Chapter 88
The man’s voice was resolute, cutting off the price I was about to offer. The deep affection in his eyes made me instinctively avert my
gaze.
After settling my mother’s ashes, I sold the family house and followed Lucien back to Junaria.
Ignoring the endless stream of frantic calls from Thayer, I lay quietly in the best gynecology hospital under the Merrick Family’s name.
Thayer had always been arrogant and domineering, treating me like his possession, someone he could insult at will. Now that he knew I was pregnant, there was no way he’d allow me to terminate the pregnancy so easily. I had no choice but to rely on the power of the Merrick Family.§
Under the anesthesia, the undeveloped fetus was quickly removed. The child–unwanted by his own father–turned into nothing more than a pool of blood in an instant.§
Lying in the hospital room, I stared out the window at the children playing in the yard. A hollow emptiness settled in my chest. Absentmindedly, I brushed against the answer button on my phone–and, unsurprisingly, Thayer’s hoarse voice came through.
“Althea, if you dare abort that child, I swear I won’t let you off!“>
It was only then that I realized that I hadn’t brought back the abortion form from the county hospital.}
Thayer must’ve already found it. I wasn’t sure what exactly I felt in that moment–relief, fear, or just numbness.
In the past five years, Thayer could easily abandon me for any other woman, then use some cheap compensation to keep me from leaving. I was like a dog tied with a rope, easily played in the palm of his hand.}
Thinking about the upcoming divorce hearing, I actually felt relaxed, as if the rope that once bound me had finally snapped. I hung up the phone.
“Don’t go soft on him. He already has a child with his mistress. What right does he have to order you around? A scumbag like him, wanting everything–is not worth going back to.”
Looking at the man who’d been trying to drill into my head just how terrible Thayer really was, I couldn’t help but smile.
“Don’t worry, Lucien. I’m counting on you to help me win this divorce case. Why would I ever go back?“)
But what I didn’t expect was, before the court hearing could even begin, Thayer showed up.
Relying on my previous technical achievements, I easily landed an engineering position at another tech company. Just after getting off work, I saw Thayer leaning against my door, smoking.
It had only been a few days since we last met, yet the once arrogant and overbearing man now looked noticeably worn and exhausted. “Where’s the baby?” His voice was hoarse.
I looked at him in surprise. “Isn’t the baby in Aveline’s belly?”
F
E
He froze for a moment, stubbed out the cigarette in his hand and stared intently at my stomach. His voice squeezed out through clenched teeth. “I’m talking about the baby in your belly!“}
The man’s tall, upright figure bent slightly as his large hand tentatively reached toward my belly. But I stepped back in disgust, avoiding his touch.
“Sir, just remember to show up for the divorce. I’m willing to leave with nothing.”
I couldn’t bring myself to mention the child. It felt like an insult to the one who had already passed.
I pushed open the door to my apartment.}
Thayer stiffened for a moment but still tried to squeeze in after me.”
In the darkness, his large hand gripped my waist. His voice carried a heavy, icy edge.
“Althea! I’m asking you, where’s the child?”
The man’s grip on my waist tightened, growing so forceful that it felt like he might crush my bones.
The calm I had been barely holding onto finally shattered. It was as if all my strength drained out of me.
“It’s gone. Are you satisfied now? When you pushed me back to the county hospital, the doctor already said the baby wouldn’t survive. And later… it just turned into a puddle of blood.”
“Are you happy now, Thayer? I, the cheap woman, didn’t taint the noble bloodline of the Alcott Family after all.”
