Everyone in Eastwood City knew it. Julian Blackwood, the most influential CEO, had loved me for eight years and proposed 99 times. I was deeply moved, willing to abandon my adventurous exploration career and return from Iceland to the warm, comfortable city. But three years into our marriage, Julian brought home a woman with a visibly pregnant belly. That’s when I realized: all that time, he wasn’t just preparing his proposals. He’d found a stand-in to ease his loneliness. “Anya, I know you still dream of exploring, and you don’t want to have children. I’ll give you your freedom.” “Let’s keep this baby. Once he’s born, you’ll be his mother.” I looked at him quietly, my eyes red, a bitter laugh escaping me. “Is this really about my freedom, Julian? Or is it that the Blackwood family can’t be without an heir?” “Or is it that you, Julian Blackwood, have been cheating on me again and again, all these years you claimed to love me the most?” … I stared at the woman beside him, her face agonizingly familiar, and my stomach churned. “Julian, is this what you call loving me?” The man, now kneeling, stiffened. Julian looked up, his eyes filled with a tortured sort of affection. “Anya, I messed up. You kept rejecting me back then, and I felt frustrated and lost. It was like I lost my mind…” “We’d already cleared things up after we got married! This accidental pregnancy was because I was completely wasted and ran into Chloe. She looks just like you, Anya…” I pulled at the corners of my mouth, my face blank. “So, you just went with the flow for eight months, waited until her belly was too big to abort, and then told me, expecting me to just accept it?” Julian hesitated, but Chloe, standing nearby, burst into tears first. “Anya, please don’t blame Julian. I secretly kept the baby; he didn’t know.” “I’ll accept any punishment, any blame. I beg your forgiveness!” She began to kneel. But she was stopped. Julian’s face darkened, and he snapped at her: “Your belly is so big, and you’re still so careless. Are you trying to deliberately hurt the baby, just so outsiders will think Anya is bullying you and being cruel?” “Go stand over there!” He turned to me, his voice gentle. “Anya, I know you’re kind and wouldn’t want to trouble a pregnant woman. So I’ll discipline her for you.” I just found it utterly ridiculous. Did he really think I couldn’t see this was just him protecting Chloe? I watched, horrified, as an anxious, worried look – one Julian himself didn’t even seem to notice – replaced the pure, overflowing love that once filled his eyes. My heart felt as if it had been brutally pressed into scorching whiskey, choking me, suffocating me. I closed my eyes, fighting to steady the tremor in my voice. “What if I said I don’t accept this child?” Julian’s brows furrowed. His normally calm and composed face was contorted with anguish and indecision. “Anya, you know how much I love you. No matter what happens, your place in my heart will never change.” “I can promise you, as soon as the baby is born, I’ll send Chloe abroad. You’ll never see her again, and the child will only recognize you as his mother…” Julian said a lot, but he never once mentioned getting rid of the baby or sending it away. Yes, I knew Julian loved me. But if I forgave this, this child would become a constant thorn in my heart. A constant anxiety, periodically piercing my flesh, making me relive the pain of betrayal unexpectedly. My gaze hardened. Just as I was about to speak, Chloe suddenly cried out: “Ah! My stomach hurts so much!” “Julian, what do I do? Am I going into labor?” Julian’s face changed. He stood up without hesitation, scooping Chloe into his arms. “Anya, I need to take her to the hospital. I’ll come back and explain everything!” But I clearly saw the mocking curl on Chloe’s lips. Her face showed not a trace of pain. I bit my lower lip. “Julian, don’t go.” He paused. “If you leave now, then don’t ever…” “I’m sorry, Anya! I’ll take her to the hospital and be right back home… immediately! Ten minutes…” The door slammed shut with a heavy thud, thrown by the man’s hurried steps. The door closed, leaving the room utterly empty. My body slowly slid to the floor. Suddenly, I received a text message. It was a photo of hands clasped over a pregnant belly, with a message attached: “A happy family, all together. So who’s the third wheel now?” 2 My breath caught in my throat. The tears I’d fought back finally broke free, gushing uncontrollably. I clutched my phone, knuckles white. But before I could even process it, another call came in. It was Julian’s mom, Vivian. “Anya, I heard about the baby.” “You’re angry, but you also need to think. You and Julian have been married for three years without a child. If you can’t have one, are you going to stop someone else from having one?” “Don’t get me wrong, but when this baby is born, won’t you be the one who benefits? A free baby without the pain of childbirth – what’s better than that?” Vivian Blackwood had always had something against me. She used every chance to lecture me. I suddenly calmed down. “You think this is a good thing?” “You’re so open-minded about it. Maybe Julian was also ‘brought home’ by his father, from someone else?” Sure enough, the person on the other end erupted into a furious tirade. “…The moment my son was enchanted by you, I knew you’d be the biggest mistake of his life!” I hung up the phone. Vivian’s last words echoed in my ears long after. I was Julian’s