“What did you say? A sperm donation?” My mind went blank as I stared at Summer Davies’ tear-streaked face. “Yes, the baby I’m carrying… it’s Julian Vance’s.” Summer dabbed at her eyes, timidly turning to Julian Vance, who stood beside her. “Julian, surely you haven’t forgotten? Five years ago, when we were studying abroad together, you volunteered for a local sperm donation program…” “I just never imagined that the seed you left behind would… germinate inside me.” Summer’s tears streamed down, her voice choked with sobs. I sat opposite her, numb, Summer’s words a lightning bolt striking my ears. I never imagined that after so many years of heartfelt prayers, my husband, Julian Vance, would finally be blessed with a child. Except, I wasn’t the one carrying it. I don’t remember how I got home. All I could see was Summer’s tear-stained, crumpled face. The steam in the bathroom was thick, almost suffocating. Unconsciously, I had been in there for two hours. Julian’s pacing silhouette was visible through the frosted glass door. Clutching my chest, I spoke first, “Is everything handled?” “Mmm.” Outside the bathroom, Julian’s head was bowed as he softly hummed a reply. His mind was a tangled mess, unsure how to explain the situation to his wife. “Are you sure it’s—” I finally mustered the courage to ask, “—your child?” “I’m so sorry, Willow. I didn’t know it was an unscrupulous little clinic back then. Now, they’ve sold all the donor information just to make a quick buck…” My heart clenched sharply, and I squeezed my eyes shut. “So, what are you going to do?” Julian, who had been quick to explain moments before, suddenly fell silent. He sighed heavily, words catching in his throat, unable to be spoken. The longer the silence stretched, the faster my heart pounded. “Willow! I want to keep this child.” I already knew the answer in my heart, yet the moment Julian’s voice reached me, tears gushed out. My fingers traced the long scar on my lower abdomen, pressing hard enough for the tips to sink deep into my skin. Three years ago, it was this scar that had brought me into Julian’s heart. Back then, I was just a junior stunt performer in his crew. Driven by a love that had blossomed since childhood, I’d silently dedicated myself to him for a decade. For ten years, I’d abandoned a comfortable, respectable job to work as a stunt double in Julian’s film crew. Soaking in icy lake water night after night for retakes in winter, a wire rig malfunctioned, and I nearly fell from a rooftop… I’d lost count of how many injuries I’d sustained. But witnessing Julian’s journey from an industry newcomer to a well-known director brought me genuine happiness. I had never thought Julian and I would have a deeper connection. Until that time, when a large-scale explosion scene was being filmed for a movie Julian was directing. Due to an oversight by the props team, there was a miscalculation with the explosion point. When the flames erupted near Julian, I instinctively dove forward without a second thought. When I woke again, staring at the sterile white hospital ceiling, the tearing pain in my abdomen made it almost impossible to breathe. “The patient’s uterus was severely damaged. Whether she can conceive in the future depends on her recovery.” The doctor’s conversation with Julian outside the door echoed clearly in my ears, word for word. He had only suffered minor scratches, but I had thrown myself over him to protect him, landing on sharp construction materials used for the set. A piece of jagged metal had pierced my abdomen. Lying alone in the hospital bed, silently crying at night, it was Julian who held my icy hands, his eyes full of pain. He said it was his turn to protect me. He promised to protect me for a lifetime. Now, I braced myself against the bathroom wall, barely standing, recalling Julian’s vows from the day we got married. Because of the scar on my stomach, I had once refused Julian’s proposal. But Julian had promised again and again: “Willow, I don’t care if we have children or not. I’ve seen all your sacrifices over the years. I love you, and this scar will only be a testament to our love!” But now, precisely because of that scar, I couldn’t refuse Julian’s request to keep the child. The doctor had said that if I couldn’t get pregnant within three years, I would never have children. Now, the three-year mark was almost here, and my womb remained silent. Julian loved children so much. How could I bear to watch him give up this hard-won baby? I choked back a sob, forcing the words out of my throat as if it took all my strength. “Okay.” ### 2 Julian’s head shot up at my answer, his voice laced with unconcealed joy. “Thank you, Willow.” I watched the man’s retreating figure leave the bathroom, and I could no longer stand. My legs gave out, and I slid to the floor, tears silently falling. Julian was going to have a baby. This was what I had dreamed of for three years. I should have been happy. But right now, my heart ached, so deeply, so terribly. After Julian and I got married, to aid my recovery, I