Chapter 2

Adrian's voice wasn't loud, but everyone present heard it.

The entire venue fell deathly silent. Everyone was too shocked to speak, exchanging glances with one another.

I looked at the child I'd carried for ten months and given birth to, and couldn't stop the tears from falling.

I'd been married to Adrian for five years without getting pregnant. I thought it was my problem, so I underwent nine rounds of IVF.

When I finally got pregnant, I cherished it immensely, waiting day after day with anticipation.

But the truth was—this was my husband's child with his mistress! And my husband was an obstetrician!

Throughout my pregnancy, I had terrible morning sickness. I vomited until I was half-dead.

Then during delivery, I hemorrhaged. I only made it back from death's door through sheer willpower.

Tears poured down like a broken dam, and pain instantly spread through my entire body.

Everyone had congratulated me on the birth of my daughter, but Adrian chose this happy moment to deal me a crushing blow.

Adrian helped Cynthia get dressed, then turned and took the baby from my arms.

"Photographer, please point your camera at Cynthia and me."

They held the baby, smiling sweetly, as if they were the real family.

My chest felt crushed by a boulder. I couldn't breathe. In an instant, my whole body turned cold.

I glared at the photographer with red eyes. He immediately put down his camera.

Adrian sighed and looked at me sternly.

"Ella was crying. That's the only reason I had Cynthia feed her. Stop throwing a tantrum."

"Olivia, the child has already been born. Cynthia and I are her biological parents. It doesn't matter whether you accept it or not."

"Cynthia asked me to hide this from you, but the child will grow up. We can't keep it secret forever. Better to tell you the truth now."

"This way Cynthia can visit the child in the future. Don't blame her—this has nothing to do with her."

As soon as he finished speaking, he moved Cynthia behind him, as if afraid I might do something.

His expression was full of triumph, without a trace of guilt toward me.

Already been born? He'd timed this perfectly, certain that now it was a done deal, I had no choice but to accept this child.

I looked at Adrian through my tears, struggling to contain my rage. "Are you even human?"

Adrian's gaze was cold. "I'm giving you a choice. Either keep the child and we stay married, or refuse and our marriage ends..."

I laughed bitterly. Now I finally saw what he was really planning.

"You're treating me like a nanny, aren't you? You want me to stay home and take care of the kid so you can go out and romance Cynthia?"

"You're gambling that I won't abandon the child after carrying her for ten months. You're using that to manipulate me!"

"Adrian, your plan is perfect, but I won't keep this child, and I won't keep you either..."