Chapter 3

Hunter stared at me, then told me with absolute certainty,

"Whether you're really pregnant or faking it, this child cannot exist now!"

He rushed Brianna to the emergency room and called a doctor to examine me.

When my pregnancy test results were placed in front of Hunter, he didn't even glance at them, showing no trace of joy.

I remained silent too.

After a long, silent standoff, he finally spoke.

"She lost the baby."

I found it inexplicably amusing and looked up at his solemn face.

"So? So you're going to kill *our* child?"

"My child with you... it can't be an illegitimate child... your child can't stay."

I paused, then looked up at him in disbelief. "This is our first baby."

Brianna, her face pale, rushed in from outside the hospital room and collapsed into Hunter's arms, her swollen eyes accusing me of her pain.

"What child? She clearly bribed the doctor to trick you! That report is fake!"

I was about to speak, when Hunter slowly picked up the pregnancy test report and examined it carefully.

Bodyguards dragged the fleeing doctor back in through the door. The man grabbed the hem of my dress, desperately pleading.

"Ms. Skylar, I did exactly as you asked! You promised me a promotion if you succeeded! You can't abandon me!"

After a moment, Hunter tore the report to shreds and turned to look at me.

"Skylar, give me an explanation."

I pursed my lips, holding back tears, and stared at Hunter, counter-questioning him.

"Is that truly how you see me?"

"Perhaps I didn't know you well enough before. People change."

Brianna choked back a sob and threw a newspaper in front of us.

The headline blared:

"Star Schemer Uses Fake Pregnancy To Oust CEO's Fiancée, Ends in Miscarriage Scandal."

"Ms. Skylar, you got what you wanted!"

"You deliberately came here, appeared in front of us, and blew things up, wasn't it all for this moment? You succeeded! My baby is gone! You have to pay the price!"

Hunter reached up and rubbed my shoulder, his voice devoid of emotion.

"Skylar, you were too eager, but not clever enough. Playing dangerous games always has consequences!"

His words struck me as utterly absurd and laughable. He was the one who, after his celebration banquet that night, begged me for his child.

A unique little one, just for us.

I thought he was finally ready to settle down, finally ready to give me a home.

But I never imagined it was just drunken babble, empty words.

Only I took it seriously.

"Hunter, let's stop torturing each other. Let's break up."

He curved his lips. "Don't try that 'playing hard to get' act."

"You're all alone. Without me, where would you go? How would you live? Get an IUD, and I can pretend nothing happened. We can go back to how things were."

Brianna, still sobbing, pursed her lips.

"Just an IUD? She should be sterilized! Her womb needs to be ripped out to pay for my baby!"

Hunter simply glanced at her, then repeated,

"Her matters, I decide."

Only then did she quiet down, glaring venomously at my lower abdomen.

He had always been domineering and autocratic. I mistakenly thought that possessiveness was love.