Chapter 2

"The fetus is twins. Terminating the pregnancy comes with serious risks, and there's a chance you may never be able to get pregnant again."

I kept my eyes down, my fingers curling tighter and tighter before slowly relaxing again.

At last, I nodded. "Yes. I'm sure."

After the procedure, the bleeding wouldn't stop, and a high fever left me drifting in and out of consciousness.

I was barely lucid when Spencer called.

"Chloe, whip up a few dishes and bring them over to the Interstellar Hotel. Keep it light."

"My girl has worn herself out today, and now she's interested in your cooking."

He said it as if asking me to cook for his mistress while I lay in a hospital bed were the most natural thing in the world.

I stared at my phone for a few seconds before letting out a bitter laugh.

For twelve years, I'd chased after him, always making excuses for him, always giving in.

And all it had gotten me was a man who could hurt me without giving it a second thought.

I closed my eyes, finally ready to let him go.

"Spencer, let's get divorced."

Spencer was silent for a few seconds, then gave a derisive snort.

"Chloe, there's a limit to how jealous you can get. Don't make a threat you can't follow through on."

His tone was confident as usual. Just like every other time we'd fought, he was convinced I'd never leave him.

I gripped the edge of the bed, my chest so tight I could barely breathe.

Before either of us could say another word, a nurse pushed the door open.

"Ms. Hayes, are you still bleeding?"

That was when Spencer's tone finally changed.

"You're still at the hospital?"

Half an hour later, he finally showed up in my hospital room.

His eyes swept over my pale face, and he reached out to gently pinch my cheek, his voice uncharacteristically soft.

"Thank goodness you and the baby are all right."

"That's my good girl. Don't be upset. I'll take care of those guys for you."

He soothed me with such practiced ease.

As if that humiliating wedding fiasco had never happened.

As if he really cared about me

But then he opened his mouth again, and whatever comfort he'd offered vanished.

"Tomorrow, the Prescotts are hosting a family dinner. It was meant to celebrate our marriage. Since you need to stay in bed and recover, I'll have Vivian attend in your place for now."

I looked up, hardly able to believe what I was hearing.

"She attends in my place, and everyone congratulates the two of you?"

Spencer's voice grew impatient.

"Chloe, you've put up with it for all these years. Why make such a big deal out of something so trivial?"

Then he pulled a property transfer agreement from his folder.

"Right—Vivian likes that house out in the suburbs. This is the perfect opportunity to put it in her name. I'll get you another place later."

I clenched the paper.

That house was the only thing my parents had left me. Their ashes were buried in the yard.

My voice came out hoarse as I tried to make him understand. "My parents' ashes are buried there."

"I know."

He pressed the pen into my hand, using his finger to force my hand toward the signature line.

"It's not like she's going to dig up a grave. Think of it as helping me keep my girl happy. Don't be difficult."

I yanked my trembling hand away. "I'm not signing."

Spencer's expression hardened.

"Chloe, I have a hundred ways to make you sign. You don't want to find out what they are."

My head snapped up, my breath catching in my throat.

He wouldn't even give me a chance to resist. He grabbed my hand, forced it down, and forged my signature, then pressed a kiss to my forehead.

"Good girl."

It felt like he'd ripped my heart out. I could barely breathe through the pain.

He stayed with me for all of ten minutes, just long enough to keep up appearances. The entire time, he was texting Vivian.

Just as he was about to leave, a nurse came in to change my dressing.

"Are you Ms. Hayes's family? She just had an induced abortion. She needs someone with her for twenty-four hours, so you—"

Spencer cut her off before she could finish.

"Enough. My girl's scared of being alone. I need to stay in bed with her tonight."

He turned back and gave me a mocking smile.

"Chloe, trying to get a nurse to guilt-trip me into staying with you? That's honestly pathetic."