Chapter 2

Back at my parents' house, the atmosphere turned instantly awkward the moment they heard the news. Still, with Mark present, my dad poured him some tea and kept up polite conversation as usual.

My mom, on the other hand, dragged me straight into my old bedroom and tore into me.

"Didn't I raise you to have some self-respect? Even if you're sleeping with him, you should have protected yourself!" Out of sheer frustration, she swatted my arm, though it didn't hurt.

"Mark said he'd take full responsibility," I mumbled, too exhausted to argue.

"Men always say that, but how many actually follow through? Do you have any idea how people look at an unmarried, pregnant girl? You're our only daughter. How could you throw yourself away like this?" She looked like she wanted to shake some sense into me.

Losing my patience, I yanked my hand away. "If you hate this baby so much, I'll go get an abortion right now!"

My mom froze, then sank weakly onto the bed.

"I'm not blaming you. I just... I don't know how to say it right." She wiped at her reddened eyes. "If you really love Mark, marry him soon. Once you start showing, his family will look down on you."

Without waiting for my answer, she quietly walked back to the kitchen to finish cooking.

At the dinner table, aside from a few brief exchanges between my dad and Mark, my mom and I stayed silent.

It was the most suffocating meal of my life.

As we left, Mark repeatedly promised my parents that he would take care of me and make sure I didn't stress myself out.

After that day, because my pregnancy was unstable, I quit my job. My heart was full of hope, waiting for the day Mark would surprise me with a proposal so we could get our marriage license and plan a wedding.

Except, nothing happened.

He never brought up arranging a dinner between our families to discuss wedding plans.

Instead, he started coming home later and later. Sometimes he was stumbling drunk; other times, he smelled of another woman's perfume.

When I confronted him about a faint smudge of lipstick on his collar, he slapped me across the face.

"Serena, I didn't mean to!" Panic washed over Mark's face. He reached out frantically, trying to touch my cheek.

I quietly pushed his hand away, looking at him with terrifying calm. "I'm fine. As long as the baby is okay."

Only I knew that that single slap had knocked every ounce of foolish love out of me.

Perhaps seeing me so calm made Mark feel like he was losing control.

A few days later, he told me he was taking me to his parents' house for dinner.

"Is there anything I should keep in mind for my first visit?" I asked.

Even though Mark insisted I didn't need to bring anything, I still bought two high-end bottles of wine and a skincare set worth over a thousand dollars before heading over with him.

A young woman answered the door. She looked young enough to be his sister.

I had no idea Mark had any siblings, and I hadn't prepared a gift for her.

Wondering how to smooth over the awkwardness, I tugged at Mark's sleeve.

Mark spoke first. "This is my girlfriend, Serena."

The woman completely ignored me. She rested her hand on Mark's arm, her cheeks flushed as she purred, "It's so good to have you home. So good."

Mark pulled his arm back with an annoyed frown. "Watch your boundaries, Stepmom."