took a job as an instructor at a nearby children’s equestrian club. Sometimes, when his crew filmed period dramas, they would borrow horses from the club. I was happy to act as a liaison between the crew and the club. “Willow! Willow!” A few pats on my back startled me, and I realized my colleague, Brenda, had called me many times. Brenda took the comb from my hand, grooming the horse while sizing me up. “What’s wrong with you? You’ve been so distracted lately.” I lowered my head, sighing quietly. Julian hadn’t been home for days, busy taking care of Summer. All of it agitated me, but who could I tell? I forced a smile, swallowing my grievances. “Nothing, maybe just a little low blood sugar.” “Low blood sugar? You need to be more careful then!” Brenda playfully patted my back, joking, “If anything happened to you, your husband would blame me for not looking after you properly.” To outsiders, we were a loving couple. Julian treated me like his most precious possession, instructing everyone to take care of me, and I was often teased about it. But now, those words felt like sharp thorns, pricking at my uneasy heart. “Oh, by the way, the crew just called. The saddle is broken; can you take a new one over?” Brenda handed me the items and arranged for a driver to take me. Watching the scenery flash past the car window, I was flooded with emotions. In these three years of marriage, I couldn’t point to a single flaw in Julian. Even when he worked until midnight, he’d send a goodnight message in advance. This was the first time in three years he’d gone days without a word. “Maybe Julian really is too busy,” I told myself, rubbing my temples, trying to find comfort. I had just finished unloading the items when I saw my best friend, Natalie, walking out of the actors’ entrance, looking utterly dejected. “Nat? Are you getting off early today?” I checked my phone; it was only three o’clock. Natalie should still be filming. She was the second female lead in this show, with a lot of screen time. “Off early? What job do I even have anymore? My role was recast.” Natalie’s voice suddenly choked, her red-rimmed eyes welling with tears. I froze. “Recast? No way!” Natalie had auditioned herself back then, and the entire production team thought she was the perfect fit for the second female lead. It was I who had brought her the good news from Julian and witnessed her sign the acting contract. Ignoring the items in my hands, I rushed into the crew’s makeup room. At that moment, Summer was sitting in front of the mirror, trying on a costume, laughing and talking with Julian. I recognized it instantly; it was Natalie’s character’s makeup and outfit. “So, you’re the one who replaced Natalie?” “Willow!” Julian nervously stepped in front of Summer. The moment our eyes met, his smile faded. “It has nothing to do with Summer. It was entirely my decision.” I looked at my now-stern husband, my eyes filled with shock. As a director, Julian couldn’t possibly be unaware of how desperately Natalie wanted this hard-won opportunity. She had auditioned day and night, finally securing this role. And just like that, Julian dismissed it with a casual remark. “What about Natalie?” I clutched the hem of my shirt. “You know how much she was looking forward to this show.” “I’m willing to offer Natalie double compensation.” Julian’s face was grim, his answer indifferent. The atmosphere grew tense. Summer, who had been shrinking behind Julian, suddenly cautiously tugged my arm. Her eyes were red, looking utterly pathetic, her voice tinged with a sob. “Sister Willow, please don’t be angry with Julian. It’s all my fault. I didn’t know Natalie was your friend. Julian just wanted to find something for me to do. I won’t act, just please don’t argue because of me…” Tears silently slid down her cheeks, her aggrieved look making it seem as if I were the unreasonable one. But these tears clearly struck a chord with Julian. His tone became irritable. “Summer just returned from abroad and hasn’t adapted to the work environment here yet. She also likes acting, and crew work is the most suitable.” “Natalie always said you were understanding, so why are you arguing with Summer over such a small matter?” “She’s pregnant; where else do you want her to suffer?” With that, he let out a long sigh, took Summer by the hand, and left the makeup room. I stood there stunned, Julian’s words like a rope twisting tightly around my heart. I was certain now; it seemed that the day Summer appeared, something had fractured. ### 3 “So, who is the second female lead after all?” “Definitely not Sister Summer. I heard the previous actress brought her friend to cause a scene, so Sister Summer gave way.” “Sister Summer is so nice, I still hope she acts.” “Yes, yes, she even brought me coffee this morning…” “I think Director Vance really likes her too!” I stood in the corner, quietly listening to the chattering extras. Following their gaze, Summer was bent over, helping the crew move props. Her sleeves were half-rolled, revealing a slender, pale forearm. Behind her, Julian