Chapter 2

"Mr. Harrison, you wanted me to marry your son to bring him good fortune, didn't you? I accept."

A surprised voice came from the other end of the line.

"Good, good! Give me five days to wrap up my business abroad, then I'll send someone to pick you up in Capital City."

"Stella, don't worry. Whether my son wakes up or not, all of the Harrison family's assets will be left to you!"

I hummed in agreement, then hung up.

The money didn't really matter. Marrying a man in a coma didn't matter either.

I just wanted a place to call my own, a place where I could find peace.

I looked up at the blue sky and white clouds, exhaling a long breath.

I finally did something that everyone would be happy about!

I wouldn't cling to the Kingston family anymore. This position of "eldest daughter" — I'd give it back to your precious Chloe!

The diamond engagement ring on my finger sparkled. I gritted my teeth and slipped it off.

I raised my hand, intending to throw it into the nearby trash can, but Julian suddenly rushed over, panicked, to stop me.

"Stella, don't throw the ring away." He pulled my slender body into his embrace. "The car accident was an accident. If we can't register this time, there's always next time."

Julian's eyes showed concern, and his embrace was still as gentle and strong as before, but all I felt was coldness.

"An accident?" I forced a bitter smile.

"Counting this time, it's your 99th time trying to escape the wedding, isn't it?"

"The first time, you said you weren't ready, and we turned back halfway."

"The second time, you faked a stomachache and made me go to the hospital with you. The third time, you said you were tied up with company business…"

I clenched my fists, recounting Julian's "accidents" one by one.

"It's already the 99th time. When will it be the 100th? Julian, you never intended to register our marriage at all, did you? You just wanted to play a trick on me."

Julian's pupils contracted, flustered that his plan had been exposed. "How… how could you say that? Stella, don't you know how much I love you?"

I let out a self-deprecating laugh. "But your love… couldn't even save our child."

My face was pale, my delicate hand resting on my stomach, as if bidding farewell to my lost baby.

"We'll have other children," Julian said, his face full of heartache. "Once you've recovered, we'll register our marriage again."

The concern he showed now was a stark contrast to the Julian in the hospital room earlier.

I could barely tell them apart.

I looked up, tears welling in my eyes. "If you really want to register, then let's go now."

Julian paused. He sensed something was off with me today.

"Not now… your body hasn't fully recovered. Next time."

"No 'next time'. Now." I stared directly at him, hoping to see a hint of sincerity.

Julian frowned, not understanding why I, who was usually so docile, was being so stubborn.

Was it just because I lost the baby?

Just as Julian was at a loss, his phone rang in his pocket.

He let out a long sigh of relief and released me. "I'll take this call first."

"Chloe? What do you need… You're back in the country! Good, I'll send you the address right away."

Julian hung up, delighted. He gripped my shoulders.

"Chloe heard about our car accident and rushed back from abroad because she was so worried! Aren't you happy to have such a great sister?"

My mouth twitched. I had just lost my baby; I really couldn't bring myself to smile.

But Julian was too caught up in his excitement to notice my distress.

He pulled me back to the hospital room, eagerly sharing the news with Dominic.

The two men laughed together. "We finally get to see Chloe!"

After their excitement, Julian realized he had ignored me. He quickly came to my side to comfort me.

"Good girl, we can talk about registering later. We'll have more children too."

He said it so casually, as if I hadn't had an induced termination of pregnancy, but had simply tripped and fallen.

I lowered my gaze, a bitter smile playing on my lips. "Later? I'm afraid there won't be a 'later' for us."