Stefan still stared at her in silence. He hoped he had misheard what she said a few seconds ago鈥攂ut he hadn鈥檛. He couldn鈥檛 help but keep staring, waiting for more explanation.

鈥淏efore we got married, I was already pregnant. I didn鈥檛 tell you because I wanted to surprise you afterward. But then you had the accident鈥 you became crippled and mute. I was scared for our baby. You wouldn鈥檛 be able to do anything for him, so I left. I felt guilty every single day, ...