Chapter 3

The words "typing..." appeared at the top of the screen, then vanished.

Maybe it was because I'd suddenly changed "Mom" to "Mrs. Blake."

A long time passed before she replied.

"All right. Tonight at eleven. The same OB-GYN clinic where I booked your prenatal checkup."

The driver still hadn't hung up the phone.

Ethan gave a few more instructions.

"If there's nothing else, take her home. I don't need her causing another scene."

"Also, bring back her wedding ring. It's time for someone else to be Mrs. Blake."

The call ended.

The driver reached over and yanked the ring off my finger.

I'd worn that ring for five years. It had grown into my flesh and bone.

Having it ripped away felt like someone had torn a piece out of my chest.

"I'm sorry, Ms. Reed. Mr. Blake's orders."

I pressed my hand against my aching abdomen and begged quietly.

"Could you take me to the OB-GYN clinic? I don't have any money. I can't get a cab."

He hesitated for one second.

His phone buzzed—a message from Ethan.

"Hurry up."

"Emotional stress is bad for the checkup. Put the ring on Lily's finger so she can relax."

I closed my eyes in despair and stopped putting the driver in a difficult position.

I dragged my exhausted body toward the clinic, three kilometers away, on foot.

By the time I arrived, Dr. Grant—the surgeon assigned to my procedure—took one look at my ashen face and nearly jumped.

He rushed to help me sit down and rest.

I waved him off and insisted on the pre-op exam first.

Dr. Grant couldn't talk me out of it.

When the results came back, he frowned.

"Ms. Reed, what on earth happened to you?"

"I reviewed your file from before—all your numbers were perfectly healthy."

"But in just a few days, your weight has dropped dramatically and your cortisol levels are through the roof. If we force the procedure now, there's a serious risk of hemorrhaging."

"I'm sorry, but we need to notify your family. The surgery can only proceed after a next-of-kin consent form is signed."

I lowered my eyes.

"I don't have any family left."

Dr. Grant sighed.

"We have a responsibility for your safety."

I pressed my lips together, not wanting to make things harder for him.

Afraid Ethan wouldn't believe me, I video-called him.

It took five attempts before he finally picked up.

"What is it?"

The screen was pitch black. Ethan's voice was low and hoarse.

Dr. Grant spoke up immediately:

"Mr. Blake, Ms. Reed is currently in an extremely weakened state. If we proceed with the termination, the risks are very high."

"You're her husband, correct? Could you please come to the hospital and confirm whether to go ahead with the surgery?"

Silence on the other end.

I called his name softly.

"Ethan?"

The faint glow of the screen illuminated his neck.

There were several marks—red, unmistakable.

My eyes stung.

Lily's voice drifted from somewhere beside him, breathy and intimate.

"Emma, you really commit to the bit, don't you? You even set up a whole background."

"But you two are divorced now. Ethan has important things to attend to."

Ethan looked at me, his tone certain.

"Emma, fifty thousand wasn't enough? You're still scheming to squeeze more money out of me?"

"That desperate, are you?"

"Regretting that you agreed to walk away with nothing?"

My heart sank.

"No. I'm not spending your money."

He scoffed.

"Fine. If it doesn't cost me anything, I'll agree to whatever."

The video call ended.

My eyes finally went completely red.

"Dr. Grant, please begin the surgery."

By some miracle, the procedure went smoothly.

I rested for a day before I could walk again.

The moment I turned my phone back on, it exploded with 99+ new messages.

"Die, you gold-digging bitch. Enjoy all that money you scammed?"

I stared for a moment.

I scrolled for five minutes before I found three messages Ethan had sent over the past day.

"Lily's been working on a fraud awareness campaign and posted your case online. She accidentally let your personal information slip."

"The article went viral. People are pretty worked up. They might come looking for you."

"Be the bigger person about it. At worst, once the court ruling comes down, I'll have Lily apologize."