Chapter 3

When I got home, I just threw myself into my room and stayed silent.

Even though I'd made up my mind and seen everything for what it was, I couldn't help feeling down and miserable.

Henry and I grew up together. We were childhood friends from the very start.

What started as a friendship and slowly turned into love, and that feeling was with me through all my teenage years.

How could I just move on like none of it mattered?

Now, only time could make it hurt less.

I'd got all the time in the world ahead of me.

At least I still had my family, and they loved me.

I promised myself I'd climb out of this emotional pit and become a whole new me.

I lost track of time before someone finally knocked on my door.

Edward called from outside. "Emily, I heard you're back?"

I took a deep breath, steadied myself, and tried to sound as calm as I could. "Yeah."

He opened the door, and as soon as he saw me, he asked with concern, "Emily, why do you look so down? Is it about not being able to have kids?"

I forced a smile, pulled out today's medical report from my bag, and handed it to him.

"I haven't had a chance to tell you or Mom and Dad yet, but I've been cured by an old doctor."

He took the report eagerly. His eyes lit up with excitement as he read. Then he burst out laughing. "That's amazing. Wait, no, oh no..."

His face went from all smiles to total panic in a flash. He was sweating bullets and smacking his thigh in frustration.

"Oh no, oh no..." His voice was hoarse, and he looked at me, anxious and uneasy. "Emily, I'm sorry. I screwed up, big time."

I stared at him, confused.

"What's up, Edward? Isn't it great that I can get pregnant now?"

Edward met my eyes, and all I saw was despair and regret.

He stared at me, his lips trembling before he finally spoke, "I wanted Henry to keep his word and be with you, never having kids. So, when Henry turned eighteen, I secretly set up an accident. And I... I had him sterilized."

I was left dumbfounded. All I could do was stare at Edward, totally spaced out. My face just froze. I wasn't sure whether I should laugh or cry.

Judging by the look on his face, he really wasn't lying.

I did vaguely remember Henry getting into a car accident when he was eighteen.

I stayed by his side day and night, and ended up with a fever myself.

After that, Henry took care of me instead, speaking softly and comforting me.

Looking back, I thought that was when I truly felt happy.

But now, my eyes went cold.

I couldn't help but ask, "What were you thinking back then?"

Edward looked absolutely miserable, even worse than crying. "I figured, since you couldn't have kids because of him, he had to go childfree with you for life."

He grabbed my hand, panicking. "Emily, just go ahead and kill me, do whatever you want to punish me. I've let you down, and I've let Henry down even more."

I just couldn't process any of it.

My mind was filled with images of Wendy.

Henry had been sterilized by Edward.

That meant there was no way Henry could've knocked Wendy up.

So, whose baby was Wendy really carrying?

"I-I broke up with him. I'm calling off the wedding," I finally blurted out.

Edward literally jumped three feet in the air, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

"That's perfect. You have no idea that Henry is rotten to the core. He is addicted to alcohol, gambling, and womanizing. You name it, and he's done it all. He is a scumbag.

"You should have kicked him to the curb. Breaking up with him is the smartest thing you've ever done."

He was so worked up that he was practically foaming at the mouth, every word ringing out loud and clear.

Then, with a dramatic thump to his chest, Edward declared, "Oh, and breaking off the engagement? Just leave that to me."

He rushed out of my room at lightning speed, like he was terrified I'd change my mind.

I couldn't help but make a face, torn between laughing and crying.

Yeah, Edward was kind of a jerk, no doubt about it.

But honestly, by some crazy twist of fate, he actually got revenge for me.

I couldn't help but feel a little happy inside.

My bad mood just melted away.

I copied Henry's voice, saying under my breath with a sarcastic twist, "Wendy's young, pure, and healthy. Isn't that something?"

I'd love to watch how things unfold for them.

Since both our families lived in the same villa neighborhood, it didn't take Edward long to get back.

Canceling the engagement went surprisingly smoothly.

Henry's parents acted like they were unsure, but they agreed almost instantly.

After all, in their eyes, I was just the infertile one, the girl who couldn't give them any grandchildren.

My parents, after hearing Edward badmouth Henry nonstop, started to have second thoughts.

They were over the moon that I could get pregnant again.

But they just couldn't wrap their heads around why I'd break up with Henry now that I was cured. This sudden twist was just too much for them to process.

My dad asked, "Why did you two break up?"

I glanced at Edward. "Because Henry cheated on me and got another girl pregnant."

My parents immediately started cursing Henry out and agreed to cancel the engagement right away.

Edward's jaw dropped, and he had this weird look on his face.

Later, Edward caught me in private. "Emily, you gotta keep this under wraps, okay? If Henry ever finds out, he'd probably hunt me down and kill me.

"Honestly, it's better if he never knows and raises someone else's kid. After a while, he'll treat them like his own, right?"

I shot him a look, almost bursting out laughing.

From now on, Henry and I had nothing to do with each other anymore.

He didn't show up once the whole time.

All he did was shoot me a text. [I'm really curious. What kind of look will you have on your face when I'm surrounded by my kids and grandkids?]

I just laughed and blocked him without a second thought.

Nobody was sure if he would ever have kids and grandkids.

From that moment on, our families cut all ties.

We were basically dead to each other, living like total strangers for the rest of our lives.