Chapter 11
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The news hit Dominic like a thunderbolt. His suspicions were confirmed: Jane was breaking up with him. But why? Their wedding was today; he knew it was a dream she’d held for twenty years. How could she give it up?
His mind raced. He remembered Jane’s unusually calm face the previous night.
She’d seemed to want to say something, but he’d rushed to the hospital to see Beverly, not hearing her out. He’d only glimpsed her, sitting on the sofa, her face devoid of wedding joy or anger about his visit to Beverly – a stagnant pool of calm.
Had she been trying to break up with him then?
Dominic slumped onto the sofa, his thoughts tangled.
His phone rang incessantly – his parents, his friends.
He couldn’t bring himself to answer. He couldn’t understand her reasons. The staff had said she’d cancelled two weeks ago.
Two weeks ago! That was the day he learned Beverly’s IVF had been successful.
He’d been about to bring it up again, to persuade Jane. But Beverly had texted him with the news, and his joy had overwhelmed him; he’d rushed to the hospital.
Memories flooded back: cancelling the photoshoot, the trip with Beverly… Jane had been detached throughout. Before, she would
have made a scene.
Panic and confusion warred within him.
Had she planned this escape from the start?
She knew Beverly was his savior; he was only repaying his debt. Why couldn’t she understand?
He’d kept the IVF a secret, thinking it wouldn’t be easy.
If he’d asked for her consent first, he’d have worried about Beverly’s time running out, about her not seeing her child.
He’d planned to proceed with the IVF while trying to convince Janè, believing her love for him would win out. He hadn’t expected it to succeed on the first try, derailing his plan.
But at the hospital, she hadn’t reacted strongly; she hadn’t mentioned it again. Why break up the day before the wedding?
Dominic didn’t know that Jane had known about the pregnancy all along.
The breakup wasn’t a sudden decision; the idea had taken root two weeks ago. She’d simply spent fifteen days erasing twenty years of feelings for Dominic.
He grabbed his phone again, calling Jane. When she answered, his panic morphed into anger.
