Chapter 1

I loved my boyfriend for three years. .

He never liked using protection.

Afterward, he’d always be shirtless, his back covered in my nail marks, smoking a cigarette, and he’d say to me, like he was doing me a favor:

“What are you scared of? If you get pregnant, we’ll get married.”

A month later, I saw two lines on the pregnancy test. I didn’t tell him. Instead, I broke up with him, a clean, sudden cut.

Later, he saw me at the abortion clinic.

I was holding my baby bump, chatting with another pregnant woman.

“Don’t let my dramatic breakup fool you,” I said, “I cried like the world was ending, but if I actually had *his* baby? No way. I know the difference between crying into a pillow and crying over a baby. Dating is fine, but I have other plans for marriage.”

The day I found out I was pregnant, I went to the club Jax frequented.

I was about to push the door open.

Then I heard them inside, discussing which brand of condom felt best.

Someone joked, “Ask Jax, he’s got a girlfriend, he’d know best.”

A moment later, I heard Jax’s casual reply: “Condoms? Never used ‘em.”

Everyone around him paused. “Never? Not even once? Aren’t you worried about Riley getting pregnant?”

Jax lit a cigarette, his voice muffled by the smoke. “Nah, it’s fine. She always remembers to take her pill afterward.”

The room erupted in laughter. “Damn, you got yourself a real good girl.”

Jax chuckled, his voice lazy. “Good? Played her top to bottom, I know every inch of her body, every secret.”

Someone couldn’t help but ask, “Jax, what if Riley actually got pregnant?”

Jax paused, then slowly said:

“If she got pregnant, then we’d get married.

“Riley’s pretty sensible, and we click well enough. Getting married to her wouldn’t be so bad.”

Someone teased him, “If I remember right, you used to switch girlfriends every week. You’re such a player, are you really willing to settle down?”

Jax shrugged, a corner of his lip twitching indifferently. “She’s not pregnant yet, is she?

“I don’t like thinking that far ahead.

“If I get bored, I’ll just find a decent reason to break up. She’ll listen.

“Besides, she’s a people-pleaser. Every time we almost break up, she never blames me. She always questions herself first, then hugs me and apologizes.

“Last time, I had a wild idea to try it in the car, and she hesitated. I just threatened to break up with her, and she immediately said yes.”

Everyone around him gasped. “Dude, she’s that easy?”

Jax lowered his eyes, his voice softening slightly. “She’s *too* easy. That’s why I don’t want anyone else to trick her.

“Good thing she met me. If she met some bad guy, with how much of a crybaby she is, her throat would be raw from all the crying.

“At least with me, I can keep an eye on her. I’d be worried otherwise.”

Someone laughed. “So, Jax is doing charity work now.

“But you really do need to keep a close watch. With Riley’s face, who wouldn’t want to mess with her?”

“She looks so innocent, but her body is incredible, curves in all the right places, sweet as a ripe peach.”

“If she were my girlfriend, I’d be ecstatic.”

Jax shot him a cold glance. “You? Don’t even think about it.”

A moment later, he seemed to think of something, and his gaze softened slightly.

“But she really is innocent. No matter how many times we’re together, she still cries like it’s her first time.

“Honestly, if I had to break up with her, I’d actually miss her.”

The people in the private room teased him, asking when this player had become so smitten.

Just then, someone threw out a question: “Seriously, Jax, if Riley really got pregnant, would you really change your ways for her?”

“Speaking of which, wasn’t the only reason you got with her to spite your first love, Skylar?”

“Skylar just broke up with her boyfriend, didn’t she? And she works at your company. Isn’t this your chance?”

This time, Jax stared at the floor, lost in thought.

The glowing tip of his cigarette pulsed in the dimness.

He didn't speak for a long time.