All Chapters of When the Truth Cuts Deep: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

10 Chapters

Chapter 1

As I lay on the operating table, I still couldn't believe that the man who was taking my child's life was his father.Chuck Gross bustled around, preparing everything he needed for the operation. I propped myself up and looked at him. "Do we really have to do this? He's innocent."I knew I couldn't change his mind once it was made up, no matter how much I begged. I refused to give up, though. I still clung to a sliver of hope.Unfortunately, reality was always harsher than expected.I couldn't see the look on Chuck's face because he had a surgical mask on, but I could still hear his suppressed rage. "I'm innocent, too. You can't put me in danger over a child's birth, can you? If you want someone to blame, blame him for coming at the wrong time."I lay down again, feeling bitter. "You were the one who brought him into this world."He snorted, his voice icier than I'd ever heard it. "Since I brought him here, I can make him leave. Now, lie down and stop moving. The operation's abou

Chapter 2

Valerie said, "Don't be like this, Chucky. I want to see! Show me, please! I'll only take one look, okay?"The nurse gave her a contemptuous look before wiping the sweat from my brow.Ultimately, Chuck gave in and allowed Valerie to take one look. She only moved away after taking a look, appearing pleased.I didn't have the strength to get up, but Chuck merely threw a few tissues at me. "I have something to attend to, so you clean up after yourself."After that, he and Valerie took off their surgical gowns and left the operating theater. The nurse gave me some painkillers and told me to rest for a while before leaving.When I left the operating theater, I saw that Chuck's office door was shut. I had no idea where he was; he didn't even bother sparing me a glance before leaving. I knew his so-called work was just an excuse for him to spend time with Valerie.I headed home and went to the kitchen to make some oatmeal. I only felt better after drinking it. I checked my phone to see

Chapter 3

During Valerie's absence, I entered Chuck's life as a patient. We got to know each other after some interaction, and he started pursuing me.Before marriage, I had no idea he'd always had Valerie in his heart because he'd treated me with such care and concern. However, as soon as Valerie graduated and returned to the country, everything had changed. It turned out she was the one he'd always loved.…Chuck only came home the next day. He had a broad smile on his face but dropped it when he saw me. I sat on the couch in the living room while sipping a glass of water and staring at a painting. I couldn't help finding the situation ironic."You spent the night at Valerie's place, right?" I asked calmly. I wanted to see whether he would be honest with me.He put his car keys down and sat beside me. "So what if I did? It's not like anything happened. Val's just returned to the country, so she's not used to things here. I'm like her brother—it's only right for me to care for her. "Yo

Chapter 4

Marge snapped, "Not only do I deeply dislike you, but I'm even going to give Val this bracelet. It's a family heirloom! Only a woman with this bracelet is considered a member of the Gross family!"She removed the bracelet from her wrist and carefully put it around Valerie's wrist. Valerie showed it off, looking smug and challenging. "I'll gracefully accept this, then. Don't blame me for this, Stephanie. You're the one who doesn't have anyone on your side. Your mother-in-law doesn't like you, and your husband doesn't love you…"She clicked her tongue. I cupped my swollen cheek as tears rolled down my face. This wasn't a family gathering—this was an occasion for them to insult me.Chuck only came to me after Valerie and Marge returned to the kitchen. He hadn't spoken up for me at all; I finally gave up on him. I knew he was on Valerie's side."Stop crying. Mom didn't even put any force into that slap. Also, don't be so sensitive. You know she's always been like that. Just grin an

Chapter 5

Valerie hurriedly got up from Chuck's lap and smiled at me. "Don't get the wrong idea, Stephanie. I only asked Chucky to hold me because my stomach really hurt."I shook my head indifferently. "I wouldn't mind even if you two were to sleep in the same bed. What does a hug matter?"Chuck frowned at me, seemingly displeased. "What are you talking about? Val is uncomfortable because she's on her period. What's wrong with me holding her?"I said, "Nothing's wrong. I really don't mind. Anyway, are you free now? I want to talk to you about something."He checked the clock on the wall. "Can't we do it at home? I have an operation soon, and I need to prepare for it.""Oh. I'll wait for you, then."Chuck walked Valerie out of his office and reminded her to drink something warm when she got home. He also told her to come back to the hospital if she was in too much pain. He didn't want her to push through it.I leaned against the door frame and saw how attentive he was. I had mixed feeling

