But then I saw a woman pouncing into his arms, and he embraced her, smiling.

We had been together for five years, and I had never seen him dote on anyone like this.

Turned out that he wasn't cold or didn't know how to love someone. It was just that I was not worth his love.

I put my hand in my pocket and crumpled the pregnancy diagnosis form.

No need to tell Dale about my pregnancy. I could raise the baby on my own.

After this, I knew his true colors.

I didn't want anything to do with him from now on.

Just as I was about to leave, Dale saw me.

He walked over with a stern face, separating me from Opal.

"Why are you here?"

He used a questioning tone and was almost accusing me of following him.

If he cared a little about me, he would have noticed that I was pale and sickly.

But he didn't, and he thought I had ulterior motives.

"It has nothing to do with you."

Dale was stunned for a moment.

He was surprised to hear me talk to him like this. After all, I was always meek when I was with him.

He frowned and then said, "Perfect timing. Opal has been doing worse. The doctors have developed a special medicine, but it hasn't been tested clinically yet. You and Opal are about the same height and weight. Give the medicine a go. I wanna know if there are any side effects."

I widened my eyes as I stared at him. He said that so bluntly? He didn't feel guilty at all?

"Are you with me just to use me to do tests for her?"

Dale and I were college classmates. He was the president of the student union back then, and I had always had a crush on him.

But he was so perfect, and I thought our paths would never cross. Surprisingly, he told me he liked me at a gathering.

I thought he knew I liked him, too. Yet the fact was that Opal, like me, was a music major, and I once defeated her in a competition.

He pursued me just to upset her.

And there was more. Ever since the beginning, I was just her substitute.

"What are you talking about? Opal is just my friend. Stop being so paranoid."

He picked up his phone and made a call, saying, "Patrick, get me the medicine."

I frowned, displeased with his tyranny.

I tilted my body and was about to walk away. "Try it yourself."

I wasn't crazy. Why would I test for Opal?

I wasn't some cheap woman.

Moreover, I was pregnant.

I was so angry that my stomach hurt a little. I didn't wanna waste time here with Dale.

Yet Dale grabbed my arm forcefully, and I almost stumbled and fell to the floor.

I instinctively protected my belly.

Dale looked at me coldly and said, "You want a child, right? Go through the medicine testing, and I'll have one with you."

He swiped his phone a few times and sent a few messages.

"I have already asked someone to get the wedding ready."

We got the marriage certificate, but because he was busy, we never had a wedding.

He knew that I wanted a wedding of my own badly.

I looked at Dale coldly.

He was still as cold and noble as when he was in college.

After all these years, I still couldn't change him and get him to love me no matter how hard I tried.

He probably couldn't remember why I insisted on having a child.

Dale had a difficult time starting his business. I supported him by living in the basement with him and delivering takeout.

I fainted at home when he was on a business trip.

Because of overwork, I lost our first baby.

Before I even realized he was in my body, I had already lost him forever.

I was an orphan and was raised by my grandmother.

Since I could remember, I had been bullied by other children.

Other children had their parents to stand up for them, but not me. No one desired a warm family more than me.

So, I tried my best to see to it that my child would grow up in a happy, carefree family.

But I had been malnourished and in poor health ever since.

The doctor said it would be difficult for me to conceive again.

To get pregnant again, I had gone to many doctors, sought help from all kinds of people, and tried various meds. I just wanted to have another baby.

Dale saw all the suffering I endured, but he didn't care.

Now he even used having another baby to be a bargaining chip to force me.

I looked at him coldly. "No need. Dale, let's get a divorce."

A hint of contempt flashed across his eyes.

"You want a divorce? Drop the act, Regina."

Dale obviously didn't believe that I was willing to leave him.

After all, in his eyes, I loved him so much. As long as he was alive, he'd always be my first choice.

I treated him better than I treated myself.

At that time, to support Dale's entrepreneurship, I refused the opportunity to study abroad.

I grasped every chance to make money, including doing live-streaming online and commercial performances. From spring to winter, I was always busy.

I damaged my vocal cords and coughed up blood because I was so busy.

I didn't want Dale to feel guilty, so I told him it was just a cold and a sore throat.

He always bought it and never cared.

In fact, he had never really cared about me.

During those dark days, all he needed was someone to accompany him. Actually, a pet would do the trick.

It could be me, a cat, or a dog. For him, it was all the same.

He knew me very well and was well aware of what I desired the most.

He also knew how to get me in control.

But now, I had already seen through him. I didn't want him anymore. I only wanted my baby. I'd give my baby a warm home.

