Chapter 3

As soon as he left, Charlotte's eyes suddenly reddened.

"Vivian, he went to see that woman last night."

My heart skipped a beat. For some reason I felt guilty.

She gave a bitter smile, her voice muffled.

"Actually, after I got pregnant with the second baby, I was worried he couldn't handle it, so I gave him permission to temporarily see that woman for relief."

"You know what he said?"

Her nose turned red, looking pitiful.

"He refused. He said women outside were dirty, that the time he didn't use protection with that woman was because he was drunk."

"He wanted her to abort the child, but it was a life after all. I couldn't bear it, so I told him to bring the child back to raise."

"He disagreed. He said he only recognized children I gave birth to. The homewrecker's child had no right to appear before me."

I bit my lip hard until I tasted iron, forcing the tears back.

So my daughter wasn't someone he wanted.

That's why he could bear not coming back to see us even once in seven years.

"Ouch, my stomach."

Charlotte suddenly clutched her belly and cried out in pain.

I realized she was about to give birth and instinctively reached out to support her.

Just as I was about to touch her, a strong force shoved me to the ground.

Ethan had returned. He shielded her behind him.

Then turned to face me, furious to the point of losing control.

"Vivian Adams, did you ignore everything I said? If anything happens to Charlotte, I'll kill you!"

The back of my hand scraped against the concrete, the skin torn off. It burned with pain.

I didn't want to cry, but tears fell uncontrollably.

"Is this what you think of me?"

His gaze landed on my bleeding hand.

His Adam's apple bobbed. He seemed about to say something but stopped.

Charlotte looked between us in confusion.

"You two know each other?"

He panicked.

As if terrified I might say something to Charlotte.

Before I could speak, he dragged me outside.

"I'm worried about people with unclear backgrounds like her approaching you with ulterior motives."

I gave up resisting and laughed through my tears.

"Right, someone from my social class doesn't deserve to know you."

I must have been blind before.

But then my daughter rushed out of the emergency room, crying and hitting him.

"Bad man, let go of my mom!"

"Let go!"

Ethan winced in pain and instinctively pushed her away.

Due to the momentum, my daughter screamed and tumbled down the stairwell.

Ethan's face changed. He quickly reached out to grab her but missed.

"My child!"

Everything happened too suddenly. I had no time to save her.

Instead, Charlotte reacted in time and pulled my daughter back up.

But the next second, her features contorted in pain.

"Help! My water broke!"

"What happened to you? All because you saved my daughter."

I panicked, feeling both grateful and guilty toward her.

Despite her dazed consciousness from the pain, she still comforted me.

"Vivian, don't worry. We hit it off so well—saving your daughter was the right thing to do."

Ethan looked horrified and frantically carried her to the emergency room.

The fetal position was abnormal. The situation was serious.

This tough man actually knelt down.

"Doctor, please save my wife. I'll pay any amount."

The operating room doors closed. He remained kneeling in despair, praying.

"Please God, let my wife deliver safely. I'll trade my life if necessary."