Chapter 2

Months ago, I pulled countless all-nighters, coding for Liam.

I helped him win the University Startup Challenge, along with a $1,000,000 prize.

That allowed him to establish himself in the metropolitan hub even before graduation.

He held me close, tracing my features repeatedly, murmuring sweet nothings.

“Summer, we’ll get married right after graduation. I’ll give you the grandest wedding imaginable.”

For those words, I turned down a $1,000,000 offer.

And I willingly became pregnant with his child.

But now I understood. All his kindness, every sweet gesture, had concealed a monstrous hatred.

My legs swayed, the world blurring around me.

I just wanted to escape, to walk away, step by agonizing step.

But Liam wouldn’t let up. His mocking voice followed me.

“I bet a million dollars she won’t even make it through the night. She’ll come crawling back, begging for my forgiveness, like a desperate alley cat.”

The words hit me like a tidal wave, and the crowd’s laughter crashed down.

My head swam.

The baby inside me seemed to sense my distress, and a faint ache started in my belly.

Clutching my stomach, I stumbled towards the staircase.

Suddenly, someone grabbed me from behind.

It was Sophia.

She hugged me, her voice tearful, calling out to Liam.

“Liam, my love, Summer didn’t mean it. Please, just let her go.”

“You can’t just send her away. She’s pregnant and won’t find a job. Let her stay, even as a maid!”

Her words sounded like a plea, but they carried a stinging, unbearable humiliation.

I used every ounce of strength to push her away.

A wicked, barely hidden smirk flashed across her lips as she abruptly shoved me forward, then dramatically fell backward herself.

Caught off guard, I lost my balance and tumbled down the stairs.

A tearing pain erupted in my abdomen. Warm blood instantly gushed down my thighs, staining the white fur of my bunny costume crimson.

“My baby!” I shrieked.

Liam’s face instantly paled, his chest visibly heaving.

He instinctively lunged forward, reaching out to help me up.

But Sophia’s whimpering voice cut him off, perfectly timed.

“Summer, I really didn’t mean any harm! Why did you push me?!”

She sobbed, but her eyes held a triumphant, wicked glint directed at me.

“No… no, that’s not it…”

I tried to explain, but the pain made coherent words impossible.

Liam frowned, looking at me, a flicker of something complex in his eyes.

Ultimately, he turned, helping Sophia to her feet instead.

He swept a cold glance over me, his voice icy, filled with profound disgust.

“Disgusting. This is what you get for hurting others. You owe us so much. Consider this child your atonement.”

With that, he helped Sophia walk away, not looking back.

I had no sin, so how could there be atonement!

His idealized Scarlett – I’d never even met her. How could I have intentionally harmed her?

I lay on the cold ground, trembling, blood spreading beneath me.

Watching them leave, my heart hurt more than my body.

The crowd gathered around me like spectators at a morbid show, no one offering a hand.

I had to save my baby.

Ignoring everything else, I bit down hard and struggled to my feet.

Still in the bunny costume, covered in blood, I staggered onto the street.

No driver dared to pick me up. Step by painful step, I finally reached the hospital.

The surgery lasted three hours.

When I woke, I heard what felt like a miracle.

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