Chapter 2

I pushed the door open. The conversation inside the private room died instantly.

Caleb instinctively pulled his hand back from Chloe’s shoulder, his doting expression quickly morphing into calm.

“Audrey, what are you doing here? Is the contract settled?”

Caleb’s friends, seeing my upset face, quickly tried to smooth things over with smiles.

“Audrey, Chloe just finished high school today, and we’re all celebrating. Caleb was just about to call you to join us!”

“No, thanks. You all have fun. I’m heading back.”

I looked at Caleb and Chloe, their intimate posture a punch to the gut. I forced a strained smile onto my face and turned to leave.

“Audrey.”

Caleb called out, getting up and coming to my side.

“Chloe just lost a game and has to drink ten penalty shots. I’ll be driving later, so could you take them for her?”

I clutched my pregnant belly, fighting back the burning sensation in my nose, staring at Caleb in disbelief.

“You want *me* to drink?”

“It’s a celebration for Chloe. Just cooperate, don’t spoil the fun.”

“Fine.”

I picked up a glass and chugged it. The beer rushed down my throat, the foam stinging my nose, and my stomach churned, threatening to revolt.

One glass.

Two glasses.

…

Caleb’s friends started to look uncomfortable, one finally speaking up.

“Caleb, maybe that’s enough.”

“It’s fine. Back when Audrey helped me close deals with clients, she could down a liter of hard liquor without batting an eye. This is nothing to her.”

I held the last glass, feeling nothing but bitter amusement.

The year we got married, Caleb’s company hit a rough patch. I wanted to help him by drinking with clients to secure partnerships, but he stopped me, swearing solemnly that no matter how tough things got, he’d never let me suffer that humiliation.

But then Chloe came into our lives.

Caleb said she was a friend’s orphan, and he needed to take responsibility as her guardian. From that moment on, all his attention shifted to Chloe.

For his company, I started to repeatedly drink and smile for investors.

Until six months ago, I was force-fed by an investor until I had stomach bleeding and was almost taken to a hotel. I only escaped by slitting my wrists, threatening to end my life.

And that night, he used the investment I had begged on my knees for to throw an all-night fireworks display to celebrate Chloe’s birthday.

I finished the last drink, nothing left in my throat but a raw, bitter taste.

“Caleb, I’m leaving.”

“I’ll drive you back…”

Caleb was about to reach out and help me, but then he heard Chloe’s saccharine tone.

“Uncle Caleb, I don’t have any family left in this world. Could you… divorce Audrey and stay with just me, forever?”

The private room fell into a deathly silence.

I froze, looking at Caleb. He didn’t hesitate, handing me a divorce agreement, a pleading look in his eyes.

“Audrey, Chloe rarely asks for anything from me. I don’t want to disappoint her.”

“Fine. I’ll sign.”

I managed a desolate smile, fighting back the tears stinging my eyes, and picked up the pen to sign the divorce agreement.

As I walked out of the room,

I heard Caleb’s friends trying to reason with him: “Caleb, a divorce agreement isn’t a joke. If Audrey truly gets angry, you might take things too far.”

“Audrey’s been with me for eight years, and now she’s pregnant. She can’t leave me. I’ll just sweet-talk her later, it’ll be fine.”

Tears finally streamed down my face, uncontrolled.

I took a deep breath, wiped them away, and cast one last look at the joyous private room. Then, I pulled out my phone and dialed the hospital.

**[截断点]**

“Please schedule an abortion for me. The sooner, the better.”