Chapter 2

Joanna POV

Three years after marrying Adrian Blackwood, I saw him passionately kissing his childhood sweetheart Summer Cole in his office.

On the leather sofa I'd personally chosen, Adrian had Summer pinned beneath him.

"Summer, I want you."

"So when are you signing the divorce papers to marry me?" Summer wrapped her arms around Adrian's neck, her cool voice still tinged with fading desire.

Standing outside the door, I froze. Tears streamed down my face without me even realizing it. My hand instinctively moved to my abdomen.

I hadn't forgotten my purpose for coming here-to ask Adrian for money for my prenatal checkup.

Two months ago, after Summer returned to the country, Adrian made her the household manager and simultaneously cut off all my cards.

I took a deep breath, wiped the tears from my face, forced a smile, and pushed open the door to walk into the office.

"Sorry to interrupt."

Hearing my voice, Adrian's brow furrowed quickly. His body, which had been pressing down on Summer, immediately straightened, pulling distance between them.

Summer's expression darkened as she buttoned her shirt, concealing the kiss marks on her neck.

Ignoring the awkward atmosphere in the room, I looked straight at Adrian. "I need to go to the hospital for a checkup today. I applied to Summer yesterday, but she didn't reply, so I came here."

"How much do you need?"

"Two thousand dollars."

Summer frowned, her cool face covered with a layer of frost.

"Joanna, I already manage all the household affairs, and on top of that, I'm Blackwood Corporation's Design Director. I don't have time to approve every little expense you come up with. Don't tell me you can't afford two thousand dollars. Or are you just trying to make a scene in front of Adrian?"

Adrian's scrutinizing gaze shot into my heart like a knife, cutting it into countless tiny pieces.

I smiled bitterly inside. After marriage, I hadn't worked. Adrian cut off my cards, and the money I'd saved before marriage ran out in a month.

My mother was still hospitalized, and everything required money. This month, even working three jobs a day wasn't nearly enough. If I hadn't been truly desperate, I wouldn't have humiliated myself by asking.

I looked up at Adrian. "Adrian, I'm still your wife. Are you giving me this money or not?"

Deep in my heart, I still held hope for the man before me. If Adrian could choose me over Summer, for the sake of the child, I could pretend nothing had happened.

"Give it? Of course I'll give it." Adrian sneered. "You married me for the Blackwood family money, didn't you? But my money doesn't grow on trees."

"Today you ruined my mood. Apologize to us, and you can take the money."

The humiliation was overwhelming. I could barely breathe.

Mrs. Blackwood was right. Adrian truly loved Summer. I was just a stand-in.

"I'm sorry for interrupting you two."

Adrian raised an eyebrow, clearly unsatisfied with my apology.

I turned to Summer and bent at the waist.

"The money's been transferred to you. Don't come to the company unless it's necessary from now on."

I looked at the notification showing two thousand dollars deposited, lowered my head, and left the office.

I don't know how I walked out of the company. In a daze, I remembered three years ago when Adrian fell for me at first sight and pursued me frantically.

He picked me up and dropped me off every day, gave me endless small gifts, and created various surprises for me.

Just because I said I didn't know what flowers I liked, he rented ten thousand acres of flower fields and let me choose one by one.

Having never been treasured like that before, I fell.

On our wedding registration day, Adrian looked like he owned the whole world, his eyes full of happiness and longing for the future. "Joanna, we'll be happy for a lifetime."

But only three years later, he cheated with another woman.

I picked up my phone and sent a message to Mrs. Blackwood.

"You win. I accept defeat. Please fulfill your promise."

Soon I received a reply.

"The divorce papers will reach you within three days. I'll arrange your mother's hospital transfer process. Three days from now, you leave New York and never come back."

I put away my phone and hailed a car to the hospital.

Watching the scenery outside the window, I let out a long breath.

Soon it would all be over.

Three months ago, my mother's small company was sabotaged, creating a huge funding gap. Mother didn't want me to worry, so she faced those vicious debt collectors alone.

I didn't find out until the company went bankrupt and Mother was driven to a heart attack and admitted to the ICU.

When I was desperate, not knowing how to ask Adrian for money, Mrs. Blackwood found me first.

"I can pay for your mother to get the best treatment, but you have to make a bet with me."

Mrs. Blackwood had opposed my marriage from the start. Back then, Adrian fought his family elders for me and was severely punished, nearly losing half his life before Mrs. Blackwood relented.

"Adrian's ex-girlfriend is returning tomorrow. She and Adrian are perfectly matched, but three years ago, family circumstances forced her to go abroad. I'll arrange for her to enter Blackwood Corporation. If within three months, Adrian still insists on only you, from then on I won't make things difficult for you."

"But if he chooses Summer, you leave New York. In either case, I'll give you money so your mother can get treatment."

At the time, I was supremely confident in our relationship, thinking this was a gamble that could both get Mother treatment and make Mrs. Blackwood fully accept me.

Mrs. Blackwood handed me a card. "Don't tell Adrian about this, and don't play any tricks. I still have the final say at Blackwood Corporation."

I returned home to pack, constantly replaying the doctor's words in my mind.

"The baby's developing well, but you're already showing some signs of threatened miscarriage. During pregnancy, you need to maintain your physical and emotional wellbeing. Don't overwork yourself."

I had no choice. Mother in the ICU was burning through money every day. Given Adrian's current attitude toward me, he wouldn't give me a cent. I could only rely on myself.

Perhaps with my current situation, I shouldn't keep this child at all.

Closing my suitcase, I noticed a glaring red color in the bed crack. I walked over and picked it up.

It was women's underwear with traces of fluid still remaining.

In that instant, my mind went blank.

Adrian and Summer-they did it in our marital bedroom?