Chapter 1
I ended up as the female lead of a webnovel because I needed to cure myself. The only way to keep from being wiped out was to get pregnant by the male lead, Don Parkinson.
Eight years into our marriage, the system hit me with a brutal truth. The baby growing inside me didn't belong to Don and me.
The mission was a bust. Once the baby was born, I'd be wiped out.
Don was a die-hard childfree guy. After eight years of marriage and endless persuasion, he finally relented and agreed to try IVF.
I thought he gave in because he loved me. But with just a month left before my due date, I discovered his childhood sweetheart had posted my pregnancy ultrasound on her social media.
She wrote: [Big thanks to Don for making me a mom without suffering any pain at all!]
Just then, my phone rang. Don called, sounding apologetic.
He said, "Elaine is really sick. Only cord blood that matches her genes can save her life. I couldn't just leave her in the cold.
"Tilda, you're in great shape. We can have more kids down the line.
"If you want more kids later, I'll go along with whatever you want, alright?"
I let out a bitter laugh and hung up.
A week later, Don came back from his business trip, ready to take me to the hospital for my delivery.
But the house was empty. All that was left behind were the abortion papers.
He called and texted me nonstop, but I only sent him one reply. [Don, we're done.]
*****
The system's timer was down to its last month, and the baby growing inside me wasn't even mine. The mission was already a bust.
Just to drive the point home, at my prenatal checkup today, the doctor said my health was tanking fast for some unknown reason.
My body was breaking down, couldn't take the strain of the pregnancy anymore. I had to get the baby out, or it'd be the end for both the child and me.
Even though I knew this child wasn't really mine, after carrying it for several months, I couldn't help but get emotionally attached.
Every time I went shopping for baby clothes, I'd imagine what life would be like together, and how I'd make sure this little one was happy.
So even knowing the baby belonged to Don and Elaine, I still wanted to bring it into the world.
The baby was innocent. No matter what drama the adults had, it shouldn't have to suffer because of it.
But in the end, what wasn't mine would always slip away.
Just like Don.
I wore him down for eight years in order to have a baby.
But Don always came up with some excuse.
The first year, he said he was too busy helping Elaine start her business.
The second year, after Elaine's parents died unexpectedly, he had to stay with her to mourn.
The seventh year, he said Elaine was crying to him, saying if we had a baby, he wouldn't have time for her anymore.
The eighth year, the final year of my mission, he finally gave in.
If it hadn't been for Elaine's post a few days ago, I'd probably still be clueless.
No wonder Don was so insistent on IVF, even though we were both perfectly healthy.
It turned out that they'd been scheming this from the very start.
I made excuse after excuse for him, never imagining there was such a filthy plot going on behind my back.
Just as I finished my prenatal checkup, Don's call came in.
His voice was as gentle as ever.
He asked, "Was everything okay at the checkup? Are you feeling worn out? Should I send someone to get you?"
I opened my mouth, but no words came out.
Don kept up his usual banter, cracking jokes as if he and Elaine hadn't just pulled the rug out from under me.
Ever since we got together, things had always been good between us. Even when we fought, Don could toss out a wisecrack and have me laughing till my sides hurt.
But this time, no matter how cheerful he tried to sound, I just couldn't bring myself to respond.
Not even anger or bitterness could stir in me anymore.
Inside, it was just dead calm, like a pond with no ripples.
Don sounded uneasy.
He said, "Hey babe, are you okay?"
"Probably not," I said calmly.
Don was caught off guard. I was always the tough one, never the type to admit I wasn't okay.
On the other end, I could hear him suck in a breath. "Hang on. I'm coming to get you right now!"
After I hung up, I just zoned out, staring at the hospital ceiling, feeling totally numb.
Sooner or later, this had to end. If he was coming, I might as well lay it all out in person.
But three minutes later, Don texted me. [Tilda, Elaine fainted again. I need to rush her to another hospital. Just head home. Don't wait up for me.]
I thought I'd stopped expecting anything from him, but seeing that message made my chest tighten up. The pain hit so hard, I broke out in a cold sweat.
The signs had been there all along.
A year ago, when I brought up having a baby again, Don, who always swore he'd never have kids, immediately agreed.
That was also when he and Elaine were practically glued together. Elaine always had some excuse to drag him away from me.
She'd come down with a fever, complain about a stomachache, or suddenly her cat would mysteriously disappear.
This past year, the phrase I heard from Don more than anything else was, "Elaine's got something going on. I need to be with her. Don't wait up."
They didn't even bother to hide it.
I couldn't believe how clueless I was. Only now did I finally get what had been happening.
At the end of the day, Don played me for a fool because he knew I loved him and would always forgive him. That was why he kept ditching me, again and again.
But there wouldn't be a next time.
The system's deadline was almost up, and I wouldn't get another chance at life.
I wasn't going to forgive him ever again.