I was about to say something when Opal walked over and interrupted our conversation.

"You must be Regina. I've heard so much about you. You're doing the med testing for me? Thank you."

She reached out her hand to me with a gentle and peaceful smile.

I snorted and ignored her.

In fact, we had had interactions before. In a music competition in college, she lost to me.

Dale frowned and reproached, "Didn't you hear Opal greeting you? Regina, do you have manners or not?"

I looked him in the eye and said, "No."

Dale was about to say something when Opal grabbed his sleeve.

"Forget it, Dale. After all, no one knows what the side effects will be. Since Regina doesn't want to, drop it. Don't force her."

Dale was even more infuriated after hearing her words.

"Regina, can't you be like Opal? Be sensible, OK? Opal is sick. Why can't you help her?

"Besides, I'm just asking you to do the testing. I'm not asking you to risk your life. Be kind, can you?"

His theory was so ridiculous.

Who said I was supposed to be kind and do the testing for Opal?

He pursed his lips into a straight line, and I knew him well enough to know it meant he was unhappy.

Every time he got angry, no matter whose fault it was, I was always the first one to give in.

But right now, I just wanted to leave before Patrick Corbyn, his assistant, brought the medicine over.

I didn't want to argue with him.

Seeing that I was about to leave, Dale blocked my way.

"Regina, if you dare to leave, I'll take everything from you."

He looked confident. Seemed he was certain his threat would work.

Before I could answer, Patrick came with several bodyguards.

"Mr. Lane, the medicine is here."

I saw the bottle in Patrick's hand.

I subconsciously took a few steps back and accidentally bumped into Opal, who was behind me at some point.

I didn't exert any force, but Opal fell to the floor, and her palm was scraped.

Dale pushed me away forcefully and protected her as if I were some kind of dangerous beast.

I almost fell down and finally managed to support myself by holding on to a pillar.

Dale mercilessly scolded me, "Regina, you know Opal is sick, but you still pushed her on purpose. You are so vicious."

I looked at him in disbelief. I didn't push her.

Could he be more biased?

If he loved Opal that much, why did he break up with her in the first place? And why did he get together with me?

He helped her up and glared at me. "Regina, I've promised to give you a child. What else do you want?"

"I already told you. No need. And I won't do the testing. I'm divorcing you. Dale, didn't you hear?"

Dale was so pissed off that he actually laughed. "You won't do the testing? It's not up to you."

Dale signaled with his eyes, and the bodyguards came forward and pressed me down.

He coldly ordered, "Pour the medicine into her mouth."

I struggled desperately and looked at him pleadingly. "You can't do this to me. I'm pregnant."

Dale obviously didn't believe me. "You're lying. The doctor said you wouldn't get pregnant again. Besides, I've been using protection."

He thought I was making excuses.

But protection didn't always work. He didn't even wanna verify whether I was telling him the truth.

I panicked as I watched the bottle getting closer to me.

"Dale, I'm serious. I'm not lying. I've got the test report in my bag. See for yourself."

Hearing that, Patrick stopped and turned to seek Dale's opinion.

"Mr. Lane, if Mrs. Lane is really pregnant..."

Dale's voice was as cold as ever. "She'll get an abortion then."

I was devastated.

It was his baby, too.

He knew better than anyone how hard it was for me to be pregnant again. If I lost this one, I'd never conceive again!

Dale was resolute. The bodyguards ignored my struggle and forced the medicine into my mouth.

The fluid flew down the corner of my mouth, wetting my collar.

The medicine was bitter, but it was nothing compared to the sadness in my heart.

They let go of me, and I collapsed on the floor, feeling great pain.

Dale walked over, his eyes filled with tenderness.

He stroked my wrist which was red due to the grab gently. "You should have been

"You're healthy. It's just a testing, and you'll be fine. But Opal is weak, and it'll be too much for her."

I looked at him coldly. Should I be grateful to him now?

My stomach hurt so much that I felt suffocated, and I didn't even have the strength to question him.

Dale was in a better mood after achieving his goal.

He picked me up and comforted me gently, "Don't worry. You'll be the only Mrs. Lane. And you'll be the only mother of my baby."

But I didn't respond and eventually passed out because I couldn't hold on any longer.

Patrick was the first to notice, and he was horrified. "Mrs. Lane is bleeding..."

Only then did Dale notice a large puddle of blood on the floor.

His palms were warm.

They were covered in blood.

Dale froze in situ and couldn't utter a word.

Patrick picked up the test report that had fallen from my pocket.

"Mr. Lane... She is really pregnant!"