Chapter 2

A sharp pain burned through my stomach so suddenly that cold sweat broke out along my back. It was the same problem I'd picked up years ago when Daniel and I were trying to build a life from nothing.

Back then, he was so worried he could barely sleep. When the treatments didn't help, he cooked for me every day until the pain finally faded.

The moment he saw me clutching my stomach again, that old panic flashed across his face. He rushed me to the hospital, and I ended up staying overnight.

Watching him circle the room, adjusting my blanket and checking my IV, I almost felt like I had slipped back into the past.

But in the middle of the night, his phone lit up—Olivia calling.

Her sugary, breathy voice carried down the hallway. "Danny, come see me. I've got a surprise for you tonight. You're going to love it."

Daniel hesitated. I watched him glance back at me, pausing for a few seconds before he finally turned and walked away.

The moment he left, the pain in my stomach twisted so hard I could barely breathe. I forced myself to hit the call button.

The doctor hurried over and ran some tests. "You're pregnant. Try to avoid any major emotional stress."

"I... I'm pregnant?" I took the report from the doctor, staring at the words on the page, completely stunned.

All those injections, all those pills—they hadn't been for nothing. I had actually gotten pregnant with Daniel's baby.

But no one was waiting for this child anymore.

I clutched the paper tighter, tracing the words with trembling fingers as if I could protect this tiny, unwelcome life.

I lifted my head, forcing the tears back. "Doctor, this isn't the right time. Please schedule the procedure."

*****

After the abortion, I dragged myself back into bed and fell into a heavy sleep.

When I woke up, Daniel was slumped over the edge of my bed, his face drawn with exhaustion, as if he'd spent the whole night watching over me.

If only I hadn't seen the red kiss mark on his neck.

I made myself stare at that bright, mocking stain until something inside me went completely still.

I shifted, trying not to make a sound, but he jolted awake.

"Sophie, you're up?" He looked relieved. "How do you feel? Does your stomach still hurt?"

I turned my face away. "It's much better."

He smiled, "That's good. You must be hungry. I brought you breakfast. Eat a little first."

He opened the lunchbox, only to pause. "Oh, it's gotten cold. Hold on, I'll heat it up for you."

He grabbed the container—baby-pink with a cartoon printed on top. It was impossible to miss.

I frowned, ready to tell him not to bother, but he was already heading for the door. Before leaving, he reached out and ruffled my hair, just like he used to. "Give me a minute, okay?"

As soon as he walked out, I pulled out the IV.

My eyes drifted back to that pink lid, and a wave of nausea rolled through me.

While he was gone, I checked myself out of the hospital.

Daniel called the moment I got into the car, "Sophie, where did you go? Where are you right now?"

I sighed, "I went home."

"Home?" His voice immediately sharpened. "Why would you leave without telling anyone? Your body is still weak. Why are you acting like this?"

His fake concern almost made me laugh.

I sneered, "Think whatever you want. Maybe I am acting out."

After hanging up, I told the driver to take me straight to the law firm. I drafted the divorce papers myself and printed them out.

"Ms. Lane," the paralegal asked gently, "would you like your abortion record printed as well? If your husband refuses to sign, this can serve as evidence that the marriage has broken down."

"Yes." I nodded, though another idea was already forming.

He threw everything away for a child and another woman.

I couldn't help wondering what he would look like when he found out I had intentionally let go of our baby.

*****

That afternoon, while I was packing my suitcase, the doorbell suddenly rang.

When I opened the door, Olivia was standing there.

She raised a brow, a smug smile tugging at her lips. "Sophie, Danny told me you were sick, so I came to check on you."

"You're not welcome here." I didn't even bother hiding my disgust and started to close the door.

She blocked it with one hand. "Not welcome? Please. Sophie, you really have no idea, do you? I've been here plenty of times."

She leaned in a little. "I've even slept in your bed more than once."

Her smile widened. "Though now it doesn't matter. Danny just bought me an apartment next door, so I won't be coming over as often."

I saw the triumph in her eyes. And for the first time, instead of pain, I actually smiled—a cold, hollow smile.

If this had been months ago, her words would've shattered me. But now? I felt nothing.

Everything she did in front of me only made her look like a clown.

"You know what? I'm pregnant with his baby," she said proudly, resting a hand on her stomach.

She was pregnant with Daniel's baby?

I froze for a second before letting out a soft, bitter laugh.

What was I even surprised about? This was where things had been heading all along.

In Daniel's eyes, a woman who couldn't get pregnant was worthless.

That was why he ran to someone younger, someone "capable," someone like Olivia.

He just conveniently forgot the part where I went through three rounds of IVF, wrecking my body in the process.

And in the end, when I finally did get pregnant, it still didn't matter.

My gaze drifted to her stomach. My hand instinctively pressed against my own.

Olivia caught the shift in my expression and smiled sweetly, "You know, I felt him kick last night. Such a strong, healthy little one."

Then she added, almost cheerfully, "Danny told me you can't get pregnant. That's such a shame. Men don't want women who can't have kids."

I lifted my chin. "And only women nobody wants would stoop low enough to steal someone else's man."

"You—" Her face twisted with rage.

She lifted her hand to slap me, but before she could touch me, another voice cut through the hallway. "Olivia, what are you doing here?"