Chapter 5

Lucas leaned in and pecked me on the corner of my mouth.

"Rest well at home. The new project has been keeping me busy lately. When it's over, I'll take you on a trip."

After Lucas left, I threw the basket of dumplings into the trash and wiped my mouth corner vigorously with a tissue.

Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably.

What I thought was a perfect love had ultimately turned into a bubble.

I had Human Resources pull out Emma's file.

It showed that she had been interning at the company since before graduation, for a full six months now.

For six whole months, the company had been their sanctuary.

"Jasmine, Lucas is cheating on me," I sent the message to my best friend, then collapsed on the sofa.

Only about twenty minutes later, Jasmine appeared at my doorstep.

"What happened?" she asked, panting and pouring herself a glass of water.

"Who's cheating? Your devoted husband?"

I let out a cold laugh. Lucas's act was so perfect that he not only fooled me but also the people around me.

Seeing my swollen eyes, Jasmine's shocked expression turned solemn. She pulled me into a hug.

"Cry if you want to. Let it all out."

"That bastard, acting all proper usually, turns out he's only good when he's nailed to the wall!"

I clung to Jasmine and vented my emotions. When I was tired of crying, I curled up in a corner, staring blankly.

"What do you plan to do now?" Jasmine asked worriedly.

"Whatever decision you make, I support you."

I touched my belly, thinking how this child came at such an inopportune time.

"Jasmine, I'm pregnant."

Hearing my words, Jasmine grabbed a kitchen knife and was about to go find Lucas.

I stopped her, smiling more painfully than crying.

"It's okay. Luckily, I found out early. Come with me to the hospital."

Lying on the operating table, tears flowed along my scar to my neck.

I could feel the child flowing out of my body.

Lucas called me the next day.

"Sophia, why aren't you at home?"

"Jasmine is sick. I'm staying with her at the hospital for a few days."

Lucas casually told me to take care and hung up the phone.

Jasmine came back with takeout lunch.

"You're in postpartum recovery now. Don't cry. Eat up and get your strength back. Then we can go beat up that scumbag."

In the obstetrics ward, children's cries filled the air. Thinking of my child who never had a chance to be born, tears fell into my soup.

"It's so bitter."