Chapter 2

Ethan's voice came from the other end of the line.

He said, "Ryan, Lily killed herself after hearing you got your marriage license today."

That one sentence was enough to send Ryan rushing out, so urgent that he didn't even stick around for our wedding photo.

My eyes brimmed with tears as I stared at his back, calling out after him in a shaky voice, "Ryan, if you walk out now, we're done."

He stopped in his tracks, his whole body freezing up.

But the next moment, Lily's voice came through the phone.

"Ryan, it hurts so much!" Lily whimpered.

As soon as she said that, Ryan stormed out of the marriage bureau, not even glancing back.

It felt like someone had stabbed me right in the chest, the pain so sharp I could barely breathe.

Seven years together couldn't compare to how much he worried about Lily. Even if I had a whole lifetime, it still wouldn't be enough to make him stay for a single wedding photo with me.

This time, I couldn't keep fooling myself. He never loved me.

The world around me faded into a blur, voices growing distant and fuzzy. I felt something warm trickling between my legs, and then everything went black.

When I woke up again, all I could see was a blindingly white ceiling. The nurse handed me my medical report and gently reminded me to keep my emotions in check for the sake of the baby.

I was still trying to process the fact that I was pregnant when I got a call from his parents.

"Anna, remember to come home for dinner with Ryan tomorrow. Your dad and I have cooked up a big meal. Let's have a proper family celebration for your wedding," Sophie said warmly.

Tears welled up in my eyes, and for a moment, I was completely speechless.

Sophie and Mike had always treated me like their own daughter, maybe even better than their real one. How was I supposed to tell them what had happened today?

After wrestling with my emotions for a long moment, I choked back the tears threatening to spill and said in a low voice, "Okay."

Just saying that single word left me completely spent.

When I went to schedule my abortion, I bumped into Ryan at the hospital; he was there with Lily.

The moment he saw me, his first reaction was to pull Lily protectively behind him.

"Anna, don't blame her," Ryan said, his voice tense.

A sour ache twisted in my chest, the pain radiating through my whole body.

I was the one abandoned, the one hurt, yet he looked at me like I was the villain, all wary and guarded. Every word he said was just to defend Lily.

"Anna, Lily's still young. She can't accept what's happened between us right now. I think I should stay with her at the hospital for now," Ryan said softly.

His voice was gentle, as if he were patiently trying to talk me into it.

But the way he held Lily so tightly in his arms said everything I needed to know.

"Just three months. Lily wants to film a breakup countdown vlog to mark the end of her seven-year crush. After that, we can get married, okay?" Ryan said softly.

In that moment, I realized he cared about someone else more than me now.

The emotional rollercoaster was too much, and a dull ache returned to my lower abdomen.

Maybe the baby could sense how little his father cared, and it was kicking up a fuss in protest.

I closed my eyes, exhausted, hearing Ryan quietly comforting Lily beside me, and a wave of exhaustion washed over me.

When I opened my eyes again, I silently tucked away the prenatal report and met his gaze.

I said quietly, "Ryan, I'm not stupid.

"Seven years, from our school days to our wedding day, I know you so well that I can spot your lies a mile away.

"I've seen what it looks like when you truly love me, so last night, when you looked at those videos and told me you loved me, it just felt so fake.

"I've seen you panic over the smallest scratch on me, so I could see just how much you cared when you got that call.

"I've seen you always choose me without hesitation, so when you hesitated and said we should wait to get married, I could hear the uncertainty in your voice.

"Maybe you loved me too much before, spoiled me into being sensitive and picky. I'm sorry, but I just can't accept the reality that you don't love me anymore, or that you don't love me the way you used to.

"So, Ryan, let's break up."

By the time I finished, I was already sobbing uncontrollably.

For seven years, he was a part of me, woven into the very fabric of my life. Breaking up now felt like ripping out a part of my soul.

Ryan grabbed my hand and said in a trembling voice, "No, I can't accept this.

"Anna, please, just give it a little more time. As soon as Lily calms down, we'll go sign the papers and get married, I promise."