Chapter 3

When I woke up, I was already in the hospital.

By the bedside was a neighbor I'd always gotten along well with.

She scolded me softly, "Emily, you're supposed to be on bed rest! How could you do something so risky? Do you have any idea you nearly lost your baby?"

She held my hand concernedly, telling me how she and the neighbors had rushed me to the hospital in a panic.

I bowed my head miserably. "Maybe it would be better not to keep it."

She immediately became anxious. "Didn't you have a very hard time getting pregnant? You and your husband wanted this child so much. How can you say such discouraging things?"

As soon as she finished speaking, she seemed to suddenly remember something.

She hesitated awkwardly, then made an excuse. "You, you rest well first. I'll get you some water."

I stopped the neighbor aunt, thanked her sincerely, and asked her what was wrong.

She loved visiting around the neighborhood. My sixth sense told me she must have seen something unknown.

Sure enough, seeing my pale, pitiful state, she sighed. "Emily, you should keep a closer eye on your husband. Last week and yesterday, I saw him bring women home.

"Those two women looked different, but what they had in common was that they both stayed for half a day. Clearly not up to any good."

Seeing I didn't look shocked, just a bit indifferent, she thought I already knew and started chattering to me. "Last year, when you were always going to the hospital for shots to prepare for pregnancy, he often brought the same woman home, sometimes even staying overnight.

"Remember that time you passed out in the elevator because of an allergic reaction to the shots? He sent you to the hospital, then immediately brought that pretty woman home.

"My husband told me not to meddle, so I've kept this to myself for a long time. Did you already know?"

Only women could sympathize with women.

She couldn't help but tell me the shocking truth.

And my already battered heart, upon hearing the truth, shattered completely.

During my painful moments of pregnancy, Alex was behind my back, having fun with other women in our home.

Maybe I should have realized sooner.

Over the years, the number of times Alex cheated was definitely more than three!

In places I couldn't see, he must have cheated thousands upon thousands of times.

After all, cheating was always either zero times or countless times.

And Alex was never the rare, loyal exception.

Seeing my red eyes and bitten lower lip, stubbornly refusing to cry, she comforted me. "But no matter what, the child is innocent. At least you're husband and wife. Wait until the child is born to talk things out properly."

I turned away, wiping away the tears I couldn't hold back. "Thank you for today. You should go home first. I'll go back when I'm feeling better."

After she left, I ignored the doctor's strong objections and checked myself out of the hospital.

The first place I went after discharge wasn't home, but a law firm.

I showed the lawyer all the proactive messages I'd received and something I'd photographed under the bed this morning.

After entrusting the lawyer to draft a divorce agreement for me, I handed over all the properties under my name to an agent, asking them to sell them for me as soon as possible.

Before going home, I threw the pregnancy-preserving medicine the hospital gave me in the trash.

As soon as I got home, I started packing.

While in the middle of packing, Alex came home, carrying the scent of an unfamiliar perfume.

Seeing the suitcase, Alex was stunned. "Honey, are you packing for the postpartum center? Isn't it a bit early?"

Not wanting Alex to disrupt my plans, I turned my head away and replied, "Just getting ready early so it's not a rush later."

Alex's furrowed brows relaxed. "I'm looking forward to this child's arrival as much as you are, but you're too impatient. Leave it. I'll pack it."

His words were full of anticipation for the child.

After saying this, he took a necklace out of his pocket. "I thought this necklace would look good on you, so I bought it specially for you. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have forgotten our anniversary yesterday."

Full of apology, he tried to put the necklace on me.

But he forgot that not long ago, for my birthday, he had already given me an identical one.

I smiled bitterly, took the necklace, and thanked him.

Alex immediately looked relieved, rolled up his sleeves, and said he'd make me soup.

That night, I stayed silent. I didn't argue with him, nor did I question how many times he had actually cheated over the years.

The next two weeks were all the same.

Until the day I secretly checked into the hospital for the abortion procedure.

Remembering how Alex had gotten a call from a woman this morning and left in a hurry again, before entering the operating room, I called Alex several times.

Not only did he not answer, but I soon received a text from an unknown number.

[Stop bothering him, he's with me!]

Followed immediately by a mirror selfie of the two of them holding hands.

But my frozen heart no longer felt any waves.

Just before the anesthesia took effect, I sent Alex one last text. [Our baby is gone. I've also prepared divorce papers. I'll sign them when I'm out.]

Putting down my phone, I closed my eyes with a heart full of despair.

But the second after I was wheeled away by the nurse, Alex, who hadn't answered my calls, started frantically calling me back.