stood, his eyes full of concern, following her every move. The moment Summer lifted a box, he suddenly turned his back, hastily lowering his head, and a few tears silently fell. I took it all in, a wave of bitterness rising in my heart. Because of Natalie’s role, it felt like a thick wall had risen between Julian and me. We hadn’t spoken for days. “Maybe Julian is just worried about the baby,” I thought, feeling a little better, and turned to slip into the stable in the corner. Mike was munching on the hay from the ranch. Seeing me enter, he obediently lowered his head and nudged me. This horse had been with me since I first joined the club. Strong and well-built, he was a good prospect, but unfortunately, he had injured his front leg and could no longer compete in equestrian events. Luckily, Mike had good looks and was noticed by the crew, so it was a good place for him. “Sister Willow!” A sweet gasp suddenly came from behind me; it was Summer. “I heard this is your horse?” She slapped Mike’s back twice with force. Mike was visibly startled, nervously stepping backward into the stable. Seeing her heavy-handedness, I kindly warned, “Summer, you’re pregnant; it’s better not to get too close to Mike. You might get hurt…” “Sister, you’re so petty. It’s just a horse; you won’t even let me touch it? Your husband, Julian, even…” Summer’s words trailed off. She seemed to have suddenly remembered something and smiled shyly at me. Her innocent, pure face clearly held a hint of defiance. My fingers trembled slightly, instinctively clenching. Of course, I understood what Summer meant. It was fine. Once Summer had the baby, she would have no further ties to the Vance family. Julian had said that once the child was born, he would entrust its upbringing to me. I took a deep breath, suppressing my emotions, and ignored her. “Little white horse, Julian said you love carrots the most. You like me too, right?” Summer picked up a few carrots, hopefully offering them to Mike’s mouth. But Mike didn’t even turn his head, simply munching indifferently on the hay I had just given him. Summer looked a little flustered and moved closer. This time, Mike impatiently shook his head, snorting at her. “Where did you get such a temper, you ungrateful horse?” Summer raised the carrots in her hand and swung them, intending to hit Mike. “No!” I frantically shielded Mike. But Summer, in her anger, swung her hand wildly, striking Mike’s injured front leg hard. A sharp, pained whinny filled the air, and Mike’s front hooves buckled in pain. He nervously spun in place, hooves flailing, and the stable instantly became chaotic. I tried to grab Mike but was thrown to the ground by the panicked horse. “Ah—” A piercing shriek echoed across the entire film set. Summer was violently kicked in the chest by Mike and fell to the ground with a thud. “Quick, someone! This horse has gone mad!” The crew also noticed the situation in the stable and rushed over in a panic. A tall, upright figure suddenly pushed through the crowd. I recognized him immediately: it was Julian. I suppressed the dizziness in front of my eyes, wanting to stand up, not wanting him to worry. But Julian, without even a glance in my direction, knelt beside Summer! He was so nervous his face was pale, his hands trembling. “Summer, we’re going to the hospital right now!” Julian scooped Summer into his arms and turned to leave. “Julian, I—” My voice trembled, and I reached out, grabbing the hem of his jacket. “I—!” Julian cut me off, his gaze icy cold. “How could you let her come to such a dangerous place? Why didn’t you protect her?” My body stiffened, and I numbly released my grip, watching their figures grow smaller and smaller. A dull ache swept through my heart. My lips trembled as I softly uttered the rest of my sentence: “—My stomach hurts so much too, I think I’m bleeding…” ### 4 “Boss, can’t you make an exception? Mike has always been very gentle…” I tried to explain, my back drenched in cold sweat. But the club owner just shook his head impatiently. “I’ve already told you, if word gets out that this horse injured someone, who would send their kids here to learn riding?” “Is there really no other way? Mike has been with me since he was little.” My eyes teared up, my voice hoarse. Seeing my distress, the owner sighed. “Willow, this is a last resort. The stable needs to make a profit. Selling him to the scenic area is the best arrangement.” He handed me the car keys. “How about this? Since he’s your horse, you can take him there.” I gripped the keys, standing in the scorching sun for a long time before starting the car and driving Mike to the exchange location. The buyer was a well-known horse dealer from the scenic area. He circled Mike a few times, looking very satisfied. “This horse is indeed good. Good-looking horses are more popular in scenic spots; they can earn a lot. Come with me!” Listening to these words, my heart was a mix of emotions. I looked back at Mike; he was still obediently following me, full of trust. As we reached the foot of the mountain, a