Chapter 2

When I first found out I was pregnant with our daughter, I thought he'd come with me to get an abortion.

But the next day, Robert and Denise showed up, both urging me to keep the baby, while Mark just stood by, silent.

My heart ached with frustration, but then he held my hand and said, "Clara, please, for me, for this family, let's keep the baby, okay?"

My heart softened, and I agreed. I suggested hiring a postpartum nurse, and Robert and Denise promised me the world.

But when my due date neared, Mark started to waver.

"A stranger won't care for the baby as well as family."

"Why pay someone else when my mom can earn that money?"

"My mom raised me alone, and I turned out fine – two arms, two legs, perfectly healthy!"

"Clara, your salary is low now, and I’m the sole breadwinner. A postpartum nurse is expensive, and I’m under a lot of pressure. Besides, my parents have already moved in, there’s no room for anyone else…"

I was young and naive then, truly believing I would receive meticulous care.

Little did I know, when Denise found out I'd given birth to a girl, she completely abandoned me.

I lay weakly on the delivery bed, while Mark worked endless overtime. I couldn’t even get up to use the restroom in the middle of the night without help; I had to beg the nurses.