Chapter 3

I was taken back to a regular recovery room.

Just as I leaned back against the pillows to rest, the door was pushed open.

Julian walked in, holding a thermal flask.

His eyes fell on my suddenly flat stomach.

A fleeting look of guilt crossed his face, and he stepped forward, reaching out to pull me into his arms.

I turned my head slightly, coldly dodging his touch.

My hand instinctively protected my empty stomach.

Julian froze, a look of shock flashing in his eyes.

But he quickly masked it, his voice softening.

"I know you’re still angry. I know you suffered this time. To make it up to you, I'll stay here and take care of you."

He opened the flask and poured out a bowl of rich, thick herbal soup, holding it out to me.

The heavy, greasy smell hit me, making my stomach churn. I frowned.

Seeing my reaction, Julian’s brow furrowed, his tone turning annoyed.

"Chloe made this herself and asked me to bring it to you. I'm even feeding you personally. What more do you want, Evelyn?"

In the past, whenever he mentioned Chloe, I would lose control and scream at him.

Because of those fights, he had stopped bringing her up, but he had also grown colder and more distant.

But now, as I touched my empty belly, I felt absolutely nothing.

I replied flatly, "I’m not ungrateful. I just don't have an appetite after the surgery."

My calm reaction caught Julian off guard.

He set the bowl down and grabbed my wrist, wanting to say something.

But the door opened again, and Chloe walked in, wearing a delicate, elegant dress.

She kept her eyes down, looking incredibly hurt.

"Why won't you drink the soup, Evelyn? Do you hate me that much?"

"I know I’m clumsy. I even cut my hand while making it. It’s only natural you’d look down on it."

Julian immediately let go of my hand.

He rushed over to grab Chloe's hand, examining her tiny cut before calling for a doctor.

Chloe giggled, gently tapping his chest. "It’s just a scratch. It's already treated. As long as Evelyn finishes the soup, my hard work won't be wasted."

Julian turned back, picking up the bowl and pushing it toward me again.

I looked at the two of them acting so intimate.

Since I only had two days left, there was no point in fighting anymore.

I took the bowl, forced down the nausea rising in my throat, and drank the greasy soup in one gulp.

Seeing me finish it, Julian’s face softened a bit. "Good girl. Get some rest. I'll stay here with you."

The moment he said that, Chloe chimed in.

"Oh, don't stay here. Our rope experiment got interrupted because of Evelyn earlier. You have to make it up to me."

"Let's just use the empty private room next door. That way, we won't disturb Evelyn's rest."

Soon, my room became dead quiet.

My heart still ached for my unborn child.

I wanted to ask Julian for a proper burial place for the baby, so I forced myself up and slowly walked to the room next door.

The door wasn't fully closed. I could see everything inside.

Julian was lying on the bed, bound in layers of intricate ropes.

Chloe's fingers slowly traced his skin, her eyes full of desire.

"Since I came back, I've wanted a baby that belongs to just the two of us. Will you give me that, Julian?"

Their intimate whispers drifted into my ears clearly.

I stood outside the door quietly.

The very last shred of hope I had for this man completely shattered and turned to ash.