Chapter 2

Nathan said, "Emma, I know I messed up, and you have every right to be mad at me. But Caroline never asked for anything. It's just that Lily needs a dad.

"Everything we're doing now is for Lily. You should understand how it feels to be a parent."

As soon as he mentioned Lily, his face softened, and his eyes were filled with happiness.

Lily grabbed Nathan's hand and called out sweetly, "Daddy."

Nathan picked her up, kissed her on the cheek, and then turned to me, his voice even huskier. "Honey, look how adorable she is. How could I ever let her grow up without a father?"

Watching the three of them together, I felt my heart sink, plunging into the freezing depths of a deserted ocean.

Funny how, when the sadness got overwhelming, we just ended up laughing at ourselves.

Suddenly, I remembered how Nathan started constantly traveling for all sorts of events after he missed our wedding anniversary three years ago.

I was suspicious at first and looked into his itinerary a couple of times. Once I saw he really was working, I stopped worrying.

Turned out, Caroline and Lily had already entered his life back then.

Caroline stepped out, wiped tears from her eyes, and then looked at me with deep guilt. "Emma, I really thought about taking Lily and leaving town, but she just can't live without her dad."

She came right up to me, bowed to me, and then begged me while sobbing, "Please, don't drive us away. I just want Nathan to come by every weekend and spend time with Lily."

I jumped aside, refusing to play along with her sob story.

A flash of anger crossed Nathan's face as he marched over and grabbed Caroline, helping her to her feet.

But the moment Caroline straightened up, she wobbled. Her eyes rolled back, and then she passed out on the spot.

Lily, sobbing uncontrollably, rushed over and slammed right into my abdomen. I staggered back a few steps and crumpled to the floor.

The agony was so fierce that it felt like I was being ripped apart. I could sense something draining away from inside me, and a wave of terror crashed over me. Instinctively, I called out Nathan's name.

But he was already walking away with Caroline in his arms, leaving behind only a cold warning. "If anything happens to Caroline, I'll never forgive you."

He didn't even glance my way, so he never saw the blood spreading under me, and he never realized that our child slipped quietly into this world, and just as quietly left.

The pain was just unbearable.

Every part of me hurt.

I barely knew what was happening as some kind strangers rushed me to the hospital.

The attending doctor noticed the tear stains at the corners of my eyes and sighed deeply. "The baby's gone, but you can still have another child in the future."

The anesthesia was still wearing off, and I felt like I was back in those days when it was just Nathan and me against the world.

I remembered that time I failed an exam and lost my shot at a guaranteed spot in college. I broke down, sobbing in the rain.

Nathan was there, holding an umbrella, but he didn't open it right away. He just silently trailed after me.

When I finally ran out of tears, he opened the umbrella, wrapped me up in a tight embrace, and whispered, "Don't worry, I've got you, no matter what."

He always said he was going to make it to the top, just so he could give me the best life possible.

All these years, he worked himself to the bone, and now he was the youngest artist to ever make it big.

Memories flickered by like scenes from a movie, finally pausing on that night with friends.

They joked around with Nathan, "Nathan, you've got it all. Fame, money, and the girl you love. What else could you possibly want?"

Nathan just smiled, his gaze gentle as he looked at me. "Nothing, but I do have one wish: I want a baby, ideally a little girl."

Everyone started egging me on, telling me to hurry up and make it happen.

Nathan looked at me, hopeful and full of anticipation.

But none of us had any idea that, even then, a tiny life was already quietly growing inside me.

I slowly came to, my hand automatically going to my abdomen. My tears just kept rolling down.

It was already gone.

All those years I spent dreaming of a child had turned into nothing but empty hopes.

On the day I was discharged, to my surprise, I caught sight of Nathan at the hospital.

He stared at me, shocked. "Honey, what are you doing here at the hospital?"

I'd been stuck in the hospital for seven days, and he didn't come home once. I didn't even hear a word from him.

I gave him a frosty stare, and for a moment, he looked rattled. "I'm sorry, honey. Lily's been sick with a fever these days, and I've been here with her the whole time.

"You know how it is with kids. You can't take any chances when they're sick."

As he spoke, he rushed over to catch me as I nearly collapsed, his face full of remorse.

I didn't even look at him and just headed straight for the exit. He hurried after me, offering to give me a ride home.

I didn't put up a fight. I just got in the car, shut my eyes, and made it clear I wanted nothing to do with him. Dealing with this mess was the last thing I wanted at that moment. I just needed to get home and crash.

When we got home, I went straight to the bedroom. Nathan started to say something, but in the end, he stayed silent.

The familiar smell of my room calmed me down. I finally relaxed and drifted off to sleep.