During my four years of college, I fell hopelessly in love with Alan. On graduation day, I gave myself to him as a gift, and Alan did not refuse.

I officially stepped into Alan's life, becoming one of his countless women. Back then, I truly believed we could have a future together.

…

The next morning, I got up early and went to the hospital. I scheduled the earliest abortion appointment available. The procedure went quickly, taking just an hour. That little life I once looked forward to, the child who shared both mine and Alan's blood, disappeared just like that.

I sent the completed procedure report to Alan. He did not reply.

After the observation period, it was confirmed that there were no issues, and I took a cab home. The moment I walked in, I saw Alan holding Leilani on the couch I had carefully chosen. Alan gently peeled grapes and fed them to Leilani.

Seeing me arrive, Leilani touched her belly and smiled at me. "What a coincidence, Summer. I'm pregnant too."

I clutched my cold abdomen and looked up at Alan. He smiled indulgently. "Silly girl, Summer's baby was aborted today."

Seeing my pale face, Leilani stuck out her tongue and covered her mouth in mock surprise. "Oh no, I'm sorry, Summer. I forgot Alan didn't want your baby and you already got rid of it. What a shame. If your baby were still alive, maybe they could have kept my baby company!"

My heart felt like it had been slashed open and was bleeding from every corner. Alan called my child a burden yet treasured another woman's baby.

On the very day I lost my child, he brought a pregnant woman home. From beginning to end, he never considered my feelings, or perhaps my feelings simply did not matter to him.

Without love, there was no care. The difference between being loved and not being loved was painfully clear.

Alan gave me orders as if nothing had happened. "Leilani just got pregnant. She's still young and doesn't know anything. Since you just had an abortion and need to rest anyway, stay home and take care of her.

"Leilani has already moved into the main bedroom. I need to watch over her these next few days. I had your things moved to the maid's room."

I looked at him calmly. "Hire a nanny. I don't have time to take care of a pregnant woman."

Leilani looked displeased. "Summer, I don't trust outsiders. Alan told me he saved your life, so you're reliable. I can't believe you're making excuses over something this simple. Even ungrateful wretches don't act like this!"

I said nothing, only looked at Alan. "Is this what you think too?"

Alan lit a cigarette. The smoke blurred his expression.

The man I once loved deeply, who had been by my side for seven years, now seemed completely unrecognizable.

After a long silence, he said, "Summer, be good."

The last shred of hope in my heart shattered completely. I forced out something that might have been a smile. "Since this is what you want, I'll oblige."

Then, we would be even.

Leilani's first request was for me to cook her lunch. She demanded an elaborate seafood stew, the kind that took hours of careful preparation.

Leilani gave me a sweet smile. "Alan said you're really good at cooking, Summer. The baby and I are going to eat well from now on. We'll even save money from not having to hire help."

I dragged my weakened post-abortion body around the kitchen for three hours. When I finished, Leilani insisted I bring it to the bedroom myself.

I opened the door. The bedroom I had slept in for seven years looked completely different.

Everything that belonged to me had been thrown on the floor like trash. The previously bare walls now displayed photos of Alan and Leilani together.

Leilani wore a flimsy camisole nightgown, her expression coy. Her chest was barely covered, and Alan's hand rested on it.

Seeing me, she directed me to place the dish on the nightstand. Just as I was about to leave, she called out to me, "Summer, this stew is too salty. The baby is still small and can't handle this much salt. Make me another one!"

I could tell Leilani was deliberately trying to torment me. Alan looked at my pale face and, for once, spoke up for me. "Leilani, how about I order something from a hotel restaurant?"

Leilani glanced at Alan, then at me, and suddenly burst into tears. "But I want to eat this. I can't control myself. The baby wants it too! Alan, do you think I'm being too demanding? This is all my fault. I shouldn't have asked Summer to cook for me!"

Seeing her tears, Alan looked distressed and pulled Leilani into his arms, comforting her repeatedly. "Summer, go make a lighter version of the stew."

The entire afternoon, I went back and forth, making the stew three times without complaint. I stood for five full hours straight. My entire body felt like it had been dragged out of water.

I had just returned to the maid's room and had not even had time to unpack my belongings, which had been packed up like garbage, when I collapsed onto the bed. Clutching my stomach, I curled into a ball as bone-piercing pain radiated through my abdomen.

It felt like countless needles were stabbing into it, yet my heart hurt even more.

Before I could fall asleep, Alan suddenly kicked my door open. His face was twisted with unconcealed rage. He grabbed me from the bed and slammed me against the wall.

"Summer, didn't I tell you not to play your little games?"

I trembled from the pain, looking at him in confusion. "What games did I play?"

Alan patted my face mockingly. "Still pretending? Who told you Leilani was allergic to mango? Summer, I never realized how scheming you were. Then again, when you shamelessly crawled into my bed back then, I should've known your ambitions were sky-high!

"You think if you kill my and Leilani's baby, I'll let you have a child? Dream on, Summer. Any child that comes from your belly will always be worthless trash!"

Without listening to my explanation, he dragged me across the floor to Leilani. He completely disregarded how my body had been battered and bruised from hitting corners and edges.

Alan threw me in front of Leilani's bed and kicked my knees hard, forcing me to kneel on the ground. His voice carried undisguised disgust. "Get on your knees and apologize to Leilani and the baby!"

Leilani lay on the bed, her face flushed red as if she could not breathe, yet her speech was completely unaffected. "Summer, I know you're heartbroken about losing your baby, but you can't hurt mine. My baby's innocent!"

She threw herself into Alan's arms, her face full of anguish. "Alan, our baby will be okay, right? Save our baby!"

Alan held her. "Leilani, it'll be fine. I already called an ambulance. It'll be here in five minutes."

I forced myself upright and spoke word by word. "Alan Rivers, I didn't add anything to the stew! I swear on my life, I'm telling the truth."

Alan sneered and kicked me in the stomach. The full force of a grown man's kick sent me flying. My back slammed against the wall, and I coughed up a large mouthful of blood.

Seeing me vomit blood, Alan just watched coldly. "Still being stubborn when death is at your door. Summer, when did you become so vicious? I truly regret saving you back then! If anything happens to Leilani and the baby, I'll make you understand what regret truly feels like!"

I lay crumpled on the ground, blood continuously pouring from my mouth. Actually, it was not just Alan who had regrets. I regretted it too. I regretted meeting him, and even more, I regretted falling in love with him.

I had wasted the best seven years of my life nurturing a love that was never mine to keep.

Watching his back as he carried Leilani away without hesitation, so resolute in his choice, I remembered how Alan had once led me toward a new life in the same way. Now, he was personally delivering me to hell.

From now on, I never wanted to see Alan Rivers again.