Chapter 2

"I'll compensate you for aborting the baby. A house, a car, cash, shares. Whatever you want," he said.

I couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh when I heard his words.

To him, the life growing inside me was merely worth a cheque.

I slowly slipped my hand out of his grasp, every movement deliberate.

"Fine." I folded up the prenatal report and stuffed it into my bag. "Since we're talking compensation, let's not do this at the hospital. Let's go home."

Amber froze for a moment, like she hadn't expected me to agree so quickly.

Kyle stared at me, like he was checking if I was serious or just making a scene.

I met his gaze, speaking each word clearly. "You always wanted me to be mature, didn't you? Well, I'm being mature now."

By the time we got back to Fairmont Estate, it was already dark.

This was the home Kyle and I had shared for three years as a married couple.

The chandelier in the living room was my choice. It gave off a warm, soft glow that never felt harsh. On the entryway cabinet sat the aroma diffuser I bought last week. Its scent was light, like lime and cedar.

In the kitchen, the pot of chicken soup I'd cooked halfway this morning was still on the stove.

It actually felt like home.

But, from the beginning, I was the only one who ever brought any life into this place.

Kyle tossed his suit jacket onto the couch, loosened his tie a bit, and looked exhausted.

"Just tell me what you want," he said.

I bent down, opened a drawer, and pulled out a document, setting it on the coffee table.

"Here's the divorce agreement. I just had my lawyer update it," I said.

His gaze grew darker. "You already had this prepared?"

"No," I replied, meeting his eyes. "You were the one who rushed me. I had it changed just now."

He picked it up, flipping through a few pages, his frown deepening with every page.

"Sloane, I can give you the Southside villa and the car. But a three percent stake in Orion? Have you forgotten that it's the Dawson family's company?" he asked.

I let out a bitter laugh.

"I haven't forgotten," I said, "But you shouldn't forget that I was the one who negotiated that make-or-break overseas deal for Orion three years ago. Without that, you wouldn't have even been able to stand firm when you went public."

I looked him in the eye. "Three percent isn't asking too much. Especially since you're making me give up my child for it."

The room fell silent for a moment.

It was the first time I'd ever said "child" so plainly.

Kyle's eyes flickered, as if he was finally realizing this wasn't just about dealing with a nuisance. It was about taking a life.

But that hint of emotion lasted only two seconds. He quickly went back to being cold and detached.

"I'll sign it, but only after the surgery is done. Simon will pick you up at nine tomorrow and take you to the hospital," Kyle said.

I nodded. "Sure."

He seemed caught off guard by how agreeable I was, staring at me for a couple seconds.

"You're not going to throw a fit?" he asked.

"Why bother?" I slid the agreement toward him. "Should I make a scene in front of your precious Amber, just so she can see me as the wicked woman keeping your happy little family of three apart?"

I taunted, "Or should I go cry to your mom, so she can call me selfish and say I'm stopping the Dawson family from welcoming their precious grandson?"

Kyle's face went cold. "Sloane."

I raised my hand to cut him off. "Don't call me that. There's no point."

"Didn't you spell it out for me earlier today? The Dawson family only wants one kid, and only one mother," I said, my voice flat.

I crouched down and gathered up the baby things scattered across the floor.

It was a pair of tiny socks I'd bought yesterday, almost without thinking, when I passed by a baby store. It was creamy white, with a little moon stitched on it.

I stared at the socks for a few seconds, then put them back in the box and closed the lid.

"I'll give up my place," I said, "Is that dignified enough for you?"

He couldn't even find the words.

I wasn't about to wait around.

I picked up the box and headed for the bedroom. As I passed by him, he suddenly reached out and grabbed my arm.

"Sloane, you can hate me, but Noah's not to blame," he said.

I stopped in my tracks. Then, I turned my head slowly to face him.

"What about my baby?" I asked.

He didn't say a word.

I let out a bitter laugh. "It seems you know it too. My baby hasn't done anything wrong either."

I went back to the bedroom and started packing my things.

There wasn't much to take. I'd lived in this house for three years, but hardly anything here was really mine.

Most of the closet was packed with designer outfits Mabel Dawson, Kyle's mother, had bought just to keep up appearances. All the jewelry felt like nothing more than props to play Mrs. Dawson.

Honestly, there were very few things I actually liked.

An old camera, a portable hard drive with proposals and drafts.