Chapter 2

I didn't want to see either of them for another second. I grabbed Lucky and rushed him to the pet hospital.

Even the vet—who must've seen every kind of injury—sucked in a breath when he saw the wound.

While they treated Lucky, the pain in my stomach was getting worse, so I went to the human hospital to pick up some medicine and get an X-ray just in case.

I didn't stay to wait for the results. I was too worried about Lucky.

But the moment I stepped out of the hospital, I saw them—those two shadows that wouldn't leave my life alone.

Edward was holding Bella, the two of them standing with their backs to me.

Bella was whining softly. "The doctor said if we're trying for a baby, I need more folic acid. Eddie, let me give you a baby boy, okay?"

Edward didn't respond.

So she kept going. "She can't get pregnant anyway. Don't you want a child?"

Yes. I couldn't get pregnant.

To save Edward's life, I didn't just lose our baby.

I lost my uterus.

I would never carry a child again.

My chest tightened as I remembered the look on Edward's face when he stared at the test results.

What he cared about wasn't my body, my future, or my pain. All he cared about was the doubt eating him alive.

He asked, "Whose baby were you carrying?"

I had been too weak to stand that day. He pinned me against the wall, demanding answers.

He forgot that he was the one who stumbled into my room that night, drunk out of his mind.

I tried to speak, but he refused to listen. He slammed the door as he left, throwing one last cruel sentence over his shoulder. "Serves you right. A woman like you doesn't deserve to be a mother anyway."

After that, Edward surrounded himself with women—any kind, any time—as if punishing me for something he refused to believe.

Bella just happened to be the one who stayed the longest.

She dragged out a syrupy "honey".

He clicked his tongue, amused, enjoying every second of it.

He chuckled, "Fine, we'll have a baby. And I'm not stopping at just one."

"Oh, stop it," she giggled.

Then they turned around and froze when they saw me standing there.

Edward frowned and snapped, "Lily? What are you doing here? Are you following me?"

My throat felt raw as I forced out the words. "Edward, if you want her to have your child, then what about me? What am I to you?"

The tears finally slipped down.

He laughed—sharp and mocking. "You?"

He stepped closer, almost delighted by how much this hurt me. "When you were pregnant with someone else's kid, did you ever think about me?

"You can keep calling yourself Mrs. Hudson. I promised my grandfather I'd never divorce you."

Then he pulled Bella closer and shoved me aside. "Move."

I hit the ground hard, scraping my palms open. Blood welled up instantly, but Edward didn't even look back.

I stared at their retreating figures, my chest tightening until I could barely breathe.

Edward had hated me from the moment he discovered I was pregnant.

Even though he married me to honor his grandfather Benjamin's wishes, he never once treated me with kindness.

I used to think that once the baby was born, a paternity test would prove I wasn't lying.

But I didn't expect him to be so stubborn—so vicious.

He only pushed harder, surrounding himself with woman after woman just to hurt me.

I wiped my nose, picked up my stomach medicine, and headed back toward the pet hospital.

Sometime along the way, it began pouring.

I held my coat over my head and tried to run, but bright headlights flashed straight into my eyes. I stumbled and fell backward into a puddle.

A harsh screech of brakes followed.

Water from the car's tires splashed all over me, soaking me completely.

Cold rain dripped down my face as I watched Edward roll down the window, his expression full of spite. "How does it feel to be drenched?"

He didn't wait for an answer. "Bella's birthday party is tomorrow. I want you to bake the cake yourself. She likes strawberries."

Bella giggled beside him, "I want one with seven or eight layers."

Edward added, without missing a beat, "Make it eight. Don't forget."

Then the car sped off, showering me with more dirty rainwater on its way out.

I wiped my face, not sure whether the wetness was rain or tears.

People on the street pointed and whispered, but none of their mocking looks hurt me the way Edward did.