team of horses carrying cargo descended from above. Their thin backs were laden with mountain-like bundles, their legs trembling. I could tell these horses were exhausted. The man seemed to read my thoughts and quickly chimed in, “Don’t worry, the ones that pull cargo are the ugly ones. Your horse has good looks; he’ll be taking guests for photos up ahead. That’s much easier.” I nodded. This was as far as I could take Mike. Mike lowered his head and gently nudged my chest. It was our secret signal, Mike asking for his owner’s touch. I instinctively raised my hand but stopped in mid-air, my throat completely choked with bitterness. “Mike needs to get used to it. There won’t be an owner’s touch anymore.” I lowered my hands, but my gaze lingered on Mike with tender affection, my heart pulled by an invisible chain, unable to let go. Not getting a response from his owner, Mike suddenly became agitated and nudged me again. This time, I simply turned away. I heard Mike’s hurried hoofbeats behind me. He whinnied softly a couple of times, as if he had realized something. I didn’t dare look back, quietly listening as the sound faded further and further away. Ahead, a few people were leading a white horse, dressed in the same uniforms as the man who had taken Mike. They were clearly from the same group. They cursed at the white horse, “This damn horse! Threw a customer off, made me pay so much money!” *Smack!* The whip in hand fiercely struck the horse’s back. A shocking red welt immediately appeared on the horse’s white back, beads of blood seeping into its fur, staining it red. The horse cowered in the corner, silent, its eyes filled with terror. As the whip was about to fall again, another person intervened. “How can it take customers if it has scars? Two days without food, and it’ll behave.” A wave of panic washed over me, my heart feeling torn. I pulled out my phone, looking at the dozen uncalled numbers on the screen, then tremblingly dialed Summer’s number. The call connected, and Summer’s sweet voice came through, “Sister Willow, what’s up?” “Summer, can you let Julian answer the phone?” I choked, “I can’t reach him.” A moment of silence. “What’s wrong?” The moment I heard Julian’s voice, my tears broke free completely. For three years of marriage, Julian had been like my salvation. In every crisis, his presence brought comfort. “Julian, can Mike stay with the crew? I don’t want him to suffer at the scenic spot.” A cold laugh suddenly came from the other end. “I thought you were calling to apologize to Summer.” Listening to Julian’s reply, a chill instantly spread through my body. “Don’t you like Mike too?” “Willow, what’s more important, a person or a horse? I can’t risk Summer’s safety.” “Julian, I want some fruit,” Summer’s voice drifted through from the other end. “Okay, I’ll wash some for you.” “If there’s nothing else, I’ll hang up now. Summer’s still shaken and needs rest.” The moment the call was disconnected, my heart felt like ashes. I used the nearby rock to stand up, my mind hazy, the workers’ curses buzzing incessantly in my ears. A voice in my heart told me I couldn’t lose Mike again. I turned around and ran frantically, screaming with all my might, my voice tearing. “Mike! Mike!” Down the mountain path, a white horse whinnied, its steady, powerful hoofbeats thundering. Mike galloped forward, head held high, like a whirlwind rushing toward me. I hugged Mike tightly, sobbing uncontrollably. Mike whinnied softly, constantly nudging and licking me with his head, his dark, shiny eyes filled with glistening liquid, as if scolding his owner for being so heartless. I gently wiped away his tears. “In this world, you’re the only one who cares about me. My little horse, we’ll never be separated again…” ### 5 “Sister Willow, these are Summer’s things. Can you take them back for her?” I took the bag of items handed to me by the crew member and immediately spotted the familiar pair of knitted gloves. I asked, puzzled, “Are you sure these are all Summer’s?” The crew member nodded. “Can’t be mistaken. They were all found in her belongings box. Director Vance said Summer won’t be coming to work on set anymore, and asked me to sort her things.” I didn’t ask further and took the bag home. The empty room was silent. Julian still hadn’t returned today. I lay on the bed, staring at the moonlight filtering through the window, tossing and turning. Finally, I couldn’t resist getting up. I pulled the gloves from the bag and examined them closely under the lamp. On the faded wash tag inside the glove’s cuff, there was a worn red heart. I was certain. These were the very gloves I had given Julian when we were in school. Memories flooded back, and I saw again the cold, slender silhouette of the boy cycling. In my freshman year of high school, my mother passed away unexpectedly, and my father remarried, quickly starting a new family. I was like the extra piece, tacitly ignored by everyone. I rented an old apartment, going to school, eating, and living alone. But walking through the dark alleyways