Chapter 2

After a round of emergency treatment, Natalie's condition stabilized, and the atmosphere in the operating room relaxed.

A colleague beside me lowered her voice to gossip.

"I heard these two ended up like this because they were too rough during sex."

"The woman's at her due date, and her husband couldn't show any restraint. Young people these days really don't value their lives when they're in love..."

My hands slowed for a few seconds, my mind drifting to when Natalie proposed to me, her eyes shining with light.

"Adrian, marry me. For the rest of my life, except for you, I, Natalie, will never touch another man!"

But on our wedding night, she put back on the clothes I'd removed, one by one, pain and struggle written all over her face.

"I'm sorry, Adrian."

"I accidentally got a gynecological condition. The doctor said we can't have sex. Just wait a bit longer."

I believed her. The consequences were that I was now saving her soon-to-be-born child.

I pulled my lips into a mocking smile.

So it wasn't about physical discomfort—it was simply because she didn't love me.

The surgery ended smoothly. I held the newborn baby in my arms.

It didn't weigh much, yet it pressed heavily on my chest.

When I opened the operating room door, the man waiting outside immediately stood and rushed over.

His bloodshot eyes showed uncontrollable worry and anxiety.

"How's Natalie?"

I looked at the man before me, recalling the name he'd signed on the consent form—Ethan Shaw.

A complete stranger. Natalie had never mentioned him before.

I handed him the baby and offered my congratulations.

"Congratulations. The surgery went well. Mother and daughter are both safe."

Ethan's tense expression visibly relaxed, and he looked at me with unfamiliar gratitude.

He seemed about to say something more when Natalie's gurney was wheeled out from behind me.

"Ethan..."

She lay on the bed, extremely weak.

Ethan immediately brushed past me, rushing to her side.

Natalie touched the baby with one hand and held Ethan's hand with the other, her voice carrying a tenderness I'd never heard before.

"Ethan, our baby looks so much like you."

"When she grows up, she'll be just as handsome as you."

What a perfect little family, radiating happiness that stung my eyes.

I clenched my fists, digging my nails in until my fingertips turned white, barely maintaining my composure.

Elena Hayes had just finished surgery, and I'd just been transferred to this upper-level hospital.

This wasn't the right time or place to tear away this facade.

After regaining some strength, her gaze fell on me.

"Thank you so much, Doctor. May I ask your name?"

Hidden behind my cap and mask, Natalie didn't recognize me.

I stared into her eyes, trying to find a trace of guilt.

"My surname is Smith. Just call me Dr. Smith."

Unfortunately, Ethan quickly diverted her attention, and she didn't spare me another glance.

As soon as I returned to the on-call room, my phone vibrated in my pocket.

I slid to answer, and Natalie's voice came through.

"Adrian, there's a sudden emergency at the company. I might not be able to come back for a while."

My chest was full of rage and questions I wanted to demand answers to.

But when the words reached my lips, the physical and emotional devastation left me without even the desire to speak.

My silence made Natalie misunderstand, thinking I was sulking, so she continued talking.

"Be good. When I'm done here, I'll definitely make time for our honeymoon trip..."

"Natalie..."

Before she could finish, Ethan's call and the baby's crying sounded on the other end of the line.

"Gotta go!"

Natalie hastily hung up the phone.