Chapter 4

I left my friend's place.

Standing on the street, I realized I had nowhere to go.

Out of spite, I went to the store to buy ice cream, only to discover I didn't even have ten dollars in my account.

I sat in the park near our home.

From nightfall until dawn.

The baby was moving. I silently returned home.

Damien grabbed me, looking me over carefully.

"Where did you run off to?"

"I looked for you all night."

"Your tantrum is hurting the baby too."

I didn't look at him, just held out my hand.

"Phone."

He hesitated a moment before giving it to me.

I entered the password.

My birthday. Wrong.

Our anniversary. Still wrong.

He pressed his lips together. "0225."

Sydney's birthday.

My fingertips paused. I unlocked it and transferred five thousand dollars to myself.

Damien's pupils dilated. He handed me a card.

"No limit. Buy whatever you want."

"Chloe, don't run away from home again."

I held the card, its sharp edges cutting painfully into my palm.

He reached out to hug me, but I dodged.

I turned and went back to the bedroom.

I just stayed there quietly, barely asking about him and Sydney anymore.

Watching the baby grow bigger, I only looked forward to the birth.

One afternoon, Sydney came to find me.

She was still wearing Damien's shirt, a smug smile on her face.

"Chloe, you don't know yet, do you? Damien said when the babies are born, he'll come take care of me properly."

"I just mentioned being tired and he felt so bad. I heard you vomited until you brought up bile and he didn't say anything?"

"How can Damien be like this? If it were me, I couldn't bear to let a girl suffer."

I was about to turn around when I heard her scream as she tumbled down the stairs.

"Chloe, I really just came to keep you company."

"Even if you don't trust our friendship, you shouldn't hurt the babies."

"Sydney!"

The next second, Damien's burning slap landed on my face as he bent down to pick up Sydney.

"Chloe Miller, you truly disappoint me."

I watched his desperate retreating figure and wiped the blood from my split lip.

I smiled bitterly.

The numbness on my face took a while to fade.

That evening, he came in with a dark expression, grabbing my hand.

"You hurt Sydney so badly she went into early labor. She's lost her sight. Do you know that!"

"Since you're so cruel, you'll compensate her with yours!"

"I didn't! She fell on her own!" I shook my head frantically.

"Still lying! She's pure-hearted, she doesn't have all these twisted schemes."

He dragged me toward the door.

I lost my temper and fell to my knees, begging him.

"Damien, please don't do this. I'm pregnant. I can't go."

"Please just wait until the baby is born, okay?"

"Just wait a few more months."

I cried until my whole body shook.

He laughed coldly.

"Wait? What about Sydney? Can she wait?"

"The baby? You're this malicious—do you even deserve to have my child?"

Regardless of my condition, he sent me to the operating room.

I watched them approach with surgical instruments.

I sobbed helplessly.

The corner of my eye was brutally torn away, leaving trails of bloody tears.

He used to smile and kiss my eyes gently.

Said my eyes were bright and beautiful.

After it was over, he had me sent to a nursing home.

Afraid I'd affect Sydney's postpartum recovery.

I was locked inside.

Cold and damp.

He never came to see me once.

On the day I gave birth, I used every ounce of strength I had.

It took a full day.

The baby came out, but had long since stopped breathing.

I held her tiny body and stumbled out of the nursing home.

But that day, everything under Hunt Corporation was free.

Because it was Sydney's twins' 100-day celebration.

He organized a grand event to accumulate blessings for the children.

Thanks to her, I got a free swaddle from a baby store.

So I could wrap my tiny, lifeless daughter.

"Chloe, I just want you and the child to come home with me and live well."

Damien's hoarse voice pulled me back from my thoughts.

I smiled slightly.

"The child?"

Damien continued speaking.

"The nursing home told me it was a girl. She's three now, right? I already picked out a name for her. Aria. How about that? She should come home eventually."

"Didn't they tell you that baby was stillborn?" I interrupted him.

Damien's voice suddenly dropped, tinged with anger.

"Chloe Miller, even if you hate me, you can hit me, yell at me, whatever. Don't use the child to take out your anger."

"I've prepared a room for her all these years. Just waiting for you both to come home."

I didn't respond. It all seemed pointless.

I picked up my white cane and went home.

He followed closely.

"Chloe Miller, didn't you hear what I said? Don't use the child to—"

I pushed open the door. He rushed over and grabbed the yellowed death certificate on the table.