It was an ultrasound report. The patient's name was right there in black and white: Serafina Rossi.

But it was the date that made the world spin.

It clearly stated: Gestational age, three weeks.

That meant Vincent and Serafina had already gone through with the IVF a month ago.

He never intended to discuss it with me. He never wanted my consent.

So why the hell did he spend the last month trying to "convince" me?

Was it just to soothe his own conscience? What did he think I, Eleanor Hayes, was to him?

All the strength drained out of my body, and I collapsed onto the cold marble floor.

My heart felt like it was being squeezed by an invisible hand, making it impossible to breathe.

No wonder Vincent was smiling when he came out of the study. No wonder he left in such a rush.

He had just found out the embryo had successfully implanted. Serafina was pregnant.

He was probably at the hospital right now, celebrating with her and her entire family.

I closed my eyes in pain, a wave of despair washing over me.

I couldn't believe the man I had loved for so many years was now the father of another woman's child.

Just two months ago, he proposed. We were planning a grand wedding, the talk of all Chicago. The Vera Wang gown was ordered, the ballroom was booked.

I had been dreaming of that day, of walking down the aisle toward him.

Now, all those dreams were just bubbles, vanishing into thin air.

My phone buzzed, pulling me back to reality.

It was my mentor, Dr. Anya Sharma.

I answered without thinking.

Her voice was crisp and professional.

“Eleanor, I know you’re getting married, but I have to ask one more time. Are you sure you won’t reconsider the project at DARPA?”

“You are the most gifted student I’ve ever had. The Department of Defense specifically requested you.”

“Considering you’re about to start a family, the project director made an exception. You’ll be allowed external communication once every two months, so you can stay in touch with your husband.”

I had known about this secret lab deep in the Nevada desert for six months.

Dr. Sharma had personally invited me to join.

But entering that base meant being completely cut off from the outside world until the first phase of the project was complete.

It could be a year or two, maybe even longer.

I couldn't bear being away from Vincent for that long, let alone being out of contact.

So, I had refused.

But now, all I could see was that ultrasound photo.

Vincent was already the father of someone else’s child.

If he never cared about our relationship or our upcoming wedding, then there was no reason for this wedding to happen.

My grip on the phone tightened.

“Dr. Sharma, I’ll do it. No special treatment needed. I’ll follow the standard confidentiality protocols.”

I could hear the surprise and delight in her voice.

“That’s wonderful! The team will be thrilled.”

“When can you start? How about the week after your wedding? That still gives you time for a honeymoon.”

I replied softly, “No. Let’s make it the wedding day.”

My eyes fell on the calendar on the desk.

The tenth of next month was circled in a thick red marker.

I had circled it to remind myself how close I was to my dream coming true.

Now, it was a countdown to my departure from Vincent’s life.

Fifteen days left.

This would be the final farewell to the love that had defined more than twenty years of my life.

In fifteen days, Vincent Moretti and I would be strangers.