I couldn’t let myself pass out despite the killing pain in my stomach wasn’t normal.

Keon wasn’t coming back for me—I had to take care of myself.

It took a long time before I could gather enough strength to grab the railing and pull myself up.

Worried that something might start leaking out of me on the way, cab wasn't in any of my options. I had no choice but to walk to the hospital.

The night soon covered the entire sky. The shift nurse at the ER took one look at the blood soaking my clothes and rushed to get me checked in.

The doctor flipped through my earlier records. He asked as he shook his head.

“Three weeks in and you already had an amniocentesis? The pregnancy wasn’t even stable yet! Your uterus is in distress, contracting from the trauma—and with a fall down the stairs on top of that… I’m sorry, but the baby probably won’t make it.”

After the exam, the doctor grew even more frustrated.

“You’ve been hemorrhaging this whole time and you just powered through the pain? Do you have a death wish?!”

I just let out a long breath—then, unexpectedly, I laughed.

“Doctor, just go ahead and terminate the pregnancy.”

From the moment I learned the truth, I had felt nothing but disgust toward the tiny, unformed thing inside me.

Now, it was gone.

***

Good.

This baby had been nothing but a bad dream—one I was finally waking up from.

A day later, when I returned home, the place was empty. I knew Keon had not come back since leaving with Kizzie.

The bed and the floor were still covered in the mess they left behind. I stepped around the stains, rushed into the bathroom and scrubbed myself clean over and over again.

I kept feeling like there was a lingering scent on me—as soon as the world fell silent, it would intensify unbearably.

The scent of a man. The scent of a dead child. No matter how hard I washed, it wouldn’t go away!

I broke down, throwing things all over the floor, then collapsed into the bathtub, sobbing. Just as the suffocating feeling took hold, I suddenly thought of my parents.

Back then, when I found out I was going to marry Keon, I was overjoyed. I carefully picked out every piece of my dowry, while my parents paid for everything. Except for one thing—the file folder at the bottom of the pile, which they handed to me themselves.

I remembered the day I left home. Mom gave me that folder and said, “Kelsey, even though this marriage has a purpose behind it, your father and I still wish you happiness. If, one day, you no longer feel happy, remember—your parents will always be there for you.”

“If possible, we hope you never have to open it.”

I got up and ran to the study, digging out that file folder.

Inside was a divorce agreement that my parents had prepared for me.

I didn’t know what they had done behind the scenes, but somehow, they had already gotten Keon to sign it. The asset division was written entirely in my favor—protecting me completely.

Without hesitation, I signed my name. The ink had barely dried when my phone rang. It was Keon. His voice was cautious.

“Are you… okay?”

I kept my tone cold. “Should I not be?”

“I’m just glad you’re fine. I know I was out of line that day. I shouldn’t have yelled at you—I just got too worked up when I saw Kizzie hurt. Then, I said things I didn’t mean.”

“I went back to look for you, but you were already gone. I figured you must’ve been fine.”

There was something pathetic in the way he tried to sound apologetic yet still unwilling to back down. It almost made me laugh.

“Do you need something?” I asked flatly.

Keon was clearly annoyed by my coldness. He lost patience in an instant.

“I already apologized. What more do you want? You think you did nothing wrong? I called to tell you that Kizzie forgives you for pushing her that day. She even invited you to the auction with us. They’re planning a gift to congratulate you on the pregnancy.”

Then he scoffed. “Seriously, your belly isn’t even showing yet, but the attitude sure is. Can’t you learn from Kizzie?”

I stayed silent.

Hearing no response, Keon seemed to hesitate. His tone softened slightly. “Alright, enough of this. Kizzie’s leg is hurt, so I’m staying here to take care of her. The driver will pick you up later.”

The moment I hung up, a message from Kizzie popped up.

[Kelsey, you better show up! I’ve prepared a special gift just for you!]

A four-person party photoshoot! It’s going to be the grand finale at the auction! Full HD, crystal clear~]

Then, one after another, she sent dozens of my photos. My phone started ringing nonstop, the sound sharp and relentless, like a death knell.

My hands trembled. I dropped the phone and with it, my heart crashed to the floor.

The divorce papers that had just given me courage? Shattered. I had been so naive. I thought getting rid of the baby, wiping away the past, would mean it was all over.

But it wasn’t.

Keon, Kizzie and those two men—they would never let me go. They would drag me down, haunt me, remind me every second that there was no escape.

I was shaking so hard I could barely breathe. I sank to my knees, scrambling for my phone, my fingers slipping as I dialed my parents.

The moment I heard their familiar, warm voices, asking if I was eating well, dressing warmly, if I was doing okay, I broke down completely.

Through uncontrollable sobs, I told them everything. Every last, horrifying detail.

In the end, I begged desperately, “Mom, Dad… can I get a divorce now? Please! I don’t want to be with him anymore!”

After my parents heard the news, I could feel their trembling breath over the phone.

“Kelsey, I’m so sorry. A driver will pick you up tonight and take you home. We’ll take care of everything. Get some rest and everything will be okay.”

Keon's driver arrived first and I handed him a file to take over.

I then got into the car to head home, but the blaring ringtone wouldn’t stop.

Keon’s name was flashing on the screen, vibrating non-stop. I turned the phone off, yanked the SIM card out and threw it out of the window.

By the time the event was almost over, I still hadn’t arrived and Keon’s expression grew darker. It wasn’t until much later that his assistant brought the file.

“Half a day gone and all we get is a piece of paper?”

The assistant lowered his head. “Yes… yes, sir. The lady said this contains what she wanted. She asked you to keep an eye on it and she’ll be here later.”

Keon’s lips curled into a playful smirk as his long fingers slowly opened the file. The five large words that greeted him made the smile freeze on his face.

“Divorce Agreement.”

At the same time, the auctioneer hammered down, “Next up is the final item in today’s auction...”