Chapter 1

On the eve of our wedding, I discovered a message my fiancé had sent to his ex-girlfriend.

"Sophie, we missed our chance after all."

I confronted him with his phone, giving him two choices.

Either delete it, or cancel the wedding.

He ultimately chose the former, but didn't smile once on our wedding day.

Even later during the delivery, there wasn't a hint of anticipation in his eyes.

Until he received a phone call and suddenly stood up.

"Ethan, my parents are forcing me to marry a 50-year-old pig. Please help me..."

His grip loosened, leaving only his retreating back.

My weak voice called out from behind:

"Ethan, if you take one step out that door, our child will never call you dad."

He paused, but still left.

That day, I had an emotional breakdown. The delivery was difficult and I nearly died.

0

The baby was eventually born.

I didn't die either, but lost several liters of blood.

Family members crowded around the newborn, while I stared at the empty doorway.

Ethan never came back.

At that moment I regretted it, regretted giving him two choices back then.

First, because I couldn't let go of our years together.

Second, because I was already pregnant then.

So I took a gamble, betting he would forget her and have a change of heart.

At first I thought I had won, since he deleted all her contact information in front of me.

But with each passing day, I felt my odds of winning slipping away.

On our wedding day, he was distracted and even put the ring on backwards.

Later, he smiled less and stopped sharing his daily life with me.

Waking up at midnight, his side of the bed was always cold. His texts always said he was too busy.

He'd rather sleep on the couch in his office two miles away than come home and breathe the same air as me.

I should have understood earlier.

Once when he finally came home after two weeks, I grabbed his hand and said seriously:

"If you don't want this anymore, we can divorce. I can raise the child on my own."

Even though I was the one suggesting separation, my voice trembled badly.

I was afraid, afraid he would easily say okay.

But he just fell silent for a while, then patted my head:

"Don't overthink things, I'm just a bit tired."

"You're also anxious because of the pregnancy. It'll be better after these few months."

Then he picked up his bag and left again.

He stayed home for less than three minutes.

Watching his resolute back, my stomach churned violently.

I hugged the toilet and vomited for a long time, until tears rolled down my face.

Now, looking at the empty doorway.

I suddenly felt relieved.

I finally saw clearly, it wasn't too late for everything.

Ethan came back the next day.

Behind him was a petite girl in a wedding dress.

He let go of the girl's hand, leaving her to the side.

Then he went to the incubator, using his finger to tease the little baby inside.

When he turned his head, he met my cold face, and the smile froze on his lips.

He walked up to me, gripping my hand tightly:

"About yesterday, I was too impulsive, but don't misunderstand my relationship with Sophie."

He beckoned, and the girl obediently came over, reciting to me as if reading from a script:

"I only know Ethan in this city, and only he could help me."

"I'm sorry, sister-in-law. I didn't know you were in labor, otherwise I would have rather married that pig than..."

"Don't talk nonsense." Ethan instinctively interrupted.

"You deserve better."

Watching their back-and-forth, I smiled self-mockingly.

Before I could speak, my father rushed in with a thermos and slapped him.

"You dare come back? Yesterday you abandoned my daughter, causing her difficult labor and massive blood loss. If anything had happened to her, our family would never forgive you!"

Ethan frowned, his gaze towards me turning cold.

"But she's fine now, isn't she?"

"Besides, I've already apologized."

The implication was that he had already given me a way out.

I and my family shouldn't embarrass him.

Especially in front of his ex-girlfriend.

I had imagined Ethan's reaction when he came back - remorseful confession or material compensation.

But I never expected this.

He showed not a shred of remorse towards me.

Whether I almost died from blood loss didn't matter at all.

After Ethan said this, I asked him to leave.

He nodded, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth.

"I'll come see the child in a few days. I'm busy these days."

I didn't say anything, just turned to look at the happy family of three in the next bed.

Ethan followed my gaze, panic flashing across his cold face.

But I didn't say anything, just softly hummed and turned away.

He breathed a sigh of relief, taking Sophie's hand as he strode out.

The moment they stepped out, the baby burst into loud cries.

I cradled him in my arms, gently rocking.

"Baby doesn't like daddy either, right?"

"Since we don't like him, let's not see him again, okay?"