Chapter 7 — The Doctor Who Never Appeared
Nathan proudly announced that Vanessa had another prenatal appointment.
"I'll leave work early," he said.
Vanessa quickly shook her head.
"No, don't. I'll only be ten minutes. Routine checkup."
Nathan hesitated.
"I want to hear the heartbeat."
"They're just drawing blood today."
"Oh."
She smiled warmly.
"I'll record the heartbeat next time."
Nathan accepted the explanation.
Ethan didn't.
That afternoon he watched from his bedroom window.
Vanessa drove away.
Instead of turning toward the medical district...
She drove in the opposite direction.
Ethan borrowed Claire's old bicycle that weekend and retraced the route from memory.
The road led to...
A beauty spa.
Not a hospital.
Not a clinic.
A luxury wellness center.
He waited outside for nearly an hour.
Vanessa finally emerged carrying shopping bags.
No medical folder.
No ultrasound photos.
No prescriptions.
Just expensive skincare products.
May you like
Ethan silently wrote another note.
Doctor's appointment = Beauty spa.
