Chapter 2

Actually, about a year ago, I had once gotten pregnant by accident.

Colton had looked at me with the exact same expression back then.

He was very worked up and grabbed me by the arm as he started interrogating me.

"Gianna, you did this on purpose, didn't you? You're resorting to this to make me yield to your demands and shackle me to you for the rest of my life!

"My career is still on the rise, and I need to focus all of my attention on it. That's why you're unhappy, right? You're using this to force me to give up on myself!"

I kept shaking my head at his accusations. I was so scared looking at his bloodshot eyes that I couldn't stop myself from crying. I kept trying to defend myself, saying that I had always taken all precautions during intercourse with him.

Alas, even though the chances of me getting pregnant despite all our precautionary measures was less than a millionth, fate decided to play games with me. Maybe it was my destiny, after all.

Also, Mom knew that Colton's family was putting immense pressure on me to give him a child and felt terrible for me. She had kept telling me to think of a way to appease them.

Everything would fall into place as soon as I got pregnant.

So, I fell to my knees and begged Colton to let me keep this child. However, he still bought abortion pills and forced me to take them.

The bitterness of the pills still lingered on my tongue, and so did the feeling of Colton's hands pressed around my neck, strangling me as I struggled to breathe…

"Miss, please wake up!"

Suddenly, a foreign voice woke me up from my nightmare.

I hurriedly opened my eyes.

"Miss, you fainted just now."

It was a nurse. She was hooking me onto an IV drip. "I'm very sorry for your loss. We couldn't save the baby, but your body is fine and healthy."

While listening to her, I touched my lower abdomen and asked subconsciously, "Where's Colton?"

The nurse looked embarrassed. "You mean the man who sent you in? He took a call and said that his girlfriend was pregnant and feeling unwell, so he was going home to bring her out. He left a long time ago…"

Although I was prepared for heartbreak, I still couldn't help closing my eyes when I heard her answer.

Every breath was torture to me. I could feel my insides squirming in pain.

I hugged myself tightly.

On the day I lost my unborn child, my husband was in another room, celebrating Darlene's birthday.

How ironic.

I thought back to when Colton got down on one knee to propose to me, promising he would love and protect me for as long as he lived.

It only took him ten years to completely go back on his word.

My phone started ringing loudly. It was Colton.

"Dear, are you done at the hospital? I had a work emergency and had to leave early."

He spoke in a deep, low voice, trying his best to sound tired. However, I could still hear Darlene's faint laughter in the background.

I chuckled bitterly and gave him a vague answer while opening up Instagram on my phone.

Colton had never once posted on his Instagram feed since downloading the app years ago, but today was an exception.

"This is your 15th birthday since I met you. Darling, I will cherish you forever."

The accompanying photo showed a dark, mysterious figure standing by the window with a bouquet of roses in her hand. I immediately recognized Darlene's diamond bracelet.

Back then, I had thought that Colton had prepared it as a surprise birthday gift for me. After all, today was my birthday too. As it turned out, I had simply overthought.

I hung up on him.

I refreshed the page again and saw that Colton's friends had left plenty of comments below his post. One of his closest friends, Jett Foley, seemed to be the most delighted with the outcome.

"Finally, you got rid of that stupid pasty face! Congrats! I'm also finally free from having to even look at her. Let's have a drink when we have the time!"

Jett had grown up with Colton. He hated me with a passion and thought that I didn't deserve someone like him. Whenever we met at parties or gatherings, he would publicly criticize and humiliate me.

Jett had been the one covering up for Colton and Darlene every time they went out dating since Darlene's return a few years ago. He did this so that Colton and Darlene could enjoy themselves without me.

Once, I'd managed to expose Jett's lies, but he just shrugged and didn't think much about it.

I thought back about the many times I'd tolerated him and tried to make peace with him to no avail. Then, I quickly typed my reply.

"Must have been hard on you buzzing around Colton like an annoying fly—you've finally stank me up enough for me to leave."

After that, I sent Colton the draft for our divorce agreement.