Chapter 2

Vivian's POV

Seeing we knew each other, the doctor said nothing more. After going inside to confirm Grace and the baby were fine, she left the room.

I took a deep breath and forced myself to walk inside. I refused to show weakness in front of these two.

"What, afraid I'd discover your little secret here?"

I laughed coldly.

"Or did I interrupt your happiness?"

Ethan's expression changed. He strode over and grabbed my hand.

His grip was strong. After several failed attempts to pull free, I simply let him.

"Vivian, you damaged your uterus saving me back then, making it hard for you to conceive. This past year you've pushed your body to its limit trying to get pregnant." Ethan looked at me.

"This child will go through adoption procedures to become our child. You won't have to suffer like this anymore."

Years ago, not long after Ethan and I got together, we were caught in an assassination attempt.

The moment I saw the assassin pull the trigger, I didn't hesitate to shield Ethan.

I laughed coldly.

"If you hadn't mentioned it, I'd almost forgotten. I damaged my uterus taking a bullet for you. So this is how you treat me? Cheating with someone else and then making me raise your mistress's child."

Ethan's brow furrowed tightly as he pressed his lips together.

I took the opportunity to pull my hand free and walked toward Grace on the bed.

"You knew all along that Ethan had a family. So did you knowingly interfere with a married man, or are you trying to use the child to secure your position?"

Grace clutched the child in her arms, her eyes reddening. The next second, tears began falling in large drops.

This was my first time looking closely at Grace's appearance. She did have beautiful features. Pure, delicate. This tearful look would awaken protective instincts in any man.

"Miss Rivers, I didn't think that much about it. I truly love Ethan. I just want to stay by his side, even without status."

As she spoke, Grace tried to push the child in her arms toward me.

"Miss Rivers, the baby's name is Liam. He's very well-behaved. From now on, he'll be your child. As long as I can occasionally see him from afar, I'll be satisfied."

Her child?

My child had already become a pool of blood, a piece of rotting flesh!

"Enough!"

I trembled with rage and slapped Grace's hand away.

The child in Grace's hands instantly fell to the floor. The baby's cries filled the entire hospital room.

"Miss Rivers, you can treat me however you want, but how can you do this to a child!"

"Vivian, what are you doing?"

Ethan quickly picked up the child and examined him.

I was pushed aside, lost my balance, and fell to the floor. At the same time, I knocked over the water glass on the bedside table, shattering it.

"You'd better pray nothing's wrong with Liam."

Ethan left me with one cold look and strode out of the room carrying the child.

I knelt on the floor, my hands and knees cut by glass shards, drawing lines of blood. The bone-deep pain brought my fading consciousness back.

I got up from the floor, left the room to have my wounds treated, then returned to the Carter house.

I didn't have much. After all, I'd already cleared everything out during our last divorce. Half a suitcase held all my belongings.

After packing everything, I took out a document from the bedside table drawer.

A divorce agreement already signed by Ethan.

This was the escape route I'd left myself when we remarried.

"Vivian, if I ever do anything to wrong you again, take this and leave me."

I'd softened then and agreed to remarry him. When we got the marriage certificate, Ethan's eyes were shining.

"Vivian, you're mine again."

But I only stayed silent. This remarriage was partly because I couldn't let go of our relationship, but more because it was a conscious withdrawal treatment.

After the divorce, I couldn't sleep night after night, my mind full of Ethan. Nothing worked. I couldn't move on. So I decided to return to his side.

And now, just as I'd hoped, I resolutely signed my name.

I called my lawyer.

"I've sent you the divorce agreement. I don't want any assets. Please process it as quickly as possible."

"Understood. It should take about three days. I'll notify you immediately of any progress or changes."

Three more days. Then I could end all of this completely.