4: You Must Have an Abortion

Lillian sighed, exasperated, "It was just a little rain; I'm fine."

After speaking, she stepped forward and placed the previous day's work summary on the desk.

"Here's the summary of the work from yesterday. I've sorted everything out. I won't keep you from catching up with each other," Lillian said, glancing towards Serena who immediately returned a warm smile.

Once Lillian left, Oliver's brows knitted together in concern.

"Oliver?" Serena called out to him, snapping him out of his reverie.

Seeing Oliver's expression, Serena, with soft concern, advised, "I see Lillian isn't feeling well. She might be your secretary now, but she was once the dignified Miss of the Shen family. Please don't be too harsh on her."

Harsh? Oliver scoffed to himself. Who would dare to be harsh to that family deity? But he kept his thoughts to himself and simply grunted in acknowledgment.

Lillian returned to her office, feeling heavy and listless. She barely sat down before giving in to the urge to rest her head.

The dizziness intensified.

Time felt suspended until Lillian heard Yolanda's voice, "Lillian, why don't you go back and rest?"

Truly feeling unwell, Lillian whispered, "Yolanda, I need to sleep."

She succumbed to a deep slumber and found herself dreaming.

In her dream, Lillian was eighteen again, at her and Oliver's coming-of-age party. She had dressed in her favorite blue dress, her hair styled in soft waves, and had her nails done, all in preparation to confess her feelings to Oliver.

She had searched for him and found him in the garden. As she was about to approach, she overheard his friends teasing him.

"Oliver, you're an adult now. Got any girl in mind? It might be time to consider engagement."

"What about Lillian? She's always following you around."

Lillian paused, eavesdropping for Oliver's response, which would dictate her next steps.

But before Oliver could answer, someone blurted out, "Lillian? No, she's like a sister to him. Everyone knows Oliver's heart belongs to one person—Serena."

Serena...

Lillian sneakily glanced at Oliver. Under the night sky, he sat on a stone bench, his long legs stretched out, a smile on his handsome face, and he did not deny it.

"Indeed, Serena has a certain gentleness, a womanly charm. And most importantly, she's Oliver's lifesaver," said Mason Mo, Oliver's best friend who enjoyed teasing Lillian.

How dare he call her a little girl!

"Yeah, Serena saved your life. If she hadn't jumped into the raging river, Oliver might not be with us."

The young man nodded, a rare sound of agreement escaping his lips in the moonlight, "Her place by my side is forever reserved."

Boom—Lillian's face drained of color. Her planned confession was dead before arrival.

Serena's act of saving Oliver was a celebrated tale, a beauty saving the gallant youth, yet Lillian was oblivious to the entire event.

She had fallen into the water that year too, woken up feverish and forgetful of many things, including the accident.

As the memory of the dream faded, Lillian's current emotions merged with her past self’s. Why wasn't it her who had saved Oliver?

Then, suddenly, Oliver's face appeared, his eyes cold and merciless, "Lillian, have an abortion."

Serena was there too, clinging to him like ivy, "You're not thinking of keeping the child to come between us, are you?"

Oliver's gaze turned icy at the mention of sabotage, and he stepped forward, gripping her chin, "Be sensible, or don't blame me for being harsh."

His grip was crushing, almost breaking her jaw.

Struggling, Lillian snapped awake, covered in cold sweat.

She was in a car, the road passing by outside the window. Was that all just a dream?

It had felt so vivid...

"Thank God you're awake," Serena's soft voice came from the front. Lillian looked up to see Serena's concerned face looking back at her, "I was worried the whole way here."

Serena? Why was she here?

Then it hit her, and she glanced beside Serena.

As expected, Oliver was driving, and Serena occupied the passenger seat. Hearing Lillian's awakening, Oliver glanced at her through the rearview mirror.

"Feeling better? If there's still discomfort, we'll tell the doctor once we get to the hospital."

Lillian's recently settled heartbeat spiked at Oliver's words.

"No, I don't need the hospital. I'm fine."

Oliver shot her another look, "What's this about? Don't you realize you have a fever?"

Serena chimed in, "Yes, Lillian, you're burning up. We need to get you to a hospital. What exactly happened yesterday with the rain?"

What happened?

Lillian’s pale lips parted but closed without a word.

Yesterday's events—Serena must have been there, witnessing.

Her questioning seemed to have an underlying insinuation.

Lost in thought, Serena's look of worry returned, "Was it because of yesterday that..."

Oliver cut her off, his voice steady, "We're going to the hospital first. You can rest up for a few days, no need to come into the office."

Surprised, Serena looked at Oliver, her sentence left hanging.

Lillian's eyes cast down, a deep chill settling in them.

There was no doubt—Serena was the one Oliver cherished above all.

After a while, Lillian finally raised her head, "I'm not going to the hospital."

Oliver's brows furrowed, sensing her unusual stubbornness today.

"What do you plan to do? Refusing the hospital when you're sick."

Lillian pressed her lips together, "I know my own body."