My feet froze at those words. My eyes widened in terror, as if a sword had pierced my chest. The pain was so intense I couldn't breathe.
The shadow of my parents' death had haunted me for years. That was why all this time, I'd relied on sleeping pills to get any rest.
I was unaware that Christian had started replacing my sleeping pills with birth control tablets in an attempt to win Jocelyn's heart.
My body started to tremble violently and my face went deathly pale.
When I returned to my senses, I found myself staring into Christian's dark, sullen face. His gaze was filled with disgust and contempt.
In the study, a medical report was slapped down hard onto the desk. The air around me seemed to solidify.
Christian's lips curved into a faint smile, but it chilled me to the bone.
"You're pregnant."
His eyes grew fierce after saying those words and a hint of anger seemed to linger deep within them.
Christian's words exploded in my mind like a clap of thunder. In disbelief, I snatched the pregnancy test report, which clearly stated I was six weeks pregnant.
My hands trembled slightly. This child had come at the worst possible time.
Before I could speak, Christian coldly declared, "I'll arrange for you to go to the hospital tomorrow. Jocelyn doesn't like children."
I couldn't believe that man could be so heartless.
The anger I'd bottled up for so long finally erupted at that moment. I couldn't hold back any longer, letting out a hoarse, furious roar. Disappointment was etched all over my delicate face.
"Christian, this is your child!"
The words had barely left my mouth when he scoffed with contempt.
"My child? I haven't touched you in half a year. You know perfectly well whose child this is."
His cold, cutting words pierced my ears, plunging me into utter despair. Now, tears poured from my eyes like a dam breaking.
Over a month ago, a drunken Christian had barged into my room. He had clung to me, crying, apologizing over and over.
It made me naively believe that Christian still loved me. Even with a high fever, I didn't stop his hands from roaming my body. But when I woke up the next day, that man had returned to his usual cold self.
I later learned that he had argued with Jocelyn that day and was completely drunk and I was merely a temporary tool for Christian to vent his lust.
I was about to open her mouth to explain when a sudden, fishy-sweet taste surged up my throat. My entire body immediately went limp and I felt as if I was about to collapse.
In the last moment before my consciousness faded, I looked helplessly at Christian.
I prayed that he still held a final shred of feeling for me, but he just sat there indifferently, not even deigning to spare me a glance. He even watched me fall, unconscious, in silence.
Later, the pungent smell of disinfectant, like a venomous snake flicking its tongue, slithered into my nostrils.
The door to the hospital room opened, then the doctor came in with a report and informed me, "Madam, Mr. Leighton has scheduled an abortion for you shortly. Please prepare yourself."
Hearing this, I abruptly sat up, yanked the IV needle from my arm and rushed out without a word.
It was my child, too. How could Christian strip away my chance to be a mother with just one sentence?
Not only was I going to leave, but I was also going to take this child with me!
Alas, the bodyguards at the door heard the commotion and stood rigidly blocking the exit.
The doctor sighed at the scene. "Mrs. Leighton, because of your long-term use of birth control pills, the baby is already deformed. An abortion is the best choice for both you and the child."
"Moreover, your body is no longer suited for childbirth. This is likely your final pregnancy."
My steps faltered. For a moment, rage, despair and grief flashed through my eyes all at once.
The doctor's words utterly crushed my final defense. My legs gave out and I sank helplessly to the floor.
