A Night of Desire

"Whenever people used to say my boyfriend was rich and that I was lucky, I’d always be so proud and tell them, ’I, Poppy Vance, don’t need him to support me! The money I spend is from my own Vance Family!’

But then I finally found out how ironic my pride was. It wasn’t just me he was supporting—it was my entire Vance Family!

Clara, I just wanted our love to be pure, our relationship to be equal. I didn’t want our love to be tainted by something as crass as money, but in the end...

Heh, he bought me with his money, and I serve him with my body. Is that love? This is just being a kept woman!"

Seeing the once bubbly and cheerful Poppy reduced to this melancholic state, Clara’s heart ached. "But, Poppy, you don’t understand. Brother Jennings, he really does love you. He..."

Poppy cut her off before she could finish. "Clara, don’t. I don’t want to talk about him right now."

"But you have to go back eventually. You can’t just hide out like this forever."

"I don’t want to go back right now... Urk..." As Poppy spoke, she suddenly clapped a hand over her mouth. She scrambled to the side, bracing herself against the wall as she bent over and began to dry-heave.

Clara was startled and rushed over to her. "Poppy, what’s wrong? Are you okay?"

She rubbed Poppy’s back as she spoke, but a sudden thought struck her.

Just then, Poppy straightened up. Clara handed her a tissue. She took it, wiped her mouth, and smiled. "I’m fine now."

Clara asked, a little hesitant, "Poppy... have your periods been regular lately?"

Poppy froze for a second, then smiled, turning the question back on her instead of answering. "Why do you ask?"

"You’re... you’re not pregnant, are you?"

"No way!" Poppy immediately denied it. "It’s just an upset stomach. I’ve had it for a few days. I even went to the doctor and got some medicine for it."

As she spoke, she pulled a bottle of pills from her purse to show her. Clara saw that it was, in fact, stomach medication and felt relieved. "Poppy, you have to take care of yourself. I still think you should go back and have a serious talk with Brother Jennings..."

But Poppy didn’t want to talk about it anymore. "Clara, maybe I’ll go back to him, but not right now. At least, not until I can get past this.

So, Clara, please don’t tell him you saw me today. If you do, I swear I’ll leave Novaria for good and make sure he can never find me."

Her expression was dead serious, so Clara had no choice but to nod. "I promise."

Poppy smiled, checked the time, and said, "Clara, I have to run. I’ll get going, then."

With that, she turned to leave.

Clara grabbed her arm, asking urgently, "Poppy, where are you staying? How can I get in touch with you? You’re not going to avoid me too, are you?"

Poppy hesitated for a moment before taking out her phone and texting her an address. "This is where I’m staying now."

Clara pulled out her phone to look, then nodded. "Alright. I’ll come see you when I’m free."

"Okay," Poppy said with a smile. "I’ll get going now."

Clara watched her walk away, an endless sadness welling up inside her. She had always thought Poppy and Linden Jennings were the perfect, happiest couple, free of misunderstandings and barriers. Every time she saw them, they were always so sweet together.

But who would have thought...

’Can love never be smooth sailing?’

Poppy turned a corner. Once she was sure Clara could no longer see her, she stopped and leaned against a wall.

Suddenly, another wave of nausea washed over her. She immediately bent over, but once again, nothing came up.

When the feeling subsided, she straightened up and placed a hand on her lower abdomen. She’d been thinking it was just an upset stomach, but Clara’s words had just given her a new idea.

’Could I really be pregnant?’

’Looks like I need to find some time to go to the hospital and get a check-up.’