mistake? But wasn’t he mine too? After Julian fell for me at first sight in college, he launched an intense pursuit. Even when I rejected him again and again, he never gave up. After graduating, I joined a world exploration team and flew to the Arctic. He followed closely, relentlessly declaring his love. His 99 meticulously planned proposal videos are still famous all over the internet. Even my heart, often so guarded, was finally moved by his daily persistence. For what I believed was true love, I put aside my dreams. But for someone accustomed to the freedom of wandering, trying to adapt to a stable life was incredibly difficult. I constantly suppressed the suffocating feeling of being trapped. Now, that pure, sincere love that first moved me was gone. Silence surrounded me. One thought became clearer and clearer in my mind. … I never waited for Julian to come home. All I got was a complaining call. “Anya, Mom said you cussed her out… Please understand, she just wants to hold a grandchild.” Suddenly, I heard a woman’s soft, whiny voice from the other end. Julian’s voice cut off abruptly. Listening to the fumbling on the other end as he muffled the phone, I let out a breath and said softly: “Julian, let’s get a divorce.” As expected, he disagreed, and started begging again. But I’d heard too many meaningless apologies. I hung up the phone, sharp and decisive, and quickly packed my bags. Besides essential necessities, everything else could be left behind and bought again. Perhaps my past exploration experiences had influenced my mindset—leaving on a whim required quick decision-making. And failed love was no different. I knew Julian was still at the hospital. The closest hospital to here would take at least half an hour. He couldn’t make it in time. —But I underestimated Julian’s madness. When I saw that steady, understated Cadillac chasing my car, its tires practically smoking, my heart leaped. Julian’s car clearly showed signs of collision, but he was still speeding up like a maniac. Afraid of an accident, I reluctantly pulled over. “Julian, what do you want?” Looking at the man whose eyes were filled with hidden fury, the emotions I’d suppressed burst out like a tsunami. “You’re the one who claimed to love me, yet found a stand-in to sleep with. You’re the one who cheated again after we married, your body and soul tainted, disgusting.” “Julian, I’m letting you have your perfect little family. Why won’t you let me go?” The love I thought was worth giving up my freedom for, turned out to be nothing but a bubble from the very beginning. The laughable part was, I had silently endured it for three years. By the end, every word was raw with pain. Julian’s eyes were also red, and he collapsed to his knees. “Anya, I didn’t betray you. This child was truly an accident. Later, I thought, I didn’t want you to get hurt having a baby…” I brushed away his hand gripping my sleeve and gave a cold, dismissive pull at my lips. “Stop with the pretty words, Julian. I don’t tolerate disloyalty in love, and besides… we’re not a good fit.” “Perfect. The baby’s born. You and your family can live happily ever after. As for us, this is the end.” With that, I turned and walked toward my car. Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through the back of my neck. The last thing I saw before darkness claimed me was Julian’s crazed expression. 3 When I woke up again, I was back in my bedroom. “Anya, you’re not leaving me.” Looking at Julian, who appeared haggard, the word “captivity” surfaced in my mind. I turned my head away, refusing to look at him. Julian didn’t seem to care. “Anya, Blackwood Corp’s PR department has already released the news that you’re pregnant. Now everyone in Eastwood City knows you’re about to…” I was so angry I laughed. “How do I not know I’m pregnant?” Julian took a deep breath, looking exhausted. “Stop messing around, Anya. This child, of course, can only be yours.” “Chloe is about to give birth. Just behave yourself for a while. Once the baby is born, I’ll settle Chloe, and then we’ll…” I cut him off coldly. “Get out.” Julian tried to say more, but his phone rang. “Julian, I’m so uncomfortable. The doctor said the mother needs the baby’s father present, otherwise my mood will worsen and affect labor…” Chloe’s delicate, pleading voice wafted from the phone. Julian’s eyes filled with worry. He looked at me, hesitating. Seeing my silence, he suddenly got angry. “Anya, you don’t want to see me, but someone else desperately wants me to stay.” “If you don’t say anything, I’m really leaving?” The frustration in his eyes mounted. Julian, in a fit of pique, threw out a “Fine, don’t regret it,” and stormed out the door. Even though I was utterly disappointed, watching Julian leave still made my heart ache. I slumped onto the bed, trying to calm myself. After a long while, I dialed a number. “My darling, why are you calling today?” “We even heard about ‘Mrs. Blackwood’s’ pregnancy all the way in Iceland! Your husband was so clingy before; now that you’re about to give birth, he must be glued to your side every day…” I gently cut her off. “That baby isn’t mine.” The line went silent. Even through the phone, I could imagine the shocked expression on her face. I gave a self-deprecating laugh and continued: “I’ll send you my ID information in a bit. Help me book a flight for the day after tomorrow afternoon…” Before I could finish, the door swung open. I quickly hung