Chapter 6

Chuck sounded displeased. "What are you getting at now? Don't tell me you think there's anything between Val and me again."I snorted. "Let's get a divorce. I'll make way for you two to be together. I don't want your mother to keep thinking that I stood between you two."He fell silent. I heard his breathing hitch. Then, he asked, "Divorce? Why? Just because of the abortion? Or is it because Val and I are affectionate with each other? You know that child would bring me bad luck, yet you wanted to keep it around. Do you hate me that much?"I said calmly, "You're letting your diffidence show by overthinking this. I just think it's time for me to back out. I should return you to Valerie after keeping you around for so long. We don't have children, so this will be an easy split. You can have all the money and property. Let's end this on a good note.""Are you being serious, Stephanie?""Of course."…The following day, I signed up for a local tour and went to many places. We went to

Chapter 7

That wasn't all. Jordan lived in Cloud City, too. This helped bring us closer. We even made a pact to take the same flight home.On the way back to the hotel, I noticed a wetness in my underwear. Once I got back to my room, I hurried to the bathroom to see that there was still discharge.Jordan was waiting outside so we could continue talking. I felt beyond embarrassed now. The seconds ticked, but I didn't know what to say. I needed a new set of underwear and a pad.He seemed to notice something was wrong. He knocked on the door tentatively and asked, "Do you need sanitary products, Stephanie? I can head downstairs to get some for you."I flushed at the mention of sanitary products. Since he'd brought it up, I had no intention of dragging things out. I added, "Could you also help me get a new set of underwear? I'll pay you back."He fell silent for a while. Then, he said, "Alright. Give me a minute."Ten minutes later, he returned, sounding out of breath. I opened the door a crac

Chapter 8

I'd long since suspected something was up with that so-called premonition Marge had gotten from the pastor. Sure enough, I got the answer I wanted. After that, I left the church and headed straight to my home with Chuck.Valerie was there. She was curled up on the couch and watching a show. When she saw me return, she threw an apple core at my feet. "My, my, my. Look at what the cat dragged in. Have you returned to continue licking Chucky's boots because no one wanted to take you in?"I ignored her and headed to the study, where Chuck was working. He looked up in surprise. When he saw it was me, he went back to being his usual nasty self. The gentle tone he'd taken with me on the phone was nowhere to be found as he said, "Have you finally decided to come home after going rogue? I'll forgive you this time, but don't do it again."I smiled without saying anything and showed him a video on my phone. It had two voices in it—one belonging to a woman and the other to a man.The woman s

Chapter 9

Valerie stood up and swayed on her feet as she said, "You'll forgive me, won't you, Chucky? I only did it because I love you. You should've been mine, anyway. Stephanie's the shameless woman who took you away from me! I was just getting you back!"Chuck clutched my phone and backed away. Finally, he treated Valerie with the nasty attitude he'd been giving me. "I've heard enough," he spat. "I lost my child because of you, Valerie. You killed it! How about I wheel you into that operating theater and do the same to you? You're so dirty that you need to be scrubbed clean!"He gripped Valerie's jaw tightly and looked into her eyes as tears filled his. She was so scared by his words that she tried to back away. She was probably remembering how things had gone for me during the abortion."Y-You can't do this to me. I'm going to tell your mother about this!" She broke free and ran out of the house, slamming the door behind her.I watched her leave before approaching Chuck. "Now that we'r

Chapter 10

Chuck clenched his fists tightly as he frowned at me. "I know I did many things to hurt you, Stephanie—""It's good that you know. You don't have to say anything else." I shook my head irritably, looking annoyed.Just then, his phone rang. He pulled it out, looking annoyed. He rejected the call after glancing at the screen. "I need to go to work. We can talk about this some other time.""That's what you told me last time," I said.He looked at me sincerely. "I really do have something to do. My patient needs a C-section."I smiled. "Fine, then. Go on. I'm not going to wait for you this time, though."…Jordan dropped me off after dinner. He also helped me buy the things I needed for my new apartment. In the end, he followed me upstairs and stayed by my bedside until I fell asleep. He only left after that.Early the following morning, I heard about Marge getting a stroke upon hearing that Valerie had pulled strings to make her lose her grandchild. Marge hated me, but my child

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