty seats.


    Ivan took the spot next to Sophia, whipped out his phone the moment he sat down, looking like he was


    swamped with


    work


    Sophia didn’t peep a word, her gaze drifting from the bustling crowd in the gate area to the window


    outside.


    Outside the sky was gradually darkening


    The tarmac was aze with lights, nes taking off andnding, the night merging with the lights,


    slowly deepening the sense of parting


    –


    Sophia thought back to that call with Brandon – picked up and then abruptly dropped her fingertips


    grazing the edge. of her phone She felt nowhere near as calm as she had expected.


    Brandon always had a way of getting under her skin, no matter what.


    She wanted to call him back ask what was up, but then she remembered their goodbye, how he’d


    hugged her gently. told her to take care, and the determined stride he took as he walked away. Her


    fingers, which had been caressing the edge of her phone, finally rxed and she shifted her gaze to


    the specks of light outside the window.


    The unease in her gut wasn’t letting up. In fact, it seemed to be getting worse


    She was in for a flight over ten hours long, and she was starting to worry about a mid-air body


    breakdown. Her hand instinctively pressed against her chest, hesitating whether she should grab some


    meds.


    Ivan nced up at her. “Feeling off?”


    Sophia gave a slight shake of her head. “I’m fine


    Her eyes caught a glimpse of a pharmacy nearby and paused for a moment.


    Ivan picked up on her pause “Not feeling well?


    Sophia, a tad embarrassed Yeah probably didn’t sleep wellst night and didn’t eat much today. My


    stomach’s throwing a bit of a fit”


    Ivan frowned Stomach acting up?”


    As if on cue, a wave of nausea hit Sophia, and she couldn’t hold back a dry heave to the side, hand


    covering her mouth.


    Ivan pocketed his phone and stood up. “Let’s get you some meds before we’re stuck on that ne for


    hours.”


    Sophia nodded.


    The pharmacy was just to the side, next to a food joint, its rich food aromas mingled with the greasy


    scent of cooking oil, constantly assaulting Sophia’s stomach.


    She raised a hand to block her nose and looked over at the pharmacy staff, asking for some stomach


    medicine.


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    The staffer a cautious pharmacist asked, “Diarrhea?”


    Sophia shook her head. “No, just nauseous and queasy.”


    “How long has this been going on?


    “Just started this moming.”


    “How long exactly?”


    Sophia thought for a sec. “Felt a bit sick when I got up, but felt better after breakfast. Then, out of


    nowhere this afternoon.”


    She suddenly stopped, a hazy suspicion crossing her mind, her eyes widening slightly at the potential


    revtion.


    Just then, someone walked by with a steaming hot pot of oden, the pungent seafood smell triggering


    another wave of nausea. Sophia turned away instinctively, gagging, while Ivan quickly patted her back,


    concerned. “You alright?”


    Sophia didn’t respond, just looked up nkly, pale and a mix of startled and clueless.


    Ivan’s hand on her shoulder paused, worry in his eyes What’s up?”


    Sophia managed to twist a smile at him. “It’s nothing.”


    Brandon caught this scene, and his steps slowed to a halt.


    Ivan’s arm on Sophia’s shoulder looked ambiguouslyforting, and Brandon, not too far but not too


    close, could easily see the tenderness in Sophia’s smile towards Ivan, and the hidden adoration and


    concern in Ivan’s eyes.


    Brandon never thought he’d see the day when Sophia would lean so affectionately into another man’s


    arms, her unique gentle smile blooming for someone else. The sight clenched his heart in tight spasms.


    He didn’t know why he’de


    Even aware of this man’s presence, he’d still chosen to show up.


    He and Sophia had already said their goodbyes. There was no need for another.


    Leaving Sophia behind wasn’t necessary either. Departing was her choice, and he respected that,


    including her choice of that man.


    He turned his head emotionlessly, without a hint of reluctance, and walked away once more.


    After pushing down the difort in her chest, Sophia unconsciously pushed Ivan aside and turned


    around, her gaze inadvertently sweeping a familiar silhouette in the window reflection. The sight made


    her hesitate and turn around.


    The crowd surged behind her, but the familiar tall figure was nowhere to be seen.


    She pursed her lips slightly, reigned in her gaze, and looked to the pharmacy staff. “Excuse me, could I


    get a box of pregnancy tests?”


    Ivan’s gaze snapped to her.


    The pharmacist looked at Sophia, surprised, but still handed over a pregnancy test.


    Sophia headed to the restroom.


    In the brief wait for the test result, her mind felt empty, a little lost.


    This was even more bewildering than her first pregnancy.


    Back then, she was just panicked and clueless, unsure of what to do.


    Now, it was a deathly kind of nkness


    She never thought she’d get pregnant, that the moment she signed those divorce papers and stepped


    out of that house, it was all over with Brandon.


    She didn’t want any more ties to Brandon in this lifetime


    But what if she was pregnant?


    Her fingers tightened around the pregnancy test box, turning white at the knuckles.


    She suddenly started to fear the result


    She didn’t understand why life was ying such a joke on her again, just when she was ready to start


    afresh, to catch herpletely off guard.


    if she was pregnant, should she keep the baby? Should she let Brandon know? Every question left her


    utterly baffled


    She knew if she told Brandon about the pregnancy, he’d definitely want her to keep the baby, and then


    leave the choice to her whether to marry or not.


    But she didn’t want to walk that same path again.


    “She’s not pregnant yet. I always thought it was my daughter-inw who couldn’t have kids, turns out


    my son doesn’t


    want them.”.


    The words she’d overheard earlier in the restaurant echoed in her head, and it was then she realized


    that it was Brandon


    who didn’t want children.


    “Looks like the kid’s got a strong sense of responsibility, he’s not the type to ditch his wife and kids.


    Otherwise, with his personality, there’s no way he doesn’t want a child. Sure, he seems like a cold fish


    and hard to warm up to, but he’s been a fan of little ones since he was a tot.”


    It was only then that she realized, he had a soft spot for kids.


    He had a fondness for them, yet he didn’t want the child she was carrying to be his..


    Her slender fingers trembled slightly on top of the pregnancy test box. Sophia took a deep breath and


    slowly shifted her gaze to the test.


    Two lines, one dark and one light-a positive sign of pregnancy.