Chapter 3

I forced myself to get up from the ground, the tearing pain in my lower body making it almost impossible to walk normally.

I could only stand in place with an awkward posture.

While I was still figuring out how to sit on the bed, Alexander's call came through.

"Olivia, what's wrong with you? Can't stand seeing me and Sophia happy together, so you called the police on us?"

"I'm telling you, as soon as I get back, I'm kicking you out!"

In the past, I would have argued with him and then humbly begged for his forgiveness.

Even if it wasn't my doing, even if I wasn't at fault.

I would have taken the blame just to appease him.

But now, I calmly said:

"It wasn't me. Believe it or not."

Alexander went quiet for a moment on the other end, perhaps surprised by my attitude.

But soon, he viciously said:

"Don't think you can tie me down just because you're pregnant."

"You probably don't know yet, but Sophia is pregnant too. Your child will never compare to hers."

"Getting pregnant is no big deal, giving birth is the real achievement."

I closed my eyes, overwhelmed by painful memories.

The first time I got pregnant, I naively thought he would be happy too.

But on the very night we found out about the pregnancy, he dragged me to a bungee jumping platform and pushed me off.

I screamed in terror, but he said, "The fetus needs some stimulation to be healthier."

His mother, Margaret, was there backing him up.

So, I lost my first child.

The second time I got pregnant, he forced himself on me despite my objections.

That night, the blood beneath my body stained the entire sheet red.

Alexander was utterly disgusted, saying I was unlucky and had dirtied his family's bed.

What little love I had left disappeared that night.

After that, I avoided him like the plague.

No matter what he said or did, I acted as if I couldn't see it.

But then he turned around and told Margaret that I was cold and didn't know how to take care of him.

Margaret doted on him and took him to spas to have fun.

I silently endured the contempt from both mother and son, struggling to maintain the facade of a happy marriage in front of others.

And now, my third child was gone too.

I might never be able to become a mother in this lifetime.

It was time to end this absurd marriage.

I hung up the phone without any regret.

And following Alexander's example, I blocked and deleted his contact.

I got up and called the doctor. The doctor was shocked to see me on the ground.

"Why did you get out of bed on your own?"

"The bones in your thighs and arms are broken. Aren't you afraid of misalignment if you move around?"

I didn't respond to his words, only pleading:

"Doctor, can you give me the embryo?"

The doctor sighed and said nothing more.

Not long after, a glass bottle was brought to the hospital room.

Looking at the tiny embryo in the bottle, my heart immediately tightened.

It was so small, not even as big as my palm.

Baby, I've waited for you for so long, but still couldn't meet you.

It's mom's fault, mom couldn't protect you well.

I took a deep breath. This kind of pain shouldn't be borne by me alone.

I was going to send Alexander a big gift.