Chapter 6

The next morning, I woke up and went back to work.

The company transferred me to the marketing department.

"Marketing involves visiting stores. It's tiring, but if you do well, you can earn over ten thousand a month," the marketing manager told me, painting a rosy picture.

The truth was, a colleague in marketing had gone on maternity leave, and they needed a replacement.

In their eyes, an older, unmarried woman like me, who didn't even have a boyfriend, was the ideal candidate for this kind of job.

Otherwise, anyone else might turn out to be a 'mine' waiting to explode.

"Are there any subsidies?"

In the adult world, I didn't believe in rosy pictures; I only cared about money.

"Daily transportation and living allowance of $80. If you perform well, your phone bill will be reimbursed too."

"Deal."

$80 a day, $2400 a month.

Sending this extra $2400 back to my mom might slow down the rate at which her gray hairs appeared.

So, I went from a regular office worker to a small sales manager, constantly rushing between major supermarkets, clocking in, checking merchandise, compiling sales figures...

Every day I came home, I was too exhausted to speak.

While using the restroom, I noticed a tiny bit of blood.

I remembered the doctor's words and sighed inwardly.

The baby was probably gone.

But I was sadder than I expected. I didn't sleep a wink that night.

After another weekend, I went to the hospital to book an appointment for a check-up.

This time, it was a female doctor named Dr. Avery Stone, quite pretty.

"You know Liam Miller? Why didn't you say so?" Dr. Stone's sudden warmth made me a bit uncomfortable.

"Sort of."

"So, did he have a girlfriend back in school? What type was she?"

I froze.

Her questions were a bit beyond the patient-doctor relationship.

I think I understood: she was interested in Liam.

But Liam already had a child; didn't she know?

Could Liam be lying to his colleagues, pretending to be single?

What a jerk.

"His college girlfriend was very ordinary," I answered truthfully.

"Do you have a picture? I want to see." She was really persistent.

I looked directly at her, letting her look at me for two seconds.

Why look at a picture? The person herself is right in front of you.

She seemed to forget I was there for a check-up.

The thought of Liam, with a family, still pretending to be single at the reunion, and now portraying himself as single at the hospital, made me furious.

"Is he married?" I subtly reminded her.

"Married?" She was clearly shocked. "I haven't heard anything about that."

This...

"Why would you say that?" Her expression was a bit unnatural.

She seemed to think I was lying, and I felt a headache coming on.

"Maybe his Ins account was hacked?" I had no choice but to show her the post.

She looked at the post, her face paling in shock.

"Dr. Miller has a child?"

Just as she finished—

"Step outside for a moment." A cold voice sounded behind me.

I jumped.

Liam?!

Oh no, he'll be furious that I exposed his secret.

"Liam, what are you doing here...?" Dr. Stone stood up, a little flustered.

I turned around and saw him in his white coat. He looked as dashing as ever, but his face was incredibly dark.

"Hurry up, I don't have time..." He sounded annoyed.

I thought about it. Why should I be scared of him? He was the one in the wrong.

So I bravely followed him out.

He led me to his office. After we entered, he locked the door.

My hand went to my arm, a little nervous.

"Just talk. Why are you locking the door?" I looked at the lock, feeling a bad premonition.

"Don't want to be disturbed," he tossed out, then sat down in his office chair.

Huh! Still so arrogant, exactly like six years ago.

"So, say it."

In that enclosed room, I actually didn't dare to look at him.

"Are you going around telling everyone I have a child?" He lifted his eyes, squinting at me.

It made me break out in a cold sweat.

"Not 'everywhere'... I just stated the facts. Besides, Dr. Stone is a really nice person, you shouldn't lie to people."

He didn't say a word, his gaze sweeping over my stomach.

Why was he looking at my stomach?

I quickly pulled my shirt down further.

"Heh..." He let out a cold laugh. "Are you really clinging to me? What, your blind date didn't meet your standards?"

Me: ?

When did I cling to him? The baby I was talking about wasn't this baby. Was he crazy?

"Don't flatter yourself," I said, exasperated.

"Skylar, I know you too well. Do you look any different now than you did when you were chasing me back then?" He looked at me, amused.

I admit, his words stung.

"And?"

"Impossible. Your little tricks only worked on the old me. Do you really think, after six years, I'd still fall for them?" He scoffed.

"I heard you're getting married soon. Don't bother me anymore. Do you want me to give you a wedding gift?"

Married? He thought I was looking for a wedding gift?

He really got to me.

"You actually think you're as handsome as you were back then? You're old now, you've got wrinkles! Do you really think I'd be interested in a used, old man like you?" I rattled it off in one breath.

His smile froze, his face turning even darker.

"Skylar, reverse psychology won't work on me," he said, getting up and calmly taking off his white coat.

"We broke up. Even if we hadn't, I wouldn't spoil you rotten."

The atmosphere instantly turned to an impasse.

I laughed.

When had he ever spoiled me? What a big softie act.

"Liam, you've got guts." I smiled, walking towards the door. At the doorway, I remembered something, turned back around. "You've got guts, don't you get drunk and hold onto me, crying and calling my name. That would make me misunderstand you still can't forget me."

"And your 'seed'," I pointed at my stomach. "It's gone."

He stood there, as if he'd taken a heavy blow.

Seeing him upset made me feel incredibly good.

After closing the door, I went back to the gynecology department.