by myself, I couldn’t help but cry from fear. After school, I always lingered, waiting for classmates going my way. Eventually, I realized that Julian Vance, from my class, had a similar route. Julian rode a bike, and to keep up with him, I always ran, arriving home drenched in sweat every time. Somewhere along the way, Julian seemed to deliberately slow down, and I no longer had to run to keep pace. One of the class brown-nosers heard that Julian’s family was well-off and asked him why he didn’t ride in their luxury car. I listened quietly from the side, feeling a gaze on me that quickly shifted away. “I just like cycling, it’s refreshing,” Julian replied nonchalantly. “Pfft!” I heard a sneering laugh from behind a classmate. “What a show-off. Cycling is ‘refreshing’ in winter?” I blushed in the corner. I saved three months’ worth of pocket money and bought the most expensive pair of gloves at the convenience store, secretly slipping them into Julian’s desk drawer. During my loneliest three years, Julian’s cycling silhouette was like a beacon in a long, dark alley. But why did his figure seem to get further and further away, no matter how hard I tried to catch up? “Julian, wait for me! Julian!” I jolted awake from a nightmare, my forehead covered in a fine layer of cold sweat. “Just a dream, thankfully.” I clutched my chest, surprised I had fallen asleep like that. Perhaps I had been truly exhausted lately. I had bought Mike myself but struggled to find a place for him. Running around these past few days had left me feeling worn out. I touched my slightly aching stomach, deciding to find something to eat. Opening the fridge, I found only a few wilted mini cabbages. Julian and I were both busy with work, often needing to work late, so Mrs. Vance usually bought groceries and stocked the fridge. I stared blankly at the empty fridge, realizing I hadn’t seen Mrs. Vance in a long time. *Buzz—* My phone vibrated, snapping me back to reality. It was Julian. I quickly answered. “Willow, Sam said you took Summer’s things?” “Yes.” “Then make sure to keep them safe. Summer’s documents are in there.” Summer, Summer, Summer. Always about Summer. I swallowed my disappointment and softly agreed. “Julian, come here and help Summer with this form!” Mrs. Vance’s voice suddenly came through the phone. I was a bit startled. “Is Mom there too? Does Mom know about the baby?” “Yes, it’s more reassuring with her looking after Summer.” Julian sounded a bit impatient, wanting to hang up. “Julian,” I called out, clutching the gloves in my hand. “Do you remember where the gloves I gave you are? I can’t find them.” There was a long silence on the other end. Julian’s voice was cold: “I don’t remember. It’s nothing valuable; just buy another pair…” My eyelids drooped, and a few silent tears traced lines down my cheeks. It turned out some things meant nothing to Julian, whether it was Mike or me. ### 6 “Willow, your husband isn’t here to watch the competition this time?” Brenda handed me my riding boots, muttering, “Didn’t he always come before?” “Maybe the crew is too busy,” I forced a bitter smile. I opened my phone and scrolled to Julian’s chat, the screen still showing the message I had sent him. [Julian, I have an equestrian competition this weekend. Are you coming to watch?] The competition was only 15 minutes away, and Julian still hadn’t replied. “Just focus on the competition. You’ve got a good foundation; you’ll be fine!” Brenda patted my shoulder. I turned off my phone, my face pale. In truth, I hadn’t been feeling well lately and hadn’t wanted to participate in this competition. But the owner said if I signed up, he would agree to let Mike stay at the stable for a while. I gazed blankly at the audience area, a sliver of hope still lingering in my heart. A familiar figure suddenly flashed through the crowd, and my eyes lit up instantly. It was Julian! He really came! I waved my hands frantically to greet him, but in the next second, following Julian’s gaze, I saw another familiar face. Summer was here too. The crowd surged, and Summer, like a docile rabbit, was cradled in Julian’s arms. I slowly lowered my hand, my eyes dimming, tinged with self-mockery. “Quick, it’s your turn to enter.” Brenda hurriedly urged the team participants. I had no time to react, mounted my horse, and entered the arena. This horse was competing for the first time and was particularly excited. We hadn’t had time to acclimate, and I already felt a struggle as the competition began. The atmosphere grew tense. Some spectators yelled excitedly. My palms were sweaty. Despite the surrounding noise, my heart seemed to remain fixed on Julian and Summer. The view from horseback was especially open. I saw Summer lean into Julian’s embrace. “Watch out!” A gasp from a teammate behind me snapped me back to reality. My mind went blank. I realized I had given the wrong command. The horse beneath me crashed wildly through the obstacle ahead, galloping frantically across the arena. Screams erupted around me. I felt the world spin, and boundless fear, like a suffocating net, enveloped me. *Thud!