Chapter 3

Both Summer and I froze, not expecting him to ignore both of our questions.

On the second day after I stopped loving him, I rented an apartment that had remained empty all these years.

I didn't like any place that carried Julian's presence.

"Sign first. I'll go pack my things."

I placed the documents on the table and turned to get my suitcase from the balcony.

"You don't care about me at all!"

Amid Summer's soft accusation, a warm body pressed against my back.

Julian held me with one hand while reaching for the suitcase with the other. "Lila, still angry?"

I felt a bit disgusted and instinctively tried to push him away.

Instead, Julian pressed even closer. "About the seven times a night thing---you know about it? If you're angry, once I recover, we can challenge even more..."

"Don't touch me!"

I couldn't hold back and stepped on his foot.

The moment Julian felt the pain, I broke free from his embrace.

I used to cherish his embrace so much, but now I found it equally revolting.

His arms had held another woman just a second ago, yet now he was holding me and saying sweet words.

Shock flashed in Julian's eyes. He maintained the posture of holding me. "Lila, what will it take for you not to be angry?"

"If you don't want to go tomorrow, we can pick a better day. I'll go with you to get rid of the baby."

As he said this, he returned to his usual gentleness.

But Julian's gentleness was like a mud puddle that anyone could step in.

I suppressed the urge to retch and spoke. "No need. Just hurry up and sign. I'll make room for you two."

The curve of Julian's lips gradually turned downward. "Lila, I don't want this baby."

"Stop throwing tantrums. I'm serious."

"I'm serious too."

The darkness in Julian's eyes grew heavier, his aura increasingly cold. Just when I thought he would get angry---

The man smiled instead. "Let's wait until tomorrow. My friend's having a birthday party. You don't mind if I bring Summer, do you?"

Julian was smiling, but I felt no warmth from it.

Whether he smiled or not had nothing to do with me anymore. I shook my head. "Whatever."

Julian turned around without hesitation, strode over, and princess-carried the crying girl. His voice was louder than usual at home.

"Little crybaby, I just said two sentences to Lila and your eyes are already swollen from crying. From now on, you're only allowed to cry in bed."

Summer nodded through her sobs.

As the two left, Summer seemed to speak casually. "Huh, there are roses here too?"

"But they're not as big as the ones you gave me, and not as red as mine..."

The rest of her words were swallowed by the closing door.

I walked over and threw the flowers, vase and all, straight into the trash.

Julian seemed to be deliberately showing off to me. He updated his social media eighteen times in one night.

Every single post was about his intimate moments with Summer.

Since we were getting divorced anyway, there was no point keeping him.

I immediately blocked him. When I switched to my alternate account to block him there too, I discovered those eighteen posts were set to "visible only to me."

I'd created this alternate account when I still loved him, to stalk his social media.

Now that I didn't love him anymore, there was no need for it to exist.

After I deleted the alternate account, I started packing my things.

By midnight, all my belongings had been moved to the rented house.

For the first time, I felt the air was so fresh, without that rotting stench---only the presence of me and my baby.

Lying on the sofa that wasn't made up yet, I slept beautifully.

Remembering I needed to ask him when we could register for divorce at the government office, I unblocked Julian to send him a message, only to get a red exclamation mark.

I didn't think much of it. After tidying up briefly, I went to the supermarket to buy household supplies.

Even though I didn't know if the baby in my belly was a boy or girl, I couldn't help but linger in the baby products section.

I picked out a few pieces of clothing, wondering if this child would like them.

As I was hesitating whether to buy a pink baby bottle, I heard a familiar voice.

"The milk's over there. Don't go that way..."

It was Summer's coquettish voice.

Then Julian appeared, directly going through the items in my shopping cart. "Geez, Lila, why is your taste so bad? Are you sure the baby will like these things?"

"This outfit is for a five-month-old baby. The child won't even be able to wear it after birth. And you're buying these things when you've just gotten pregnant?"

"Lila, do you even like... our child?"

Julian's pursed lips held emotions I couldn't understand.

I didn't know from which day he started looking at me like this.

Every time I asked him what was wrong, Julian would open his mouth but say nothing for a long time.

Then he cheated.

I put down the bottle and asked him, "Have you signed the agreement? When are you available to register the divorce?"

Julian sneered. "Do you really like this baby that much, or are you still throwing a tantrum with me?"

The man's expression was cold, completely inconsistent with his usual gentle persona.

Even when Summer came over with red eyes, he didn't comfort her.

I looked at the woman acting coquettish with Julian in public, asking for kisses, and the corner of my mouth twitched. "Does it matter?"

"You can only choose one---me or the baby."

People who didn't know better would think Julian was such a devoted man.

I stroked my belly. "The baby, of course."

A blood relative who would love me without any reason.

I'd been longing for it for so, so long.

Julian was merely a scumbag I used to love.

How could he compare to the baby?

Suddenly, Julian pulled Summer close by the waist. "She has my seed in her belly too, but I only want the child Summer gives me."

A flash of surprise crossed Summer's eyes, but she quickly hugged him back joyfully, calling him "honey."

"Lila, I don't like the child you're giving me."

These two sentences seemed to be squeezed through gritted teeth.

No one understood what he actually wanted.

"Oh, don't worry. This baby is for me. I absolutely won't let you take any responsibility for it."

"Good... very good." Julian said through clenched teeth. "Who knows if you'll use this baby to demand living expenses from me!"

"I'm taking you to the hospital right now to get rid of it!"