Chapter 2

When I woke again, I was lying in a hospital.

The young nurse beside me saw me wake and showed a hint of sympathy on her face: "I'm sorry, Miss White. You missed the optimal window for treatment. By the time you reached the hospital, you'd already miscarried."

My breath caught, and tears streamed down my face the next second.

This wasn't my first child with Lucas.

The year we got married, Lucas was in his career's ascent phase with endless business dinners every day.

People at those drinking parties would find all sorts of ways to force drinks on him. To secure more investment, he could only drink glass after glass.

I felt bad for him because of his weak stomach, so I'd always step in front of him and drink in his place.

Until one day I suddenly passed out. When Lucas rushed me to the hospital, the baby was already gone.

The doctor said I'd damaged my body from drinking too much alcohol, and getting pregnant again would be very difficult.

When Lucas found out, he held me and broke down crying, kneeling by my hospital bed and slapping himself repeatedly, saying he'd never let me suffer such grievances again.

But now, I still couldn't protect this child that came with such difficulty.

Perhaps it was for the best. Now that I'd decided to leave, the baby must have been disappointed in his father too, and left in a hurry.

Maybe he couldn't bear to put his mother in a difficult position either.

In my daze, the hospital room door opened. Lucas walked in, with Miranda following behind him.

Miranda wore just the right expression of concern, her eyes rimmed red as she rushed to speak first: "I'm so sorry, Natalie. I didn't know Snow would suddenly run over there."

I scoffed and couldn't help glaring at her: "Did you really not know, or was it deliberate?"

Pet store puppies are trained before being sold, and besides, the puppy was gentle-natured and wouldn't go wild for no reason.

Before I passed out, I clearly saw puppy treats by my feet.

But Lucas spoke impatiently: "Enough. Don't be so petty. Miranda didn't mean it."

Looking at the man before me—who looked no different from years ago—I only felt like he was a stranger.

Tears blurred my vision as I spoke almost trembling: "Lucas, what we lost was our child!"

Lucas avoided my gaze: "We can have more later."

Miranda pretended to be concerned, stepping forward to help me, but accidentally revealed the jade bracelet on her wrist.

I knew that bracelet all too well. Lucas had bought it for me after successfully landing his first project. A small character "L" was carved on the bracelet's body.

Back then, he'd placed it on my wrist, his eyes determined: "Honey, I've decided on you for this lifetime. Jade nurtures people—when I'm not by your side, let it protect you for me."

Later, when I had my first miscarriage, I accidentally broke the jade bracelet in my emotional breakdown. Lucas, with red eyes, said he'd find the best craftsman to repair it, to let it accompany us for a lifetime, and when we grew old, we'd pass the bracelet on to our child.

But now, this bracelet he'd promised to me and our child was on Miranda's wrist.

Miranda seemed to notice my gaze and instinctively pulled down her sleeve, yet smiled as if unintentionally: "Natalie, do you think this jade bracelet looks nice? Lucas brought it back for me when he traveled last month. He said it brings peace and safety."

At those words, panic flashed through Lucas's eyes, afraid I'd make a scene like before.

But I only said coldly: "Get out."

All these years, the care and favoritism that should have been mine—Lucas had given it all to Miranda.

Now the child was gone, and even the token of our love was gone too.

If that's the case, I don't want him either.

But Lucas thought I was still throwing a tantrum. He frowned: "Alright, honey. Year-end is approaching and the company's busy. I'll head back first and come check on you later."

Miranda tugged at his sleeve, saying with concern: "Natalie doesn't look well. She won't actually leave, will she? Maybe you should stay and keep her company?"

But Lucas scoffed: "She's always throwing little tantrums like this. She'll be fine on her own in a bit."

"As for leaving—who would want her without me?"

With that, he turned and left without looking back.