Chapter 2

“Julian, what if Alice finds out the baby isn’t yours later? What then?”

Julian scoffed contemptuously, “If she ends up carrying someone else’s seed, then no matter how you look at it, *she’s* the slut, not only cheating but getting knocked up by another man. Even if Alice found out, would she have the nerve to tell anyone?”

“Besides, do you really think I don’t have backup plans?”

With that, he pulled a stack of photos from his pocket and scattered them on the table.

“Holy hell, her face isn't blurred at all! If anyone saw these, Alice's reputation would be toast, hahahaha.”

“They're like something out of a filthy magazine! You can practically feel the sleaze just looking at the pictures!”

Scarlett picked one up, glanced at it with disgust, and carelessly tossed it aside.

The photo slid perfectly through the crack under the door and landed right in front of my eyes.

My breath almost hitched. I lunged to the floor, snatching up my dignity and reputation, stuffing the picture deep into my sleeve.

Tears streamed uncontrollably down my face.

Julian had been forced to marry me by our parents. For years, he’d barely touched me.

I thought he was finally warming up to me, so even though I knew the drink was spiked, I still obediently swallowed it, letting my consciousness slip away bit by bit.

To have a child, to win his favor, I practically threw away my dignity to please him, to respond to him for those three days.

I didn't even realize when they swapped in other men, or when those photos were taken.

All of it, just because of Scarlett—a single word from the childhood friend they treasured above all.

I fled the company like my life depended on it. Even though my clothes were perfectly modest, I felt like everyone's eyes on the street were staring at the naked me in those pictures.

The immense shame threatened to crush me.

I ran headfirst, covering my face. A few minutes’ walk felt like a century.

Back home, I rushed to the shredder, tearing the photos over and over again.

I wished I could shove my own filthy self in there and be shredded too.

The loud slam of the door made me jump. I snapped out of it, and there was Julian.

“Did you get your period this month?”

I didn’t react at first.

“Wh-what?”

He curved his lips into a soft chuckle, almost playful.

“My little cupcake, that was three whole days. I’m pretty confident in my abilities. Come on, let’s go to the hospital for a check-up.”

Julian grabbed me and pulled me towards the garage.

Seeing me just sitting stiffly in the passenger seat, he sighed and reached over to buckle my seatbelt.

I grasped his hand, blurting out,

“To check if I’m pregnant? Julian, do you really want to have a child with me?”

He ruffled my hair, his eyes tender.

“What silly talk is that? Of course, I do. A girl like you, a boy like me, wouldn’t that be wonderful?”

He put on such a convincing act; if I hadn't overheard their conversation at the office, I would have truly believed him.

By the time we got to the hospital, Julian’s two buddies, Mark and David, and Scarlett were already waiting.

They eyed me with ill intentions.

The two men’s raw, sticky stares gave me goosebumps all over.

Julian pulled me behind him. “I heard you might be pregnant. They’re here to congratulate you.”

The blood test for pregnancy was quick. It confirmed what I already knew: I was pregnant.

Julian held the report, his expression unreadable, but Scarlett’s displeasure was obvious.

He looked up at the doctor. “Can we do a paternity test now?”

The doctor looked back and forth between Julian and me several times. “It’s only three weeks. It’s possible, but generally, we don’t recommend it—”

He cut her off, his voice low and firm. “Then do it. Do it now.”

The doctor quickly added, “At this stage, we can only do an amniocentesis. It’s not good for both the mother and the fetus, and we can’t use anesthesia. The woman will suffer greatly. Mr. Hayes, would you like to reconsider?”

His brow furrowed, signaling his impatience.

“No anesthesia, then no anesthesia! Are you deaf?!”

The doctor then turned to me.

I managed a bitter smile. “Do it.”