Chapter 2

The anesthetic washed over me like a tide, pulling me into a chaotic dream.

In the dream, Julian waited for me in the rain.

I ran to him, holding my umbrella, tilting it towards him on tiptoe, letting half my body get soaked.

He frowned, pushing my hand away, “Don’t stand so close. Annoying, isn’t it?”

That night, I had a fever of 102 degrees, but he didn't even offer a word of concern.

Later, I found out he was on endless calls with Tiffany, from late night until early morning.

I always thought it was my fault, that I pushed too hard, that I wasn't understanding enough.

Only now did I realize.

In his eyes, I was worth less than one of Tiffany’s flowers.

…

*Bang!*

The hospital room door burst open, and I struggled to pull my consciousness from the swamp of anesthesia.

“Tiffany, are you sure you want to be in here?” Julian’s voice was syrupy sweet, sickly cloying. “What if she suddenly wakes up?”

“What’s there to be afraid of?” Tiffany chuckled softly, her footsteps nearing my bed. “Dr. Reed said she’ll be unconscious for at least three days.”

The mattress dipped slightly as someone sat down.

Tiffany whined playfully, “But I’m still scared, you know? The last time I hit her, there was so much blood. It was disgusting, gave me nightmares for a whole week!”

My blood ran cold.

Tiffany was the one who drove the car that hit me?!

Julian’s tone was impatient: “Don’t bring that up.”

“What, feeling sorry for her?” Tiffany snorted. “If she hadn’t suddenly rushed out, I wouldn’t have had to slam on the brakes.”

“But speaking of which, the baby in her belly was incredibly stubborn. So much blood, and it still didn’t come out completely. You were the one who signed for the forced D&C in the end.”

“Do you think she’ll be mad at you if she finds out?”

A baby?!

A bolt of lightning struck me, and my heart nearly seized.

I… was pregnant?

And my own husband had personally killed his own child!

“What if she knows,” Julian sneered. “She loves me so much, how could she ever blame me?”

Tiffany giggled. “True. By the way, we’ve tried her bedroom, her shower… We haven’t tried it right in front of her yet.”

“And you said you were scared?” Julian’s breathing hitched.

“She’s asleep all day anyway, she won’t know.”

Tiffany’s nails scraped across my bedsheets, arousing and seductive.

“Since we’re seeking thrills, let’s go all the way, shall we?”

The bed frame began to shake.

I bit down hard on my tongue, my soul ripped apart.

One half screamed, roared, bled tears!

The other half lay like a corpse, unable to even twitch an eyelash.

Julian, how could you?!

The agonizing pain and despair tore at my nerves, and I finally plunged back into darkness.

When I woke again, Julian was sitting by the bed, peeling an apple.

Seeing my eyes open, he immediately put on a surprised expression: “Scarlett? You’re finally awake!”

His acting was flawless.

So flawless, it made me want to vomit.

I wanted to scream, to rip apart his hypocritical face, but only fragmented gasps escaped my throat.

“Don’t rush, Dr. Reed said you need to recover slowly.”

He gently took my hand, his thumb stroking the needle marks on my wrist.

“Tiffany came to see you. She’s been feeling really guilty.”

Guilty?!

My pupils constricted sharply.

Julian misunderstood my reaction and sighed softly.

“She didn’t mean to hit you. The brakes failed that day. Can you forgive her, please?”

I stared at him, wishing my gaze could morph into blades, tearing his flesh, piece by agonizing piece!

But he just smiled, ruffled my hair, and then turned to the door.

“Tiffany, come in.”

Tiffany timidly walked in, holding a bouquet of pure white lilies.

“Scarlett, I’m so sorry.” Her eyes were red-rimmed, as if she’d been crying for a long time. “I really didn’t mean to hit you.”

I stared at her perfectly manicured nails.

It was *those* hands that gripped the steering wheel and sent my baby flying!

But Julian said, “Scarlett didn’t object, so she’s forgiven you.”

The look of guilt instantly vanished from Tiffany’s face, and she smiled sweetly at him.

Julian stroked her head, then turned to me. “Oh, by the way, Tiffany’s on vacation recently. How about I have her take care of you?”

Take care?

More like monitor me!

Of course, I didn’t want that, but Julian wouldn't even let me refuse, forcibly deciding for me.

Sunlight filtered coldly through a gap in the curtains, spilling onto my pillow.

There, my phone screen silently lit up.

A small red dot in the top left corner pulsed, a steady rhythm in the darkness.