The next morning, I put on a beautiful dress.

Leaning against the doorframe, Rylen looked at me and chuckled. "You're just going to watch a movie. Why are you dressed so formally?"

Before I left, he bent down and kissed my forehead. His voice was incredibly gentle as he said, "I'll pick you up once the meeting's over."

I nodded and quietly said, "Okay."

…

Half an hour later, I was sitting in the hospital waiting room.

The nurse stood by my side, making one final confirmation. "Ms. Bender, are you absolutely sure about this? You've undergone so many rounds of IVF. Your body is fragile. If you go through with the abortion now, you might never be able to have children again."

I took the papers without hesitation and replied slowly, "I want to terminate the pregnancy. Even if I die on the operating table today, I want it gone."

The nurse froze for a second, clearly shocked by my resolve.

After signing the documents, I changed into the surgical gown and prepared to head to the operating room.

Just then, my phone suddenly started vibrating wildly. The screen flashed with Rylen's name.

I picked it up.

The moment I answered, I heard his panicked voice on the other end. "Clare, let me explain. It's not what you think! That gift box… That gift box isn't—"

His voice faltered, filled with a panic I'd never heard from him before.

Just then, the nurse's voice cut through the air. "Ms. Bender, the surgery is about to begin. Please turn off your phone."

There was a brief silence on the other end of the line.

The next second, Rylen's breath hitched, as though an invisible hand had clamped around his throat.

Then, he completely lost it. "Surgery? What surgery? Didn't you go to watch a movie? Clare Bender, where the hell are you right now?"

His voice was shaking with terror, as if he were on the edge of losing his mind.

I simply stared at the screen, swiped to end the call, and turned my phone off.