Chapter 1

Three days before my wedding to Jonathan Clark, I got a video from his friend, Judith Chase.

In the video, they were tangled up in bed, holding each other close.

"Jonathan said your bruised stomach turned him off," Judith said. "He came to me every night. I'm so tired."

I didn't argue. I went straight to get an abortion.

On the day of the wedding, I mailed Jonathan the hospital papers.

I gave my wedding dress to Judith.

But Jonathan ripped the dress off her in front of everyone.

Then he went crazy looking for me.

*****

I was out shopping when I received a video.

In the video, Jonathan and Judith were kissing like they couldn't bear to be apart.

Up until now, I always thought they were just childhood friends, almost like siblings.

The sight made me gag, and my vision went black.

When I finally woke up, I was lying in a hospital bed.

A nurse told me that a cab driver had brought me in.

"Congrats, Ms. Reed. You're pregnant," the doctor announced with a smile.

My whole body shuddered.

Back in college, Jonathan was after me for four years straight.

He brought me breakfast every day, not missing a single morning.

He'd profess his love for me in front of everyone, time and time again, whenever he got up to speak.

Whenever some jerks tried to harass me, he'd take them all on, even if he got sent to the hospital. He'd protect me no matter what.

Then, right before graduation, I showed up in a wedding dress outside the guys' dorm.

"Jonathan Clark, you've taken 999 steps toward me. The last step should be mine. So, will you marry me?" I asked.

Our love story became the talk of the campus.

After graduation, we stayed in Jonathan's hometown.

We got our marriage license, and just like he promised, Jonathan spoiled me rotten.

He even gave me shares in his company, no strings attached.

He always said, "If you want something and I've got it, it's yours."

I used to think I was the happiest woman in the world.

But right now, that thought just felt bitterly ironic.

The doctor asked gently, "Would you like to start your prenatal records? Today would be your first checkup."

"No," I replied, forcing a smile that never reached my eyes. "I want an abortion."

The doctor looked puzzled, but she respected my privacy and didn't ask any more questions. She just processed the paperwork.

As the cold instruments worked inside me, it felt like my heart was being torn apart over and over again.

Sorry, my baby.

I couldn't be selfish and bring you into this world if I couldn't give you a happy family of three.

After the surgery, I folded up the ultrasound and surgery documents, tucking them away neatly.

Three days from now would be our wedding.

I had a big surprise for him.

*****

I went about things as usual when I got home.

However, Linda Lewis, the housekeeper, still noticed how pale I looked.

"Ms. Reed, are you feeling unwell?" she asked.

I shook my head weakly, my voice barely above a whisper. "Just a bit of a cold. I'll go lie down for a while. Just make some light soup these days, okay?"

Linda nodded immediately. "I'll start cooking right away."

I collapsed onto the bed, barely conscious, and drifted off almost instantly.

When I woke up, it was already dinner time.

Judith sat across from me at the dining table, her face lit up with smug satisfaction. "Last night was my birthday, and Jonathan booked out a whole restaurant just for me. He even hired a drone team for a special show."

She shot me a smirk. "Stella, did you catch that?"

It felt like my heart was being torn to shreds.

I spent the whole night sobbing in bed after losing my baby, while they were out celebrating.

I gripped my fork so hard I could barely keep from shaking with anger.

Judith moved in about six months ago.

Jonathan said she was heartbroken after a breakup and came back from abroad to clear her head. Her own place hadn't been lived in for ages and was being renovated, so she needed to stay with us for a bit.

I didn't give it a second thought and welcomed her in.

But I never realized I was letting a homewrecker into my house.

"Jonathan knows I love roses, so he had drones shower me with rose petals from above. He even gave me three wish cards. No matter what I wish for, he'll make it come true," Judith went on.

She looked at me with that innocent smile. "Stella, do you have any?"

Wish cards?

I remembered Jonathan gave me wish cards last year too. I kept them like precious gems, and I could never bring myself to use the last one.

Now, he was pulling the same sweet gestures with someone else.

It felt like my heart was getting punched again and again. It hurt so much I could barely breathe.

Judith's voice was grating on my ears, so I put down my fork and walked off to my room.

Seeing me leave, Judith slammed her fork down, sounding annoyed. "What's with that attitude? You think you are the lady of the house now?"

"Linda, get me some soup," she yelled.

Linda couldn't hide her irritation, but she still had to do as Judith demanded.

*****

Jonathan didn't come home until late at night.

After a quick change and wash, he lay down and just slipped his arm around my waist like it was the most normal thing in the world.

I turned my back to him, pretending to be asleep, but I just lay there staring into the darkness.

I really wanted to sleep, but my mind was filled with all the messed-up things Jonathan had done.

All those pictures of him and Judith kept popping up in my head. There was no way I could sleep.

Jonathan murmured softly against my back, "Honey..."

He couldn't keep his hands to himself, kissing my neck and cheek, making his move, all hot and bothered.

After a few minutes, I stayed completely unresponsive, pretending to be asleep.

If it were before, his passion would have snapped me right out of my fake sleep, and I'd be the one pulling him close, clinging to him like I couldn't get enough.

But now, just feeling his hands on me made my skin crawl.

Jonathan, defeated, rolled back to his side of the bed, awkward and silent.

Soon after, he got up and left the bedroom.

I opened my eyes.