up. Looking up, I met Chloe’s gaze. “Anya Reed, you look awful.” “What? Does it bother you that I can make Julian leave with just one phone call?” “I thought you’d voluntarily step aside once you knew Julian chose my child. I never thought you’d shamelessly cling to your position.” Chloe’s face was filled with blatant arrogance, a stark contrast to the timid obedience she’d shown before. I shot back without hesitation. “About to give birth and still running around like this? Aren’t you afraid you’ll lose the only thing you have going for you in that belly?” I stared at her. “Just because you’re pregnant, you naively think you can successfully become the primary partner?” Chloe’s expression turned furious, but she didn’t move, only snarled in a low voice: “Having a child might not be enough, but what if it could drive a wedge between you two?” The next second, she clutched her stomach and stumbled backward. She didn’t fall. A pair of strong arms appeared behind her, catching her. Julian shielded Chloe, his eyes blazing with anger. For the first time, he yelled at me: “What are you doing, Anya Reed! She’s pregnant! She’s innocent! How could you just lay hands on her like that?!” Chloe looked at Julian with tearful gratitude, half-wailing, half-whining: “Julian, I’m so uncomfortable, but I don’t want you to fight with Anya again because of me. It’s all my fault…” Watching Julian softly comfort the woman in his arms, I felt a bitter taste spread through my mouth. I pulled at the corners of my lips, got out of bed, and slowly walked forward. “I laid hands on her?” 4 “Watch closely. This is me actually laying hands on her!” Before either of them could react, I slapped Chloe across the face. Her head snapped to the side. Instantly, her cheek swelled, a clear red handprint appearing. Julian’s pupils constricted. He shoved me violently. “Are you crazy, Anya Reed! She’s pregnant!” My thigh slammed against the glass corner of the coffee table, leaving a long gash. Blood spurted out, and the sudden, searing pain made my face go pale. I clearly saw the disappointment in Julian’s eyes. “When did you become so vicious and unforgiving?” I bit down hard on my lower lip and scoffed. “Have *I* changed, or have *you* changed? Oh, wait, if I had known you were flattering me while sleeping with someone else, I would never have agreed to your proposal.” I stared at him, enunciating each word: “Julian, you disgust me.” Julian’s breath hitched. He suddenly slapped me. Caught off guard, I nearly fell. A ringing sound echoed in my ears. In a dizzying whirl of disorientation, my former lover’s distorted face was chillingly clear. Julian only registered what he’d done when he met my bitter smile. His arm, wrapped around Chloe, loosened slightly. He mumbled, wanting to say something, but was interrupted. “Julian, I’m so uncomfortable…” Julian hesitated for a moment, a complex mix of emotions flashing in his eyes before finally settling into indifference. “Anya, you need to reflect on yourself. I’m taking Chloe back to the hospital first.” A corner of my heart crumbled with a resounding crash. My gaze went numb as I lowered my head. Over the next few days, Julian was nowhere to be seen, but a renovation team arrived. They said Mr. Blackwood wanted to reconfigure the house layout and set up a nursery. I found it utterly ridiculous inside, but on the surface, I behaved exceptionally obediently. Seeing this, Julian agreed to let me accompany him to the hospital to wait for Chloe to give birth. Chloe was still restless as she was wheeled into the delivery room, making provocative gestures with her lips toward me. I pulled at the corner of my mouth and took a few steps forward, but Julian suddenly grabbed my wrist, clamping it tightly to the cold metal chair. He knew I disliked pain and confinement. Once upon a time, he cherished me like a rare treasure, terrified of me getting even a scratch. But now, my wrist was bruised, and the ugly scar on my thigh from two days ago didn’t even register in his eyes. Julian didn’t notice my inner turmoil. He frowned and said: “Anya, I only agreed to you coming if you promised not to cause trouble.” “Just wait patiently for Chloe to deliver. Afterward, you’ll be the first to hold the baby, to bond with him.” I took a long, hard look at the man before me, then gave a soft, almost ethereal smile, tinged with relief and lightness. “Okay.” Julian, instead, looked stunned. He stared at my calm, seemingly detached expression, and a sudden panic stirred within him. But his mom, Vivian, was still urging him on, so he had to suppress his chaotic emotions. … Chloe gave birth to a son. Blackwood Corp’s PR department immediately announced that “Mrs. Blackwood” had successfully given birth to a son, and the whole internet celebrated. The hospital room was likewise filled with joy. Vivian Blackwood couldn’t stop smiling. Julian looked at the exhausted new mother with a praiseful, tender gaze, as if he’d completely forgotten his promise hours earlier that I would be the first to hold the baby. Amidst the celebratory atmosphere, I quietly slipped out of the hospital room. But just as I stepped into the jeep waiting at the hospital entrance, Julian’s voice, trembling, called out from behind me. “Anya, where are you going?” I turned, meeting Julian’s panicked face. His eyes held a desperate plea as he frantically ran towards me. “Don’t…”
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