The Silent Midnight Chapter 1

On New Year's Eve, I sent a message to my husband: "Where are you?" For the first time, he didn't reply instantly.

At 00:00, I called him twelve times until he picked up.

His voice was irritable and fierce, like a cat caught stealing fish stepping on its tail:

"Are you done? Isn't it just not replying to your message?"

I gripped the phone tight, my lower abdomen twitched violently.

Half a year ago when I caught him sexting, this young business upstart had red eyes, smashed his phone in front of me.

"Nina, there will never be a next time."

I believed him.

Since then my messages were always pinned to top, his whereabouts reported anytime.

Until tonight.

Ringing in my ear was his cold voice.

"Nina, shouldn't your checking on me stop now?"

His tone was frivolous, the tone controlling the whole situation on the negotiation table.

"I deal with business worth hundreds of millions every day, go home still have to deal with your paranoia?"

From the other end of the phone came echoing laughter:

"Mr. Liam is too hard."

"Sister-in-law, men have to socialize outside."

My lower abdomen began to tighten regularly, like a hand grabbing inside.

I forced my voice:

"Just right, I'm tired too, let's separate."

...

Before he could speak, I hung up.

Used my last strength to dial 911.

Address reported very slowly, squeezing out word by word.

Blood soaked the hem of my nightdress, sticking to my skin.

Fireworks exploded in the distance, illuminating the window.

I lay on the floor, looking at the cracks in the ceiling.

Suddenly smiled.

So good, Nina.

You are going to be free.

They say marriage is a tomb.

Actually they don't know, under the glamorous appearance, inside it really flows river of blood.

Phone vibrated, Liam's message popped up on screen.

"If you really can't stand it, then divorce!"

Wedding photo chat background stung my eyes painful.

In the photo, I held the camera, he held a basketball, smiling like owning the whole world.

From campus to wedding dress, everyone said we were like a fairy tale.

But the fairy tale rotted at the root half a year ago.

The day I caught him going to get a room with an intern, he lay on my pregnant belly, crying and trembling.

"I was just lonely looking for someone to chat, didn't really betray you."

"Nina, forgive me, just this once."

I touched my belly, heart softened into a pool of water.

Who can really love only one person for a lifetime?

I closed my eyes, swallowed that nausea back forcefully.

Everyone says marriage relies on trust to maintain.

But once trust is broken, it can never be pieced back together.

As long as he is not in front of my eyes, those scenes will drill in.

Finally such days, came to an end.

Knock on the door sounded.

I crawled over, used all strength to twist open the door.

Person in white coat looked down at me, voice very urgent.

"The baby... arm is already out."

Words behind, I couldn't hear clearly.

Last thing seen before eyes, was few words he sent on phone.

[Not coming home tonight, don't call me either!]

Then, everything completely went black.

* * *

Woke up, child was gone.

Said it was precipitous labor, rescued all the way, stopped breathing just before getting off the ambulance.

Doctor asked me if there was anyone else to contact.

I stared at the ceiling in a daze.

"Can call my lawyer."

Phone connected, I heard my dry voice.

"Help me draft divorce agreement."

Unexpectedly my adoptive mother called first.

I just remembered, the lawyer I found, is the family lawyer of the Harrison family.

Adoptive mother blamed me immediately:

"Nina, about to be a mom, why still so impulsive?"

My nose suddenly sour.

I was adopted by the Harrison family at eight, adoptive mother treated me like biological daughter, I was also spoiled as princess by my brother.

Back then I insisted on marrying Liam, adoptive mother angry smashed the bowl.

She said we are Harrison family anyway one of New York's Elite Four, which wealthy young master introduced to me is not better than Liam that poor boy?

But I just loved him, I used my life to force adoptive parents to agree to my marriage.

Later, Liam succeeded in business, I also lived a good life, I really didn't go back to Harrison family again.

Now hearing her words in my ear, tears fell instantly.

I opened my mouth, too tired.

But those rotten, sticky nausea in throat, still squeezed out.

Listened to my intermittent narration.

Phone that end silent for a long while.

Hung up phone, I had a kind of collapse after relief and severe pain.

Body like hollowed out, consciousness sinking heavily.

Liam's parents came, they don't know where got news to see grandson.

I forced myself to tell them already gone.

"Nina you wait, mom and dad call him now, make him kneel and apologize!"

I squeezed out a bitter smile.

I heard this sentence until ears growing calluses.

Every time I quarreled with Liam, they persuaded like this.

But what use afterwards?

Child is already gone.

"Mom and Dad, please tell Liam, I want to divorce him."

Liam's parents frowned:

"Can't say this, child gone can still have again."

"Nina, we spoil you, but you can't make trouble every few days, forget it you rest well."

I make trouble?

I closed eyes, turned head not speaking.

They chattered and left.

Day of discharge, I received divorce agreement.

Lowered eyes, unlocked phone.

Liam's last message, still stopped at that New Year's Eve.

So many days.

He didn't come, no call, didn't ask a word.

Is it didn't know, or knew?

Feel this is another time I "make trouble", waiting for me to actively soften and beg for peace?

Sunlight shone warmly on body.

I suddenly felt, a thorn in my heart, seemed to be gouged out with that child,

Along with blood and flesh.

Left, only a desolate calm.

Out of hospital, I held that light yet heavy document in arms.

Back then, I started willfully, now should also be me drawing a period personally.

Just arrived home door, a strange woman walked over.

She carried supermarket shopping bags, naturally stopped at door, pressed fingerprint.

Click, door opened.

She saw me, revealed a subtle smile.

"Sister-in-law? Don't you recognize me? I am Lila."

Her voice very soft.

Is that voice on New Year's Eve phone call.

That beige knit cardigan on her, was home wear I bought a size larger when pregnant.

Liam's voice drifted from inside:

"Nina, you played disappearance while pregnant, now finally willing to come back?"

Saying, door opened, his gaze carelessly swept my abdomen.

There flat nothing left.

Expression on Liam's face cracked little by little, voice suddenly dry, trembling:

"Where is the child?"