: What a Coincidence

The day Julian Valerius took his old flame for a prenatal check-up.

I was alone, scheduling an abortion.

Our eyes met.

I curved my lips into a smile.

"What a coincidence."

Later, when I wished them a long and happy life together, he was the one who got upset.

1

"Julian!"

My breath caught at the familiar name, and I jerked my head up.

Not far off, a man and a woman stood facing each other. The woman was beautiful, with a gentle face and a slight swell to her stomach. The man was tall and imposing…

It was none other than my husband, the man I'd married just one month ago.

The sight made my mind go blank. I quickly ducked around a corner, and by the time my thoughts caught up with me, I could no longer hear their voices.

She was pregnant.

The woman Julian Valerius loved was pregnant.

He was with her for a prenatal check-up. The scene was so harmonious, so perfect.

A baby should be born into the eager anticipation of its parents.

I gently stroked my own belly. After a long moment, I headed in the other direction.

The nurse told me the abortion procedure required a family member's signature.

My hand never left my belly, and my tone was firm. "That won't be necessary. I'm responsible for my own body, and I have the right to decide whether or not to have this child."

I signed my name and went out to wait.

Yvonne Irving's voice drew closer. "Not at all. I haven't had any morning sickness. The baby must be a good one, come to repay a kindness."

I turned my head to look. Julian Valerius and Yvonne Irving were walking side by side. He was holding a bag. 'It must be Yvonne's.'

Our eyes met. He paused, seemingly surprised, not expecting to see me here.

I stood up, a small smile playing on my lips. "What a coincidence."

Julian Valerius's expression quickly returned to normal.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, his low voice tinged with nonchalance.

I just smiled and asked in return, "And you?"

"Just picking something up," Julian Valerius said. "Are you done?"

"I have to wait a little longer."

"I'll get going then." With that, Julian Valerius walked past me and left.

Yvonne Irving nodded at me, a gentle smile on her face, and followed after Julian Valerius.

I sat down again. The plastic chair felt cold.

Finally, I was lying on the operating table. The surgical light overhead blazed to life. I closed my eyes as hot tears streamed from the corners.

It was already dark by the time I left the hospital.

I called a ride-share back to our new home. Matron Chen told me that Julian Valerius had been back for a while and was waiting for me for dinner.

I had no appetite and just wanted to sleep. I told Matron Chen I wasn't hungry and started up the stairs.

Matron Chen hurried after me. "Mrs. Valerius, you look terribly pale. Are you ill? I'll call the doctor right now."

I forced a smile. "I'm fine, just a little tired. A good night's sleep is all I need."

"Mrs. Valerius, you must tell me if you're feeling unwell. I'll call Dr. Hale," Matron Chen urged from behind me.

"Okay," I murmured, then went upstairs to my room.

I washed my face and brushed my teeth but decided against a shower. I even skipped my skincare routine and quickly came out of the bathroom.

Julian Valerius opened the door and came in. He walked over, studying my face for a moment. "You don't look well. I'll call Dr. Hale."

"There's no need. I'll be fine after I get some sleep." I walked to the side of the bed and pulled back the covers.

Julian Valerius followed me over. He watched me in silence for a moment, then asked with a smile, "So, what were you doing at the hospital today?"

I hadn't expected him to ask, and for a moment, I didn't know how to respond.

But then it dawned on me that he probably didn't actually want to know what I was doing at the hospital.

I looked at him. A smile was still playing on his lips, as always so nonchalant, yet so detached and distant.

I lowered my head and shook it gently. "I wasn't following you."

"I know," he said, raising a hand to stroke my cheek. "You've always been so well-behaved. I chose you myself, after all. I knew you wouldn't disappoint me."

: My Child

2

It's true that Julian Valerius chose me himself.

There were countless families who wanted to form a marriage alliance with him, and mine had the least to offer. In our circle, they called my family's company a small business… worth only thirty to forty million dollars.

But Julian still chose me. Because I was obedient, didn't have a temper, and wouldn't dare to control him.

Even after getting married, he was still as free as ever.

For him, this marriage was merely a way to answer to his family. For me, it was my family's company's last lifeline.

I needed Julian. To be precise, my parents and our family's company needed Julian.

My family got everything they wanted, and it seemed Julian was also very satisfied with me.

"I'm going to bed first." I forced a smile and got into bed.

A moment later, I heard the soft rustle of Julian's footsteps as he left the room.

I closed my eyes and curled up, feeling a little cold.

Gradually, my eyelids grew heavier, and I drifted off, falling into a daze-like sleep.

I suddenly felt someone wrap their arms around me. A large, slightly cool hand rested on my lower abdomen, then suggestively began to wander upward.

It was Julian.

I was instantly wide awake. I reflexively pressed his hand down. "I'm not feeling well today."

"Where are you not feeling well?" His voice was low and raspy, his warm lips landing on my neck.

I couldn't help but flinch. The image of him standing with Yvonne Irving, with her large pregnant belly, replayed in my mind. A wave of repulsion washed over me.

"I'm really not feeling well. Not tonight," I said, trying to reason with him.

Julian's hand remained on my abdomen. He held me quietly for a moment, then tightened his arm. "Let's just sleep."

After we got married, whenever he stayed the night, he would always hold me as we slept.

At first, I held onto a sliver of hope, telling myself this was a sign that he loved me. But no matter how foolish I was, the moment I saw him with Yvonne Irving at the hospital today, I couldn't lie to myself anymore.

