Chapter 3

Wendy froze the moment those words hit her. She recalled how Julian would always comfort her every time she cried and begged to see her baby after waking up from a miscarriage. He'd say, "The doctor's already disposed of the placenta. You're too weak to see it now. It'd only make you sadder." So, it turned out that those tender lies were all just excuses to turn her child into someone else's nourishment! Wendy stumbled back to the bedroom and clutched her chest as tears poured down her face. Suddenly, a sharp and tearing pain shot through her lower abdomen. It had come out of nowhere and felt like a thousand needles stabbing her from the inside. Wendy clutched her stomach and suddenly remembered that Adrian had come in before she'd fallen asleep to bring her a cup of hot beverage. At the time, she had taken a sip without thinking. They truly wouldn't even spare an unborn child! The sharp pain continued shooting through Wendy's lower abdomen like a blade twisting inside her stomach. She instantly doubled over, and each breath she took tore through her with agonizing pain. Soon, she collapsed onto the floor, her consciousness slipping away. In that moment, the memories of the past resurfaced. Wendy recalled how other children had surrounded her and thrown stones at her. They called her a bastard that no one wanted. She recalled how her adoptive father had brought her home one night and torn at her clothes with his large hands. She also recalled how she'd gotten framed by Bianca and was thrown into prison when she was 19. The prison guard had yanked her hair and shoved her head into the toilet bowl, saying, "A filthy person like you belongs in the dirt." Wendy had endured all of it, and when she'd married Julian, she'd believed that she'd finally found a home. But little did she know that she was jumping into another hell. Then, the echoes of the conversation from the bar returned to her ears as the pain in her abdomen intensified even more. There was only one thought remaining in Wendy's mind as her consciousness finally faded—she would leave this place forever in five days. … When Wendy opened her eyes again, she was in a hospital bed. A hollow ache spread through her lower abdomen. The child was gone again. "Are you awake?" Julian's voice came from beside her. He lifted a spoonful of chicken soup to her lips, his tone as gentle as ever. "You just had surgery. Here, drink some soup to regain your strength. The baby—the doctor said it'd upset you to see it, so they've already taken care of it." Wendy didn't open her mouth and merely gave him a cold look. Her gaze was distant, like a frozen lake without a ripple. Something in that gaze made Julian's hand falter, and a flicker of unease crept into his chest. What was wrong with Wendy? She'd never looked at him like this before. Once, he'd deliberately tossed a limited-edition watch into a lake, and she'd immediately jumped in to retrieve it right after undergoing a miscarriage procedure. She had always been obedient and chased his approval. She would come running as soon as he showed her a trace of warmth. But now, her current detached demeanor stirred a flicker of unease deep within Julian. Nevertheless, he quickly suppressed his feelings and chalked it up to Wendy throwing a tantrum. After all, she had done that multiple times over the years and would circle him again once she got over it. Julian set the thermos down and adjusted his suit cuffs. His tone turned indifferent as he said, "The soup's right here. Help yourself. I've got some work to do at the company. I'll be leaving now." Soon, his footsteps faded into the distance, and the ward's door closed behind him. Wendy watched his retreating figure and suddenly laughed. Julian still thought she would keep lowering herself and revolve around him like she used to. Unfortunately, she was truly determined to leave this time, and she would never look back.