Chapter 2
Vernon chose to sacrifice me.
Back then, I just couldn't believe it.
Vernon was so obsessed with me that he wouldn't even glance at Page at the party. But he ended up doing something like that.
After I secretly did an at-home amniocentesis and saw that the baby wasn't his at all, everything finally made sense.
I realized all the rumors were true.
Between Page and me, he made his choice.
He chose her.
A wave of emotions crashed over me.
Feeling masochistic, I summoned the system.
"Does Vernon really love me?" I asked.
I wasn't sure anymore.
But the system answered in a flat, emotionless tone: "The metrics are never wrong.
"Vernon loves you to his very core right now. If anything happened to you, he couldn't survive it."
Hearing that, I couldn't help but curl my lips in a mocking smirk, my heart full of irony.
I wondered if hitting 100% on some metric really meant it was love.
If he really loved me, I wondered why he kept hurting me.
I wanted to demand answers from the system.
In the very next instant, I found myself suddenly wide awake.
As soon as I remembered Vernon was right beside me, embarrassment flooded in and I quickly turned my head away, not wanting him to see me looking so miserable.
But as my eyes swept across the room, all I saw was emptiness.
Faint voices drifted in from outside the door.
Page said, "Vernon, the doctor just told me Britney's health is really fragile. None of her test results are up to standard.
"The doctor said she should terminate the pregnancy, or Britney could be in real danger.
"Maybe just forget what I asked you to do.
"It was just wishful thinking on my part anyway.
"As long as Britney is safe, I don't care if I go back to being the woman everyone in the family looks down on and criticizes behind my back."
Page's voice was thick with tears when she said this.
She just couldn't live with herself if her own selfish desires ended up causing my death.
She wanted to take off the fake belly strapped to her stomach right then and there.
But Vernon, sitting across from her, spoke after a brief silence.
He said, "We're going ahead with the plan.
"I'll have the best medical team monitoring Britney around the clock. I promise nothing will happen to her.
"You've put up with three years of pain just because you couldn't have a child.
"I can't throw you back into the darkness now that you finally have a glimmer of hope."
Vernon spoke to Page in a gentle, soothing voice.
He completely forgot about my situation.
All Page did was cry a little.
But as his wife of five years, my life was on the line, all because of his choices.
I bit down hard on my lip until I tasted blood, forcing myself not to cry.
But his words to Page were like a venom-tipped dagger, stabbing right through my heart.
Tears poured down uncontrollably, and just like that, everything went black again.
I lost consciousness completely.
When I opened my eyes again, Vernon was back.
I had no idea how long I'd been unconscious this time.
He looked exhausted, with dark circles under his eyes.
The nurse gave me a knowing wink and, with a warm, gossipy smile, said, "Vernon has been watching over you for three days straight."
He looked completely wiped out.
But he was still sitting right by my bedside, watching my profile intently.
"Honey, you're awake," he said, his voice soft and full of relief.
Without thinking, he reached out to brush my pale lips.
I turned my head, dodging his hand.
He paused, surprised by my rejection.
His voice had a faint rasp to it, almost unnoticeable.
Vernon asked softly, "How are you feeling? Are you still uncomfortable?
"I'll go with you to your next prenatal appointment. I won't ever let you go through it alone again."
His heart was full of guilt.
But I replied, "No need.
"I'm not coming back to the hospital until the baby is due."
His gentle look turned stiff in an instant.
His gaze suddenly darkened, as if something heavy had just hit him.
Vernon said, "Honey, I'm sorry.
"I failed you.
"If you don't want to go to the hospital, then we won't go.
"I'll have the best medical team come to our home, and I'll drop everything to be by your side around the clock.
"Is that okay?"
Seeing that I was still ignoring him, Vernon sighed softly and humbled himself, his tone growing even gentler.
He coaxed, "I bought you the latest necklace. How about we go home and you try it on?
"I remember you couldn't take your eyes off those tiny diamonds in the magazine last time/
He coaxed me softly, his eyes brimming with affection.
He was always this way, so gentle, always making my heart flutter.
He'd always notice the things I lingered on and buy them for me, indulging my every whim.
This time, even though I'd snuck off here on my own, Vernon still took all the blame, like it was his fault.
There was not a single word of reproach from him.
Back then, this kind of coaxing would've melted my anger away in an instant.
But now, I was just so tired, too exhausted to even argue.
I just mumbled, "Okay."
Then I let him scoop me up, carry me to the car, and take me back home to the Loxley estate.
As soon as I stepped out of the car, I dodged Vernon's hand again when he tried to help me, and walked straight inside without looking back.
I just wanted to see my two kids, the ones I gave birth to four years ago, one more time.
But right at the foot of the stairs, someone blocked my way.