Chapter 2

I was indeed Julian's personal choice.

Countless families wanted to form an alliance with him, but mine had the least advantage. In our circle, they called our company a small one, with a market value of only a couple of hundred million.

But Julian still chose me because I was "well-behaved" – I had no temper and wouldn't dare to control him.

Even after marriage, he was as free as ever.

To him, this marriage was just a formality to appease his family. To me, it was the last lifeline for our family company.

I needed Julian. To be precise, my parents, our family company, needed Julian.

Our family got everything we wanted. Now, it seemed Julian was quite satisfied with me too.

"I'm going to sleep now," I said, forcing a smile, and got into bed.

A moment later, I heard Julian's quiet footsteps as he left the room.

I closed my eyes and curled up, feeling a bit cold.

Gradually, my eyelids grew heavy, and I drifted into a hazy sleep.

Suddenly, I felt someone wrap their arms around me. A slightly cool hand rested on my stomach, slowly tracing upwards, a shiver ran through me.

It was Julian.

I instantly woke up, instinctively grabbing his hand. "I don't feel well today."

"What's wrong?" His voice was husky, his warm lips brushing my neck.

I couldn't help but flinch. The image of him and Serena standing together flashed through my mind, Serena with her growing belly. A surge of revulsion washed over me.

"I'm really not feeling well. Not tonight." I pleaded.

Julian's hand remained on my stomach. He held me quietly, and after a moment, he tightened his arm. "Go to sleep."

After we got married, whenever he stayed home for the night, he would always hold me as we slept.

At first, I clung to a sliver of hope, telling myself it was his way of showing affection. But no matter how naive I was, the moment I saw him with Serena at the hospital today, I couldn't lie to myself anymore.

I just didn't understand. If he loved Serena so much, why did he marry me?

If he loved Serena so much, why did he hold me every night?

I fell asleep. When I opened my eyes again, the room was still pitch black, and Julian was no longer beside me.

I picked up my phone and saw it was already past nine.

I went to the bathroom for a hot shower, dried myself quickly, put on warmer clothes, and went downstairs.

Mrs. Gable wasn't there, only Chloe, the house staff, was cleaning.

She stopped what she was doing and looked at me. "You're awake. Would you like something to eat now?"

I nodded.

In the open-plan kitchen, Chloe busied herself for a bit, then called out, "Dinner's ready!"

I ate quickly at the kitchen island, then got ready to go back to my room and rest. Just as I stood up, there was a *ding*, and the elevator doors opened, revealing Julian's tall figure.

I looked over. His expression was icy, his gaze locked onto me as he walked toward me.

The oppressive presence of the tall man made my breath catch. I looked up to meet his eyes, wanting to ask what was wrong, but no sound came out.

"What's wrong with you?" Julian suddenly asked.

In that instant, I understood. He had gone to the hospital. He knew everything.

"Amelia Miller, you have some nerve," Julian's voice was a low rumble, chilling me to the bone.

I lowered my head, unsure what to say. I didn't even understand why he was so angry.

Did he want me to have this baby?

I wouldn't allow my child to be born into a family devoid of warmth or affection.

Julian grabbed my chin, forcing me to look up into his eyes. His usually charming eyes held no trace of their former playfulness, only a cold ruthlessness.

His thin lips parted, each word a hammer blow. "Amelia Miller, you aborted my child."