Chapter 2

That evening, Damien Thorne carefully helped Willow Frost through the door.

They had bought a huge box of toys for their unborn child.

Willow gently stroked her pregnant belly, and they exchanged a loving glance, their faces beaming with the joy of soon becoming parents.

Seeing me, Willow smiled and handed me a small gift box.

"Scarlett, this is a special gift I picked out for you. I just found out how much this whole thing bothered you, so consider it... a small apology from me."

I didn't even look, tossing the gift box straight into the trash.

Willow's smile instantly froze, and tears streamed down her face like a broken necklace.

"Scarlett, I... I'm so sorry."

She choked back sobs, cowering behind Damien.

Damien immediately shielded her, looking at me with a helpless expression.

"Scarlett, don't be like this."

"I was just responding to a call for responsible donors. Willow is a free spirit and wants a child but not a husband."

"We're just colleagues, truly nothing more."

"Just colleagues?"

My voice trembled.

"Exchanging good mornings and good nights every day? Sharing a single playlist? Shielding her from aggressive co-workers at office dinners? Driving her home the long way after late nights at work? Those are 'just colleagues'?"

He rubbed his temples tiredly.

"Here we go again. Haven't I explained all this? You're always so suspicious, overthinking everything."

I let out a cold laugh.

His explanations were ridiculously flimsy — just normal colleague interactions, a senior looking out for a junior.

They were full of holes, yet I chose to believe him, time after time.

But five years of a relationship... I wasn't willing to let it end like this.

Gritting my teeth, I pointed at Willow's belly, testing him.

"Fine, let's say I'm overthinking it, that I misunderstood you two!"

I stared hard at Damien, pushing him.

"Make her get rid of that baby, and I'll pretend nothing happened. The wedding will go on as planned."

"Impossible!"

Damien's voice shot up, then he forced his anger down.

"The baby is Willow's. I have no right to decide that."

Willow's face instantly went pale. She suddenly dropped to her knees in front of me with a thud.

She clutched her belly tightly, her voice choked.

"Scarlett, there's truly nothing between me and Damien. The baby is eight months along, and he was just kicking me. I can't, I can't..."

She cried, her face tear-streaked, her whole body shaking.

Damien's face was tight, he struggled for a few seconds, but his resolve crumbled.

He helped her up, offering a helpless smile.

"Scarlett, asking her to terminate the pregnancy now, what's the difference between that and tearing her heart out?"

I stared at him, a cold smirk playing on my lips.

"What, feeling sympathetic now?"