'I just don't understand. If he loves Yvonne so much, why did he marry me?'

'If he loves Yvonne so much, why does he hold me at night?'

I fell asleep. When I opened my eyes again, the room was still pitch black, and Julian was no longer beside me.

I grabbed my phone to check the time. It was already past nine.

I went to the bathroom, took a hot shower, quickly dried off, put on some warmer clothes, and went downstairs.

Matron Chen wasn't around, only the maid, Nancy, was cleaning.

She stopped what she was doing and looked at me. "You're awake. Would you like to eat something now?"

I nodded.

In the open-plan kitchen, Nancy busied herself for a moment before calling out to me, "The food is ready."

I ate my fill at the kitchen island. I was about to head back to my room to rest when, just as I stood up, a sudden DING echoed. The elevator doors opened, and Julian's tall figure emerged.

I looked over. His expression was dark as he stared at me without blinking and walked in my direction.

The oppressive feeling from his towering frame made my breath catch. I lifted my head to meet his gaze, wanting to ask him what was wrong, but no sound came out.

"Where are you not feeling well?" Julian suddenly asked.

In an instant, I understood. He had gone to the hospital. He knew everything.

"Rhea Summers, you have some nerve." Julian's voice was impossibly deep, as if it were rumbling up from the depths of the earth.

I lowered my head, not knowing what to say. 'I don't even understand why he's so angry.'

'Could it be that he wanted me to have this baby?'

'I would never allow my child to be born into a family without warmth or love.'

Julian grabbed my chin and forced my head up. I was forced to look into his eyes. Those charming, flirtatious eyes showed none of their usual roguishness, only a savage viciousness.

His thin lips parted, and he enunciated every word. "Rhea Summers. You aborted my child."

3

"Is there anything you want to say?" Julian Valerius asked, his voice cold.

I opened my mouth, but my throat was so dry I could barely force out a single word. "Nothing."

"Very good." Julian released his grip. He stared at me for a moment, his gaze chilling, then turned and left.

I heard Nancy gasp. When I glanced over, she immediately averted her eyes.

I went upstairs to our room. Standing in the doorway, I stared at the vast bedroom for a moment before heading into the walk-in closet to start packing.

In truth, I didn't have many things of my own. Everything I used here had been bought by Julian.

He never even had to buy them himself. Deliveries arrived daily—clothes, shoes, jewelry. The mere title of Mrs. Valerius was enough to have major brands scrambling to send their wares.

I packed the few belongings I had brought with me into my suitcase. They were pitifully few, leaving the suitcase half empty.

I sat on the sofa, staring blankly at the suitcase.

'I knew I was in serious trouble.' Maybe I should call my dad and tell him I wouldn't be able to help the family company through its crisis after all.

Mom and Dad would be devastated.

I don't know how long I sat there before Matron Valerius's gentle voice called from outside the room.

"Rhea!"

I hurried out to meet her.

The moment Matron Valerius saw me, she rushed over, took my hands, and asked with concern, "What happened? Did you have an abortion?"

'I hadn't expected Julian to act so fast.'

"I'm sorry, Mom."

Matron Valerius's brow furrowed. "How could this happen? Rhea, why would you do this? How could you not say a word about something so important? Did you go to the hospital by yourself? Don't you know that any procedure has its risks? If something had happened to you, how would I ever explain it to your parents?"

"I'm sorry, Mom."

Other than that, I didn't know what to say.

Matron Valerius sighed and led me back into the room. "You need to lie down right now. This is your Post-Abortion Confinement, and you must rest properly, or you'll have health problems down the line. Don't leave the house for at least two weeks. I'll have the family chef come over."

Matron Valerius's attitude toward me hadn't changed in the slightest. She was even insisting I stay here to recover.

I was a little surprised. After a moment's hesitation, I asked, "Mom, what did Julian say?"

"I tried calling him, but he won't pick up. I haven't seen him yet." Matron Valerius sighed again. "Is something wrong between you two? You've only been married a month..."

"Mom... so Julian wasn't the one who told you?"

Matron Valerius paused. "Nancy told me."

'So that's what happened.'

Now I was even more confused about Julian's attitude.

"Rhea, you have to tell me, is there a problem between you and Julian? Did he..." Matron Valerius trailed off and sighed again. "He's always been a player. I thought he would settle down after getting married. That bastard! Don't you worry, Rhea. I'll teach him a lesson for you. You just focus on getting better and don't let your mind run wild."

I nodded. "Okay. Thank you, Mom."

Matron Valerius stayed with me until dark. She called Julian, urging him to come home, and only left after hanging up.

Before she left, she told me not to get upset or argue with Julian, and to call her if I needed anything.

'Matron Valerius must be heartbroken, too.'

But I couldn't bring a child into the world just because she was kind to me, or out of a sense of gratitude.

Just then, there was a knock on the door. Before I could answer, Nancy walked in carrying a tray.

"This is chicken soup. You should have some. I'll just leave it here."

I didn't say anything.

Nancy set the soup on the nightstand, shot me a look, then pursed her lips and walked out.

I'd known since my first day here that Nancy didn't like me. She even seemed to look down on me.

I didn't really care. At the end of the day, she was just a stranger.

The only thing I'd ever cared about was Julian's attitude toward me. But now, I knew I had to let that obsession go.

Some things just aren't meant to be yours, no matter how hard you fight for them.

It was time to let go. To set Julian free, and to set myself free, too.