Chapter 1

Caleb, not here... Back... In the room...”

A woman was lying on the sofa, her beautiful, watery eyes filled with tender affection.

The man’s powerful thrust tore apart all her shameful cries...

“It’s alright...” Caleb Lane’s black eyes stared right into the woman’s eyes, who was in front of him. His sturdy hands held her delicate waist...

After the act of passion, Caleb got up and took out a cigarette, lighting it up. The look in his eyes was vague.

“Ember, let’s get a divorce. Penelope is back.”

Ember Sanders was stunned as she looked at the cigarette’s burning end.

“Sure.”

She didn’t question him. She didn’t cry. However, there was a pain that slowly spread out inside of her, and she could feel it in her bones.

Before their contractual marriage, she had heard the name Penelope so many times that she was numb to it.

In the past three years, Caleb’s recollection of this Ms. Penelope had reached a point where it had transformed into countless voices that kept on reminding her that this man in front of her was never hers to begin with.

“I’ve already drafted the divorce papers. I won’t cut down on anything I promised you before this. Regardless, thank you for taking care of me for the past three years.” There was a flash of adoration in Caleb’s eyes as he said sincerely, “Thanks for your hard work.”

“You’re welcome.”

Ember nodded. She could feel tears were going to fill her eyes.

Three years ago, she had agreed to this deal. She lacked money in order to save her mother, who was in a coma but seemed to have signs of waking up at the time.

Ember had placed a price on herself.

Luckily, Caleb’s grandmother liked her. She had also developed a specific drug that could control Caleb’s heart condition.

That was why Caleb treated her well and gave her respect and status.

“I will tell my assistant to deliver the papers to you,” Caleb said as he put on his watch on his well-shaped wrist and put on his shirt. “Penelope will arrive later this evening. We’ll be having a dinner gathering.”

Ember got up to find a necktie for him habitually, and she could feel the humiliation still pressing on her chest.

Ember never could get into his social circle. He also never doted on her or gave her much of his attention. However, when that woman came back, she could easily take all of it without putting in any effort.

“Go. I’ll let Grandma know about the divorce.”

“Thanks.” Caleb’s thin lips formed a smile as his warm hands combed Ember’s hair.

She could tell that Caleb couldn’t wait anymore and marched out of the mansion briefly.

The windows weren’t closed as the chilly wind howled. Ember could still feel the temperature of Caleb’s hands in her hair.

She pulled open the nightstand’s drawer and looked at the pregnancy test.

-

The next day, at an office in Haverhill Hospital.

“Ms. Ember, can you tell me why you chose to be a doctor?” The stern woman sitting in the middle of the room pushed her glasses.

Ember had previously submitted her resume to Haverhill Hospital, and the hospital invited her to an interview.

“To save the sick and injured. Most people believe they can get rich by becoming a surgeon, but I believe that this is my duty.”

Ember smiled. Her pretty face seemed to glow under the sunlight as she tied her long, wavy brown hair into a ponytail.

She wanted to save the child in her womb. The child that belonged to only her.

That was why she needed to find a job. To make sure that after her would-be divorce from Caleb, she would still be economically independent enough to raise the child.

The woman in the middle of the room was Maeve Knight, the director of the hospital. Currently, she was flipping through Ember’s file.

In the end, she asked, “Ms. Ember, you were the medical school’s top graduate. Why didn’t you join a public hospital, but become an independent contractor employed by the Lane family?”

Maeve held the letter of recommendation in her hand and waved it in front of Ember. The letter was filled with Caleb’s orderly handwriting as he wrote it himself.

The recommendation letter was also part of the contract, so it would be easier for Ember to find employment after the divorce.

“For the high salary,” Ember said honestly. “By choosing to work for the Lanes, I can then afford my mother’s steep medical bills for her surgery.

“If I can’t even take care of the person who gives me life, I’m not worthy of being a doctor.”

The woman spoke slowly, but her voice was clear and pleasant.

After Ember had finished it, there was a temporary silence in the room.

Maeve then said, “Ms. Ember, I appreciate your honesty with us.” And then she paused before continuing. “As well as your understanding of one’s duty. Congratulations! You’re hired.”

“Thank you. It is my honor.”

After the interview, her mobile rang incessantly. Ember quickly took it out and picked up the call.

It was an unfamiliar number.

“Hello? Is this Ember? Can you please come over? We have a problem!”

She could hear the chaos on the other side and a woman’s sobbing.

Ember frowned. “Who are you?”

“I’m Nick Sullivan.” Nick was Caleb’s good friend, and he was currently drowning in sweat as he spoke somewhat incoherently. “It’s Caleb. It’s his heart, but he doesn’t have his medicine with him.”

Ember felt her chest tighten as her palms got sweaty, and she almost dropped her mobile.

She could even feel some numbness and pain coming from her womb.

“What’s the address?”

“Greenfield Pub.”

Ember could feel her blood surging within her as the anxiety was becoming difficult to bear.