Chapter 2

The surgery was scheduled at a private hospital owned by the Lane family.

I lay on the cold operating table, the glare from the surgical lights making my eyes ache.

"Mrs. Lane, just relax," said the lead surgeon, a specialist Edward had brought in at great expense, his tone gentle. "Just some IV sedation, and you'll drift right off to sleep."

I nodded and closed my eyes.

As the anesthetic began to flow into my veins, the door was pushed open.

"Wait." Vivian entered in a hospital gown, her face pale and her eyes swollen and red. She looked like a delicate flower swaying in the wind.

"Edward, I've changed my mind," Vivian sobbed, rushing straight into Edward's arms. "This is your baby. How could I possibly let this happen? Last night, I dreamed the baby was crying, asking me why I didn't want him."

Edward gently stroked her back. "Vivian, don't do this. We agreed, remember? It's for your health."

"No." Vivian shook her head hard, then turned to me. "Claire, I'm so sorry. This is all my fault. Please, don't go through with the surgery. Let the baby stay. I'll do my best to accept it. I really will..."

She was crying so hard, her face streaked with tears, and Edward's eyes were full of nothing but heartbreak for her.

I watched them quietly, and suddenly, the whole scene felt almost absurd to me.

"Ms. Lynn," I said, surprised at how steady my own voice sounded, "I've already signed the consent form for the surgery."

Vivian's sobs came to an abrupt halt.

She bit her lip, looking nervous. "But... but the surgery hasn't even started yet. Claire, please, do you really not want this baby? Not even for Edward's sake?"

"Vivian," Edward cut in gently, "don't put Claire on the spot. She's thinking of you."

With that, he turned to the doctor. "Go ahead."

The doctor nodded, motioning for the anesthesiologist to up the dosage.

As my vision blurred, I caught a hazy glimpse of Edward walking away, his arm around Vivian, their backs fading from view.

Before everything went dark, Vivian turned and looked back at me.

There wasn't a trace of guilt or sadness in her eyes.

There was a flash of smug satisfaction, as if she'd won.

It finally hit me.

This whole performance wasn't for me.

It was all for Edward, so he'd see how good she was, how much she was suffering, and how much she cared about him.

And I was just a prop in their little play.

Before the anesthesia fully kicked in, I felt the cold metal of the instruments inside me.

And then, the System's icy voice echoed in my mind: "Warning: This procedure will cause permanent uterine damage.

"System repair will consume 99 percent of the system's energy, and after that, it'll be offline for a whole year.

"Do you proceed?"

I whispered in my mind, "Confirm."

And then everything went black.

When I woke up, I was alone in the hospital room.

Night had already fallen outside the window. On the nightstand, a bowl of soup had gone cold, a thin skin forming on top.

I reached down and touched my belly.

It was flat and empty.

The familiar, hollow ache was still there, but it was much milder than before. The System was already repairing the damage.

"You're awake?" Edward came in, holding a bunch of lilies, my least favorite flower, since they were Vivian's favorite.

He set them down and sat by my bedside. "How are you feeling? The doctor said the surgery was a success."

I didn't say anything; I just looked at him.

I'd loved his face for eight years, from our college days to the altar. I thought we'd be like any ordinary couple, having kids and growing old side by side.

But then Vivian came back, and I realized I was never his first choice.

"Claire?" Edward frowned. "Why are you so quiet? Is something wrong?"

"Edward," I said, my voice hoarse, "let's get a divorce."

The atmosphere froze.

Edward's face shifted from shock to disbelief, then hardened. "Are you serious? Just because of this surgery? Claire, you were the one who agreed and signed the consent form."

"I know," I replied, steady as ever. "All the more reason for me to leave."

He fixed his gaze on me, his expression tangled and unreadable. After a while, he scoffed. "Enough with the drama.

"Vivian heard you woke up, so she went out of her way to make you some soup. She'll bring it over soon. Focus on recovering and stop overthinking things."

He stood up, fixing his cuffs. "I've got a meeting at the office. I'll come see you later."

At the door, he paused and glanced back. "Oh, and I've already paid for your mother's care for the next year.

"The nursing home had a private suite that was accessible, so I had it arranged for her. Claire, I've been more than generous to you and your family.

"So, don't say things that are so hurtful anymore."