When the Lawson family fell from grace, I was adopted by Caleb Foster. He spoiled me like a princess, envied by everyone. For eighteen years, I secretly harbored feelings for him. On the night of my coming of age, I boldly expressed my love. He said that since it was my choice, I should bear the consequences of his coldness. Later, he abandoned me while I was pregnant, all for his first love. After losing the baby alone, I chose to leave the country and get away from Caleb Foster. Caleb panicked, “Aria Lawson, you can’t leave me!” 0 “Caleb, I slipped and fell. There’s a lot of blood.” When I made this call, Caleb was attending a welcome party for his first love, Mia Morgan. “Can you come back? I’m scared.” Still young, facing pregnancy and impending motherhood, I was silently terrified. Caleb clicked his tongue impatiently, “Can’t come back. Mia’s welcome party isn’t over yet. Deal with it yourself.” He hung up abruptly before I could respond. Looking at the pool of blood beneath my dress, I forced a bitter smile through the searing pain in my belly. Of course, this was all my own doing, wasn’t it? Caleb, as the grandson of my late grandfather’s friend, had adopted me, an orphan of the Lawson family. From age fourteen when I was adopted until eighteen, Caleb spoiled me like a princess envied by all. But at eighteen, I confessed my love to Caleb. Caleb said, “You shouldn’t have such thoughts.” But in my youthful naivety, I only wanted to win over the man I liked. His kindness to me went beyond ordinary relationships. I couldn’t believe he felt nothing for me. So, taking advantage of Caleb’s drunkenness after a business dinner, I climbed into his bed. From that moment on, our relationship could never go back to what it was before. It was also at this time that Mia Morgan, Caleb’s first love from college, returned from abroad. From then on, Caleb, who was already avoiding me, came home less and less frequently. I remembered the day we confirmed our relationship, his expression indifferent, “Since it’s your choice, you’ll have to bear my coldness.” Young as I was then, I thought Caleb, being older, was just not good at expressing affection. But it wasn’t until I saw his ears turning red and his Adam’s apple bobbing nervously in Mia’s presence that I finally woke up. Thinking of how Caleb had stayed away from home for three days and nights when he learned of my pregnancy, preferring to sleep at the office, I felt a sense of resignation. Perhaps a miscarriage was what he secretly hoped for. I calmly called an ambulance. As the doctors tried their best to save the baby in my womb, I sighed under their shocked gazes, “Let it go.” Seeing a young girl come alone, the doctor asked about my family. I reflexively said, “He’s busy, he can’t come.” Realizing how ridiculous it sounded, I changed my answer: “I’m sorry, I’m widowed.” The abortion was successful. I didn’t feel much pain, just an emptiness in my heart, as if something had been carved out. On the taxi ride back home alone, I saw a familiar car heading towards the hospital. I thought Caleb was rushing to see me and instinctively wanted to message him. But then I saw a Instagram post from Caleb’s best friend: “They say Boss Foster dotes on that adopted girl, but I think she’s just a shadow of Mia.” The picture showed Caleb holding hands with Mia, who was lying in a hospital bed. That was Caleb’s childhood friend group, three guys and one girl, the inseparable four. In this tight-knit group, Caleb and Mia had been in a serious relationship since high school, aiming for marriage. If Mia hadn’t insisted on going abroad, unwilling to marry so young, I would never have had a chance with Caleb. I felt foolish for my earlier thoughts. Back home, it wasn’t until midnight that Caleb returned, reeking of alcohol. Seeing me lying in bed, he lifted my clothes. Thinking of the scent of another woman on him, I turned away. Caleb sneered drunkenly, “Aria Lawson, what are you playing at? You weren’t ashamed to climb into my bed before, and now you’re playing hard to get?” 0
Caleb’s words stung my heart. The old Caleb would never have spoken to me so harshly. “Caleb, I’m not feeling well.” “Oh right, you’re still pregnant.” With that, he fell into a deep sleep on the bed, completely forgetting that I had fallen earlier that day. In the past, if I had so much as a scratch, Caleb would have scoured the city for the best doctors to heal my scar. But now, faced with such a serious matter as a pregnant woman falling and bleeding, he was utterly indifferent, even coming home drunk in the middle of the night. The contrast between care and neglect became glaringly obvious in an instant. The next day, Caleb was gone early. Instead, there was an update on Mia’s Twitter. “A breakfast full of love, thanks to Caleb for cooking so early in the morning.” The picture showed a hearty breakfast with a heart drawn on it. I had eaten such breakfasts too. Back when I wasn’t yet Caleb’s girlfriend. Meanwhile, a note was left on the bedside table. “Aria Lawson, trying so hard to share a bed with me? How amusing.” My heart instantly twisted with unbearable pain. Caleb didn’t trust me. He thought last night’s shared bed was my elaborate scheme. But we were supposed to be lovers. Thinking of this, my heart felt like it was being stabbed. I hastily packed my things and went to class. My appearance delighted my professor. “Aria! You’re finally here! Are you sure you don’t want to reconsider the study abroad opportunity in Italy? You’re our department’s most outstanding student!” Since becoming pregnant, I had planned to take a break from school to care for the baby, nearly missing this great opportunity to study abroad. “Professor, no need to reconsider. I want to go.” “Eh? Weren’t you going to take care of your pregnancy? If your body can’t handle it, don’t force yourself. I just thought it was a shame.” “No, Professor. I had a miscarriage.” Hearing this, the professor didn’t ask further, just patted my shoulder. “If that’s the case, it must be God’s will. Cherish this opportunity to study abroad.” Just as I left the school, my phone rang. Caleb’s car was waiting at the school gate. “Get in. My mom wants us to have dinner together.” Hearing this, I habitually opened the passenger door, only to see a large bouquet of vibrant red roses on the seat. Caleb hesitated for a moment, then said, “You sit in the back.” I had thought the flowers were for Caleb’s mother, but when we arrived at the family home and saw Mia intimately linking arms with Caleb’s mother as they walked out, my heart trembled. Caleb got out of the car carrying the red roses. Seeing this, Mia’s eyes lit up with a smile. “Caleb, I just mentioned it casually. Did you really run across half the city to buy these for me?” “If you like them, of course I had to get them.” Mia hugged the roses, her smile radiant and beautiful. She excitedly kissed Caleb’s cheek, “Well, thank you then.” Caleb didn’t dodge, a hint of indulgence in his smile. Caleb’s mother, Mrs. Foster, also teased, “You rascal, gallivanting abroad for years without coming back to see me.” “Oh come on, I’m back now, aren’t I?” I watched the three of them, so harmonious, feeling increasingly awkward. Mia seemed to notice me only then, feigning surprise, “Oh my, you must be Caleb’s little girlfriend?” “Don’t mind me, Caleb and I grew up together, we’re just naturally close.” She was explaining her earlier public display of affection with Caleb, but Mia’s eyes were full of mirth. “Nonsense, nonsense. What little girlfriend? Aria is just the granddaughter of Caleb’s grandfather’s friend. Our family is taking care of her out of gratitude,” Mrs. Foster interjected. Mrs. Foster didn’t know about my relationship with Caleb. “Besides, Mia, you know Caleb. He’s refused to date anyone these past few years no matter how much I’ve pushed. I always said this stubborn boy was waiting for you.” I instinctively looked at Caleb, desperately hoping he would deny his mother’s speculation. After all, I was supposed to be his girlfriend now. “Caleb, were you really waiting for me?”
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