chapter 1

Seven years into our marriage, I ran into my so-called wife-obsessed husband Samuel Gray during a prenatal checkup.

But that day, he showed up with the girl he grew up with, Macy Bowman. She was getting a prenatal exam too. While waiting for her results, he casually picked up a bottle of abortion pills at the counter.

Then he told his assistant to find a chance to drop them into my water.

The assistant hesitated. "Mr. Gray, you care so much about Miss Bowman. You're even willing to make your wife lose the baby so you can raise a child with her. Why not just get a divorce instead?"

Samuel's expression snapped. "Shut up. I don't need you telling me how to run my life."

He added, "And make sure you get some supplements. I want my wife to recover well afterward."

The assistant nodded quickly and rushed out.

I followed Samuel and Macy quietly to the parking lot. When I saw the car start to rock from the inside, something inside me went cold.

That cold stayed with me as I obediently swallowed the pills and signed the divorce papers he had prepared.

If a man who once swore he loved me more than life could already have someone new, then maybe letting go was the only thing left for me to do.

When I walked out of the underground garage, my legs were still weak. The huge outdoor LED screen caught my eye.

It was showing the night Samuel proposed to me.

He'd gone down on one knee, eyes soft with affection, and kissed the ring on my finger.

The ring was a rare violet diamond he spent thirty million on at an auction. He had said it symbolized love that never changed.

Girls around us had sighed back then. "Mr. Gray really spoils his wife. They've been married what, three years? And they're still replaying their engagement photos!"

I used to feel proud whenever I heard things like that.

Now, all I felt was the urge to run.

Love changes. Even the man once worshipped as the perfect husband had proved that.

He was even ready to get rid of my baby for another woman.

My chest tightened. I barely made it a few steps before everything went black.

Just before I lost consciousness, I felt myself fall into someone's warm arms.

When I woke again, I heard Samuel pressing the doctor. "Why did she faint?

"I don't care how much it costs. Use the best medicine you have!"

The doctor tried to calm him. "Mr. Gray, your wife was emotionally overwhelmed. The stress caused her to pass out.

"Look—she's waking up."

I opened my eyes and Samuel leaned in, frantic. "Hayley, are you okay? Does anything hurt?"

He took my hand, careful, probing. "Did something happen? Did you scare yourself into this?"

I caught the flicker of guilt in his eyes. Under the blanket, my fist twisted the sheet tight.

"No. Maybe the baby's been kicking too much lately. That's all."

He exhaled in relief and gently rubbed my back.

"I know pregnancy is tough. When the baby comes out, I swear I'll give him a good talking-to."

A bitter smile tugged at my lips. I said nothing.

He turned to his assistant.

"Get her some water."

The assistant froze for a second. That tiny hesitation stabbed straight through me. Tears spilled before I could stop them.

Samuel still wanted my baby gone.

Samuel wiped my face with a tissue, panic creeping in, yet he still didn't forget to remind me to drink some water.

"Baby, what's wrong?

"Have some water. You'll feel better.

"Is pregnancy just too tough? You always said you wanted a child with me… right?"

His eyes carried concern and a quiet, selfish anticipation he didn't even realize was there.

I'd had an abortion for him once. Since then, having a child had become the one thing I clung to.

But if he didn't want this baby, then the baby didn't matter.

Right in front of him, I swallowed the pills.

Samuel stroked my hair. "I knew you'd be good for me."

It felt like another knife to the heart.

My obedience had simply made more room for their love.

He could've just told me. One sentence, and I would've walked away.

That night, pain tore through my abdomen like someone striking me from the inside.

Blood soaked the sheets. I felt the tiny life inside me slip away.

I passed out. When I came to, I heard Samuel speaking with the doctor.

The doctor said, "Your wife miscarried once before. Now it's happened again. Her uterus is severely damaged. She may never get pregnant."

Those words hit harder than any physical pain. I broke down completely.

One failed love had taken away my chance to ever become a mother.