Chapter 1

While Julian was with the woman he always loved, at her prenatal check-up.

I was scheduling my own abortion, alone.

Our eyes met.

I forced a small smile.

"What a coincidence."

Later, I wished them a long and happy life together, but he wasn't pleased.

"Julian!"

The familiar name caught my breath, and I looked up sharply.

A man and a woman stood facing each other a short distance away. The woman was delicately pretty, with a subtle curve to her belly. The man was tall and handsome…

It was my husband, just a month after we got married.

My mind went completely blank at the sight. I quickly ducked around the corner, and by the time my brain started functioning again, I couldn't hear their voices.

She was pregnant.

The woman Julian loved was pregnant.

He was there with her for her prenatal check-up, and the scene was so perfectly harmonious, so beautiful.

A baby should be born into the eager anticipation of its parents.

I gently stroked my own abdomen, then after a long moment, I walked to another part of the clinic.

The nurse mentioned needing a family member to sign off on the procedure, but I was firm. "No, thank you. I can be responsible for my own body, and I have the right to decide whether or not to have a child."

I signed my name and went out to wait.

Serena's voice drifted closer. "Not at all, I haven't had any morning sickness. Maybe the baby's just a little angel, a blessing."

I turned my head. Julian and Serena were walking side-by-side. Julian held a bag in his hand; it must have been Serena's.

Our eyes met. He paused, looking surprised, as if he hadn't expected to see me there.

I stood up, forcing a small smile. "What a coincidence."

Julian's expression quickly returned to normal.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, his voice low and casual, with a hint of indifference.

I just smiled, retorting, "You?"

Julian: "Just picking something up. Are you done?"

"I still have to wait a bit."

"Then I'll get going." Julian said, then walked past me and left.

Serena gave me a small nod and a gentle smile, then followed Julian's pace.

I sat back down. The plastic chair felt cold.

Finally, I was on the operating table, the surgical light bright above me. I closed my eyes, and hot tears streamed down my face.

It was dark by the time I left the hospital.

I called an Uber home to our new house. Mrs. Gable told me Julian had been back for a while, waiting for me for dinner.

I had no appetite; all I wanted to do was sleep. I told Mrs. Gable I wouldn't be eating and headed up the stairs.

Mrs. Gable quickly followed me. "Mrs. Davies, you look very pale. Are you ill? I'll call Dr. Evans right away."

I forced a smile. "I'm fine, just a little tired. A good night's sleep will fix it."

"Mrs. Davies, if you're not feeling well, you must tell me. I'll get Dr. Evans," Mrs. Gable insisted from behind me.

"Mhm." I mumbled, then went upstairs to our room.

I washed my face and brushed my teeth, skipping a shower and even my skincare routine. I was out of the bathroom quickly.

Julian opened the door and came in. He walked over, studying my face. "Not feeling well? I'll call Dr. Evans."

"No need, a good night's sleep is all I need." I walked to the bed and pulled back the covers.

Julian followed, watching me silently for a moment. Then he smiled and asked, "What were you doing at the hospital today?"

I honestly hadn't expected him to ask and was unsure how to answer.

But then I realized, he probably wasn't genuinely curious about why I was there.

I looked at him. A smile still played on his lips, eternally cynical and distant.

I lowered my head, shaking it gently. "I wasn't following you."

"I know," he said, reaching up to gently stroke my cheek. "You're always so well-behaved. I personally chose you, so you wouldn't disappoint me."