Chapter 2

Ethan's brow furrowed hard.

"Emma, you're just as good at putting on a show as your mother."

"Lily already confirmed it—your mother took that fifty thousand dollars and skipped the country a long time ago."

I fought the tears with everything I had.

"Ethan, I'm begging you. Whether it's true or not, just come with me to the hospital and see for yourself."

He lost focus for a split second, but his voice dropped to a warning.

"Go home and sign the divorce papers. Don't pull any stunts in front of my mother."

He paused, then added:

"I'll take you to the hospital later."

I wiped my tears.

It wasn't until I found the divorce agreement in the bedroom and signed my name that I finally let myself exhale.

But when I turned around, I saw the pot of jasmine in the corner, completely withered.

A fine, sharp ache still spread through my chest.

We had grown that flower from a single seed.

Fifteen days, and Ethan hadn't watered it once.

When we were dating, he'd pretended to be a broke nobody, squeezing into a rental apartment with me that was barely three hundred square feet.

He knew I loved jasmine, so he spent an entire month's paycheck on the best seed he could find.

Now the flower was dead.

And the Ethan who once loved me was gone too.

Ethan followed my gaze, and something like regret flickered in his eyes.

He was about to speak when the door swung open.

Mrs. Blake walked in. The moment she saw the divorce papers on the table, her expression changed.

"Divorce?"

"Emma, have you been mistreated? Don't rush—tell me what happened. I'll stand up for you."

She looked at me with genuine concern.

My eyes burned again.

When my mother had asked for that five thousand dollars at the last minute, Ethan had hesitated for a long time.

It was Mrs. Blake who'd made the final call.

"It's only five thousand dollars—it's not like the Blake family can't afford it. Emma is marrying into this family today, and that's final."

That was why, after finding out I was pregnant, she was the only person I'd told.

I managed a bitter smile.

"It's fine, Mrs. Blake."

Lily chimed in with a voice full of wide-eyed innocence.

"Exactly. What could Emma possibly have to complain about?"

"Mrs. Blake, even if Ethan did press charges, she stole his black card and charged fifty thousand dollars. Those are the facts."

Mrs. Blake froze.

"Pressed charges?"

Ethan's voice dropped.

"The lawyer says it'll most likely be fifteen years."

Something strange shifted in Mrs. Blake's eyes.

Finally, she closed them.

"A Blake child must never have a mother with a criminal record."

Lily immediately clutched her stomach, her cheeks flushing pink.

"Mrs. Blake, I thought we agreed you'd keep it secret for me a little longer."

I went rigid.

But Ethan was stunned with delight.

He rushed to pull the chair out from behind me and guided Lily into it.

I couldn't dodge in time. My abdomen slammed into the corner of the table, and the pain twisted my face into a knot.

But I swallowed it down and said quietly:

"Ethan, it's four thirty. Take me to the hospital."

"I need to collect my mother's ashes."

Mrs. Blake gave a calm order:

"A child can't grow up without a father. Ethan, you drive Lily to her prenatal checkup."

"Emma, the hospital isn't far. I'll have the driver take you."

Ethan nodded immediately.

On their way out, Lily shot the driver a look.

A drive that should have taken less than ten minutes—he circled three times.

Twenty-five minutes.

I burst through the hospital doors at 5:14.

The nurse looked at me with regret.

"I'm sorry, Ms. Reed."

"Per Mr. Blake's confirmation, we've already scattered your mother's ashes into the sea."

My pupils contracted. My mind went blank.

The driver held up his phone.

Lily's mocking voice came through the speaker.

"Emma, you didn't really think that if we couldn't see the ashes, we'd just believe you, did you?"

Ethan's voice was even colder.

"I can't believe I almost fell for your lies."

"What a waste of time."

My abdomen dropped suddenly, a heavy, sinking pull.

I stood in the hospital corridor, my heart dead inside me.

I opened my chat with Mrs. Blake and typed, one word at a time.

"Mrs. Blake, you were right. A child shouldn't have a mother with a criminal record."

"So please—book me a termination."