"Janey, I’ll get started on your visa right away. As soon as work over there is finalized, we’ll be ready to leave!”
After I hung up with him, I called the hospital and made an appointment for an abortion for the next week.
If I was going to leave for good, then this child could only become another weapon for Simon to hurt me with and keep me tied to him. I couldn’t let that happen.
The next second, I received a notification from the hospital.
They informed me that my mother’s condition had taken a sudden turn for the worse. The doctor said she was in critical condition and urgently needed a family member’s consent for surgery.
My heart clenched. Without even thinking, I grabbed my bag and raced out the door, flagging down the first taxi I could find.
Thankfully, the surgery went well. My mother was stable. Only then did I feel a sliver of relief pierce through the fog of anxiety clouding my mind.
As I sat in a hospital chair, my phone lit up again. It was Simon calling me.
“Baby, where are you right now?” His voice was sweet as he coaxed me. “I’ve already scheduled a home visit tomorrow with the city’s top OB-GYN for you. Be good and stay home, okay? Don’t run around like that again.”
His gentle tone sounded exactly like the man I had once trusted with my heart. However, to me now, it was just a well-rehearsed performance.
I didn’t answer him with anything more than a cold, flat “Mm” before ending the call.
As soon as the call disconnected, a message notification popped up in the group chat.
[Simon, why are you going through all this trouble for Jane? You even scheduled prenatal checkups for her? Aren’t you scared Kelly will find out and get mad?]
[Seriously, Simon. I just don’t get it. Why do you even want to keep that baby?]
Simon’s reply came immediately. [Kelly always wants a child. However, as a model, her career comes first. Plus, I injured her body because she jumped into that freezing river to save me, so she couldn’t get pregnant easily anymore. Once Jane has the baby, we’ll just let it call Kelly ‘Mom.’]
Praise began to flood the chat from his friends.
[Simon, you're a genius! You’re so brave and full of ideas. Jane would never guess she’s a surrogate mother for someone else and will have to give up her baby after nine months. If I were her, I would’ve been furious.]
[Now it makes sense! Originally, I was worried you were actually falling for her, Simon.]
Simon’s final message popped up on the screen. [As if I would be willing to fall for a gold-digging wench who ruined my dream. What a joke.]
A joke. That one word shattered what little was left of my heart.
Simon, you’re really something. You’re so cruel and calculative!
The fingers clenched around my phone tightened even more until my knuckles turned white. Without hesitation, I rescheduled my miscarriage from next week to today.
“Miss Luxton, are you here for the abortion procedure?” a nurse asked.
I nodded silently. Just as I was about to follow the nurse into the operating room, a familiar voice called out behind me, "Janey? Why are you here? Wait … Did I just hear you’re here for an miscarriage? Are you … are you planning to get rid of our baby?”
I turned and saw Simon.
Standing beside him was none other than Kelly Waldorf.
Before the nurse could speak, I jumped in. “You heard it wrong. I’m just here for a prenatal checkup.”
When he heard this, Simon sighed in relief. He stepped forward and tenderly brushed my messy bangs away from my forehead. “You scared me. I really thought ... Well, anyway, didn’t I tell you the doctor would come to see you tomorrow at home? Why the rush to come all the way here?”
I tilted my head to avoid his warm palm and faintly said, “I have something to do tomorrow, so I came today.”
Just then, Kelly stepped forward and looped her arm possessively through Simon’s. He held her hand. Kelly said, “Simon, Wanda is still waiting for me. Let’s talk to her later, okay?”
Without missing a beat, Simon turned back to me and smiled reassuringly. “Janey, I was just here with Kelly to visit a friend. Don’t overthink it, okay? She's your friend too, remember?”
I forced myself to smile. “Of course. ”
As they turned and walked away, I caught the smug, victorious smirk Kelly shot at me just before disappearing down the hallway with Simon. I just walked firmly into the procedure room with a face devoid of expression.
“Miss Luxton, are you sure about this? Are you certain you don’t want to keep the child?” the nurse asked.
“I’m sure,” I answered clearly. “Absolutely sure.”
I had already endured enough suffering these past few years trying to repay debts. I had no desire to make my life any harder.
As I felt the warmth flooding out from my body, one thought echoing in my mind: Let this be the end.
