a tree that grows in brooklyn

Today marked the ninth time Evelyn Curtis had stepped into the bridal shop.

On the previous eight occasions, she had arrived by herself to try on the bespoke wedding dress her fiancé, Carsten Ward, had ordered for her.

The shop assistants, once lively and attentive, had slowly grown reserved, and in the end, they could only look at her with quiet sympathy.

"Miss Curtis... will Mr. Ward be joining you today?" the store manager asked carefully, a trace of pity lingering in her gaze.

Evelyn examined the woman in the mirror before her. The white dress embraced her figure flawlessly. Her fingers lightly traced the row of pearls sewn along the edge of the dress.

"He'll be here," she replied gently, yet with quiet conviction. "Today is our seventh anniversary. He said he would come."

The moment the words left her mouth, the door was pushed open.

A sharp burst of light flashed in Evelyn's eyes as she turned. But the smile resting on her lips stiffened instantly.

Carsten had come, but he was accompanied by Violet White.

Violet was the younger sister of Carsten's best friend, Kevin White.

Two years ago, Kevin had sacrificed his life to save Carsten. With his final breath, he had entrusted his only sister to Carsten's care.

After that, Carsten brought Violet into his household and looked after her as if she were part of the family.

From that moment forward, the warmth he had once shown Evelyn gradually faded.

Meanwhile, he showered Violet with attention, treating her like the most treasured person in his life.

"Carsten?" A suffocating pressure tightened in Evelyn's chest. "Why did you bring Violet with you?"

Carsten approached Evelyn, his eyes barely glancing at the wedding dress before he spoke flatly. "Evie, we have to reschedule the wedding. We need to hold it next month."

Evelyn stared at him in disbelief. "Next month? Why? The venue is booked, the invitations are sent, and the guest list is finalized. How could we possibly rearrange everything in just one month?"

"Violet is pregnant," Carsten replied, his tone so steady that it sounded like he was mentioning something trivial. "We can't afford to wait another two months."

For a moment, Evelyn thought she had heard him wrong. "Violet is pregnant? But what does that have to do with our wedding?"

She was fully aware of how much he cherished Violet.

Sometimes, he cared for Violet so deeply that even she, his own fiancée, couldn't help but feel a sting of jealousy.

Yet regardless of how close they were, Violet's pregnancy had no connection to their wedding date.

Carsten remained quiet for a brief moment before speaking once more. "The baby she is carrying is mine."

"What?"

Evelyn's thoughts erupted into a chaotic hum, and then, her mind went blank.

She stumbled backward a step, barely managing to brace herself by gripping the edge of the vanity.

She stared at Carsten, her entire body shaking. "What did you just say?"

Her voice shot upward, sharp and strained. "Weren't you the one who always said Violet was nothing more than a friend to you?"

Carsten cast her a detached glance. "Evie, calm down. It was only an accident."

His voice remained disturbingly composed, as though the matter held no weight at all.

He continued, "That evening, I was out drinking with clients and unknowingly consumed something that had been tampered with. Violet looked after me afterward, and while I was drugged, I mistook her for you."

Evelyn felt that the explanation was utterly ridiculous. "You mistook her for me? Carsten, do you hear how absurd that sounds? All these years, have you ever even been intimate with me? How could you possibly confuse her with me? You don't even want to touch me!"

Carsten's face darkened at that. "Evie, stop being unreasonable. You know perfectly well I never touched you because I wanted our first time to happen on our wedding night."

A hollow laugh escaped Evelyn as tears streamed uncontrollably down her pale face.

Seeing her distress, Carsten furrowed his brows as he reached out, attempting to soothe her by taking her hand. "Evie, don't worry. Violet is nothing but a friend to me. You're the one I plan to spend my life with—"

"Don't touch me!"

Evelyn yanked her hand away as though stung, retreating two steps.

She looked at Carsten with nothing but revulsion in her eyes.

"So what happens now?" She forced out a bitter laugh. "I came here alone to try on this dress like a complete idiot eight times. And today, the one time you finally show up, it's just to tell me you've betrayed me?"

Carsten turned his gaze aside, yet his voice came out cold and cutting.

"My parents believe that since you can no longer bear children, this might actually resolve the issue..."

He paused briefly before adding, "You should quit your job and concentrate on Violet's pregnancy for the next eight months. Once the child is born, we'll register it under your name and raise it as ours—"

Just then, a sharp crack rang through the room.

Evelyn struck Carsten across the face with all her strength.

A familiar spasm of pain twisted through her abdomen.

She clutched her belly, her fingernails biting deeply into her skin.

"Carsten..." she said, "look at me! Say that again."

Tears poured relentlessly down her face. "I can't bear children, but that is because of you! I ruined the very hands that could have made me an excellent surgeon also for your sake! I did it to save you!"

Desperation flooded Evelyn's eyes. "But now, you expect me to raise another woman's child? What exactly am I to you? Some convenient tool to deal with the consequences of your mistake?"

Carsten went rigid.