* I fell heavily from the horse’s back. Confused hooves trampled over me, and pain, like sharp steel needles, mercilessly pierced my nerves. Medical personnel rushed over in a panic, forming a circle. With a last shred of consciousness, I opened my eyes and looked towards the audience section. Julian’s face was pale, shouting hoarsely through the crowd, “Medics! Where are the medics?!” He seemed terrified, but his gaze never once turned towards the arena. In his arms was Summer, who had fainted from heatstroke. My eyes, filled with desolate pain, watched Julian’s retreating back, an agonizing ache piercing my very core. “Julian!” I screamed silently in my heart, “Just one glance! Even if just one glance…” ### 7 I awoke to the strong smell of disinfectant in the hospital room. I couldn’t help but cough, but every breath seemed to pull at every painful sensation, making my body involuntarily curl up. But I was so thirsty. I struggled to raise my hand to reach for the glass on the table, my face contorted in pain. “Oh my gosh, Willow! You have to be careful!” Caleb Vance rushed into the room from outside, handing me the glass of water. “See? It’s great having a cousin who works at the hospital.” I glanced at the empty room and gave a self-deprecating laugh. Caleb busied himself, his mouth chattering nonstop. “Willow, I’ve warned you countless times; you shouldn’t do such dangerous work. Do you know your spine was almost fractured by that horse?” “And you shouldn’t have told Sister Summer about the competition, or she wouldn’t have insisted on going. Then Julian, that busy man, wouldn’t have had to take time to accompany her.” “Look at you two now, both in the hospital. One’s his wife, the other’s his childhood sweetheart. One on the first floor, the other on the sixth. Julian has to run back and forth between you two…” Caleb’s words came too fast, and I couldn’t process them all at once. My room was on the first floor; that meant Summer was on the sixth. “You mean Julian is at the hospital?” I interrupted him. Caleb was a bit puzzled by the sudden question. “Yes, Julian and the others are all in Sister Summer’s room right now. Didn’t he come to see you first before going up?” I froze, a bitter taste rising in my throat. My husband wouldn’t even visit me when he was on his way, preferring to climb directly to the sixth floor. If Summer hadn’t demanded it, he wouldn’t even have come to the competition. After Caleb left, I, knowing everything, could no longer hold back. I hid under the covers and sobbed uncontrollably, desperately muffling my mouth, not wanting anyone to hear. A knock sounded at the door. A nurse came in, carrying a report. “Ms. Hayes, I regret to inform you that the tests show fetal demise. For your health, we recommend a D&C as soon as possible.” “What did you say?” I threw back the covers and sat up abruptly. “Fetal demise?” “Yes, didn’t you know you were pregnant? Your injury this time was too severe; the baby couldn’t be saved.” My head buzzed, my thoughts completely stalled. The door opened, and Julian, seeing the nurse, his face grim, said, “Please excuse us for a moment. I need to speak with her.” The nurse said nothing more and left. I still hadn’t recovered from the shock. I opened my mouth, but no sound came out. Julian, however, suddenly pulled out a few sheets of paper from behind his back and handed them to me. The words “DIVORCE AGREEMENT” stared back at me. “Willow, I’m sorry. To better protect the child, I need to marry Summer and get the baby a proper birth certificate. You don’t want my child to be branded as illegitimate, do you?” Listening to his words, I felt as if my entire being had been frozen. I couldn’t feel any emotion anymore. Should I be happy that I could get pregnant? Sad that the baby was lost? Or angry about the divorce? I didn’t know. The heart in my chest felt as if it had stopped beating, utterly cold. “Willow,” Julian hugged me, “don’t worry. I’ll divorce Summer as soon as the baby is born. The child will live with us, and we’ll be a happy family of three!” I held the pen, my fingertips trembling. My voice was hoarse, my expression blank as I asked, “Julian, what if we had a child?” Julian shook his head. “Willow, we can’t have children.” “Right,” my heart felt like ashes, and I forced a bitter smile. “We don’t have a baby anymore.” I lowered my head, my eyelashes fluttering, my handwriting messy. “Thank you, Willow! I’ll go arrange the paperwork immediately!” Julian took the signed agreement and quickly left. I sat there numbly, unable to cry, unable to speak, as if all strength had been drained from my body. My knuckles, gripping my phone, turned white. Finally, I sent that message. [Leo, I’ve decided. I’m leaving the country with you.] ### 10 “Don’t hurt my baby! No!” I awoke from a nightmare, sitting up abruptly, drenched in sweat. Before I could recover from the fear, the unfamiliar decor around me made me disoriented for a moment.
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