Mark Morgan, a powerful figure in Hawkins, fell in love with a female college student who sold sandwiches. He used much money to hire her as his nutritionist.
The two of them made a bet involving the child in my womb.
Valerie Murphy made me, who was pregnant, eat only a sandwich for all three meals, "I guarantee that if your wife obediently listens to me, she will definitely give birth to a healthy, chubby baby boy."
From then on, everything from small things like 20 cent green onions and ginger to $23 folic acid and even the $180 prenatal ultrasound that was necessary during pregnancy, all required filling out an application form with Valerie.
All were rejected by Valerie as unnecessary expenses.
In three years, I was pregnant six times and all ended in miscarriage due to malnutrition.
During my seventh pregnancy, Valerie declared, "Mark, you're definitely going to lose this time. When your wife gives birth to a healthy, chubby baby boy, you'll let me leave!"
This time, I had a massive hemorrhage and called Mark, begging him to take me to the hospital.
Valerie frowned, "Luisa, it costs 80 dollars in gas to drive the car once. That's enough to feed poor children in the mountainous areas. I bet you're just trying to get Mark's attention, aren't you?"
I pleaded desperately.
Mark coldly hung up, "Val's words are right. Don't be so dramatic, or I will divorce you right now."
He then turned around and bought 30 million dollars that worth of jewelry for Valerie.
That night, I had a massive hemorrhage and lost my seventh child.
But I unexpectedly overheard Mark talking to someone.
"Mark, you know very well that Luisa has been malnourished for the past few years and it's impossible for her to give birth to a healthy child, so why do you still let Valerie manage things?"
"I just want Val to stay by my side, even if it's just for one more day. This is the last time."
It turned out that all seven of my children had become sacrifices for their love.
——
My face turned pale and my heart ached to the point of collapse. I called my mother, "Mom, I want to divorce Mark."
My mother was stunned for a moment, then anxiously asked me, "What's wrong, honey? Did Mark bully you?"
When I was pregnant, my mother was so happy, thinking she would finally have a grandchild.
She knew how much I loved Mark all these years and she was certain that Mark and I would definitely end up together.
At that moment, tears streamed down my face, "Mom, it's nothing, I'm just tired. Let's go abroad."
My lower abdomen was still throbbing with pain.
Seven years, seven children.
I was ridiculed by my mother-in-law as a hen that couldn't lay eggs and mocked by people in the Hawkins circle as a miscarriage machine.
"Luisa Joyce has been with Mark for seven years, but she miscarries every time. Who knows if she's been messing around outside and ruined her uterus, that's why she can't have children, right?"
The first time I miscarried, I cried until I almost fainted, constantly apologizing to Mark, "I'm sorry, I'm useless, I couldn't protect the baby."
Mark held my hand tightly and comforted me, "It's okay, as long as you're alright, nothing else matters."
The second and third time, his smile grew wider each time.
Now I know that his excitement back then wasn't for the little life growing in my womb.
It was because Mark believed he’d get another chance to have a child and bet with Valerie again. Then, if they spent enough time together, Valerie would eventually fall for him.
Mark, you are so heartless!
I hung up the phone.
I covered my aching stomach and wanted to go back to my room, but I bumped into Mark and Valerie in the corridor.
"Why are you here?" Mark's face instantly changed, looking at me with disgust. "Are you stalking me?"
"It's none of your business."
One day and one night, he didn't care whether my stomach hurt or not, or if I was alright, but instead questioned me.
Valerie, however, frowned, "Miss Joyce, you're too extravagant. You're perfectly fine, yet you come to the hospital to waste money. Aren't you just trying to get Mark's attention?"
