Chapter 3
I don’t know when it started..
The proud boy with fiery eyes who once knelt in front of his classmates and vowed
to always be worthy of me.
That boy has now been consumed by the desires of society.
Yet, I still clung to a foolish fantasy.
If he knew we had a child, would things have turned out differently?
But reality hit me hard, shattering my delusions.
He wouldn’t even let me finish a
sentence.
How could I expect him to devote a lifetime to caring for a child?
The one unchanging truth about people is that their hearts will always change.
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I stood there, stunned, grappling with my emotions for what felt like an eternity.
Finally, I exhaled a shaky breath, releasing the weight pressing on my chest.
I picked up my phone and made an appointment for an abortion the next day.
At around eleven that evening, Darrell returned with Holly.
I was already in bed, trying to sleep, but their muffled voices disturbed me.
“Brother, I ate too much earlier, and now I have a little belly,” Holly giggled.
“Holly looks perfect no matter what,”
Darrell replied, his voice dripping with affection.
“Then touch here again…”
“And… lower.”
Darrell never came back to our room that
night.
I lay awake, tormented, as a relentless
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downpour seemed to echo in my heart.
The next morning, I rose early.
Just in time to catch Darrell stepping out of Holly’s room.
I looked at him calmly, holding the hot soy milk I had just prepared.
Darrell’s eyes flickered with panic as he hastily buttoned his collar.
He walked toward me, his movements stiff, and rubbed my ear in a gesture meant to be affectionate.
“Baby, why are you up so early today? Were you boiling medicine? Let me help you,” he said, his warm breath brushing against my
ear.
I shook my head, stepping subtly out of his reach.
“I went to bed early yesterday. Go have breakfast,” I replied evenly.
“Is that so? I saw you were already asleep
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last night, so I didn’t want to disturb you and slept in the study,” he said quickly, his tone forced.
“I just went to check on Holly this morning. I was worried she might not be used to staying here. She’s your sponsored student, after all. I feel a certain
responsibility for her–it‘ s only reasonable.”
Darrell touched his nose, a telltale sign he was lying. His eyes betrayed his
discomfort, but I didn’t press further.
I was tired of this charade. All I wanted
now was to end it.
After breakfast, I planned to go to the hospital.
Darrell helped me put on my coat with practiced ease.
I paused, momentarily caught off guard.
“It’s a bit cold. Wear another layer–your hands are always freezing,” he said, his
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voice soft.
“Are you going to the hospital for a check- up today? Let me take you,” he offered.
The coat’s warmth wrapped around me, but my heart ached with bitterness.
Before heading out, Darrell always checked the weather in advance and carefully chose clothes for me.
From coordinating colors to matching styles, he even tailored outfits according to the tone of different brands.
Whenever I asked why he went to such lengths, Darrell would answer with unwavering seriousness, “My wife must always be beautiful.”
Holly’s voice from the bedroom snapped. me out of my thoughts.
“Mr. Thornton! How does this outfit look on
me?”
Darrell’s expression darkened briefly, but he quickly masked his irritation.
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Adopting a softer tone, he stretched out his hand and gently pushed me toward the door.
“You go ahead. I just remembered I have a morning meeting at the company, so I need to leave early,” he said briskly.
“Call me if you need anything.”
I watched his back as he hurried away, the bitterness in my chest threatening to spill
over.
It had all started two months after Holly joined his company.
Darrell became busier and less available.
He no longer made time to accompany me to the hospital for those endless examinations.
Instead, he spent his free moments visiting trendy dessert shops with his secretary and watching fireworks.
Yet, he never forgot to take a sip of the bitter herbal medicine I had painstakingly
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