Chapter 2

Braving the cold wind, I returned to my mother's old home. I curled up on her old bed, nestling in her lingering scent. I kept saying "I'm sorry" over and over, and then repeatedly murmuring how much I missed her.

In my daze, the phone rang. I answered to hear William's voice. He was the son of my mother's friend, a childhood friend who grew up with me like a brother. He had gone abroad in his second year of high school.

"Congratulations on your marriage, Mia. I sent some gifts..." he said softly. I held back my tears and forced myself to respond, then hung up, claiming I was tired.

He had surgery just last month, and I didn't want him to worry about me again.

The next day when I woke up, my mother-in-law called. She said angrily that she knew everything now. She cursed Jack for being so cruel and begged me to come to the hospital to talk.

I initially wanted to refuse harshly, but hearing her weak cough, my heart softened, and I rushed to the hospital.

Throughout the long period I had been dating Jack, she had always been kind to me, saying many times that if Jack and I didn't work out, she would adopt me as her goddaughter.

When I arrived at the hospital room, I found Jack and Zoe already there, and my mother-in-law was happily touching Zoe's belly.

Seeing me, she quickly grabbed my hand. Before I could speak, she snatched the jade bracelet from my wrist and gave it to Zoe.

"Zoe, this is our family heirloom. Keep it as a gift for the baby," she said fawningly. Looking at her expression, I was stunned for a moment, bitterly smiling at what this "talk" she mentioned on the phone had turned out to be.

"Mom, I'm your daughter-in-law," I said with a heavy heart. But my mother-in-law angrily shouted at me.

"How dare you! Don't think I've accepted you just because you've taken care of me for a few days. Even a nurse can clean up shit and piss. A hen that can't lay eggs has no right to crow!"

It felt like a knife stabbing deep into my heart. I looked at Jack with a bitter smile, but he just held Zoe's hand tightly and turned his head away.

I ran out of the hospital room, with Jack following closely behind. He cornered me at the door and said softly, "Mia, to tell you the truth, the child in Zoe's belly is mine. Mom's illness is psychological; she's always wanted a grandchild. I can't be unfilial, can I? Zoe is already four months pregnant. You're the only one in my heart. After the child is born and Mom's psychological issues are resolved, we can raise the child together, okay?"

I laughed bitterly and looked at him with contempt, asking if he had forgotten who had deprived me of the right to be a mother.

During our years of dating before marriage, I had been pregnant eight or nine times, all of which Jack had forced me to abort with excuses like "I'm busy with my career" or "We're not ready yet."

My mother-in-law had also told me to focus on taking care of Jack, comforting me that I could have children anytime.

Now, it had become very difficult for me to get pregnant again.

Jack had once comforted me, saying not to force myself and that we could always adopt.

But now that it had come to this point, he was already discarding me.

Jack tried to hug me with some guilt, but I dodged him.

He reproached me, saying it was just a bracelet and that he could buy me ten more.

I rushed to the hospital room door, took off my wedding ring, and threw it at them before turning to leave.

"Where do you think you can go? Your dad is in jail, your mom is dead, and all your relatives think you're bad luck. Who else can you rely on besides me?" Jack said indifferently. I gritted my teeth but had no words to refute.

"She has me." A figure emerged from the corridor nearby, grabbing my hand and looking at me with concern.