From His Wife to His Uncle's Wife novel Chapter 1

“Ms. Rolland, I’m so sorry. You lost the baby.”

Eleanor lay on the hospital bed, her hand pressed to her stomach, staring blankly at the white ceiling above her. The news felt distant, echoing in the quiet room.

It wasn’t until today, the day everything fell apart, that she finally saw the truth. Peter had never really loved her. It was always Jessie. She was the one he cared for, the one he wanted by his side.

Today was supposed to be special, her very first prenatal checkup. Peter had promised, weeks ago, that he’d come with her. She’d been so happy, so sure. But when the day arrived, she called him again and again, ninety-nine times. Each call rang and rang. He didn’t answer, not once. Time ticked by. She was still calling when a hospital staff cart suddenly slammed into her, sending her sprawling to the ground. He never showed up.

As she lay there, dazed and hurting, her phone finally connected. The video call she’d been desperately trying to make flickered to life. The phone had skidded across the floor, out of reach, but she could still hear everything through the speaker.

Her daughter’s laughter rang out, bright and clear. “Daddy, look! It’s snowing!”

A woman’s voice chimed in, cheerful and sweet. “Olga, come over here to Mommie Jessie. Let’s build a snowman.”

Then Peter’s voice, cold and a bit impatient. “Eleanor, what do you want?”

Eleanor gritted her teeth against the pain in her stomach. “Honey…”

She tried to reach for her phone, her fingers clawing at the floor, but she couldn’t get close enough. Then she heard Jessie’s laughter, light and carefree.

“Peter, is that Eleanor? Hasn’t she figured out we’re in Timber Creek?”

“Daddy, come on! Is it Mom again?” Olga’s voice was full of childish annoyance. “She’s so annoying. Just hang up, Daddy. Let’s take a picture with Mommie Jessie!”

Peter barely glanced at the phone. “I’m hanging up. If you need something, we’ll talk when I’m back. I’m going to be with Jessie and Olga.”

Eleanor’s chest tightened. She pushed herself up, desperate for him to see her, to understand. But just before the call ended, she saw them on the screen, laughing together in a swirl of white snow, looking like the perfect happy family.

Eleanor’s eyes filled with tears as she thought of the baby she’d carried for three months, a tiny life she’d worked so hard for. It was supposed to be the little brother or sister Olga had begged for. At first, Eleanor hadn’t wanted another child, but Peter had said he wanted a son, wanted their family to be complete. She’d given in.

But now, the two people she loved most were with someone else, and they couldn’t even be bothered to listen to her, not even when she needed them most.

She’d always known Peter was distant, that he barely let her in. But Olga? How could her own daughter, the one she’d cherished and loved, treat her like this?

She let out a quiet, bitter laugh. “Mommie Jessie…” So that’s what her daughter called Jessie in private. What did that make her? What was she to Olga now?

…

On the day she was discharged, Eleanor checked herself out alone. The doctor reminded her, “Make sure you come back for regular checkups. If you take care of yourself, you’ll still have a chance to try again.”

Eleanor forced a small smile onto her pale lips. “Thank you, doctor.”