They even mentioned the surrogacy agreement I signed with the Prescott Family.

Each accusation, each detail, pinned me on the shameful pedestal.

"I won't let anyone other than Astrid give birth to my…"

"Alright."

Before Lucian could finish his sentence, I interrupted him.

I used my elbow to support myself and slowly stood up.

He stared at me, his eyes filled with shock.

Maybe he thought I would never agree, which was why he called me over in the middle of the night to humiliate me in every possible way.

He likely had more despicable plans waiting for me. But he never expected me to agree so easily.

"What did you say?"

I gave a bitter smile and repeated, "I said, I’ll terminate the pregnancy."

As everyone's shocked gazes followed me, I slowly walked out of the private room. The noise of chaos and smashing echoed behind me, but when I closed the door, I shut out everything.

I dialed the number I had contacted a month ago.

"Astrid, you won. I don’t want Lucian anymore. He’s yours."

Astrid had returned a month ago, right when I had just discovered I was pregnant and signed the surrogacy agreement with the Prescott Family.

She reached out to me, hoping I would set up a meeting with Lucian for her.

I knew she only wanted me to be a witness, to tell a few lies that would help her case.

No matter how ridiculous Astrid's words were, Lucian would believe her. Just like how no matter what I said, he would never believe me.

I rejected Astrid's request, but she challenged me, betting that Lucian wouldn't let me keep the baby.

Now, I lost, thoroughly and completely.

I thought that even if he didn't love me, he might still feel some sympathy, even if just for the child. But Lucian didn't. He had no heart.

The next morning, I braved the snowstorm and took a taxi to the hospital to schedule an abortion.

"The baby has already formed. Are you sure you want to terminate the pregnancy?" The doctor flipped through my medical reports, looking somewhat regretful.

"Doctor, I want a regular abortion, not a painless one." I clenched my hand tightly in my sleeve and as I nodded, my heart felt like it was being torn apart.

The doctor looked up in surprise, glanced behind me and then nodded in understanding.

Since there was no one to sign for me, I couldn't choose the painless option, even for an abortion.

As I lay on the operating table, I could distinctly feel the child leaving my body.

The pain was sharp and excruciating, as if it were tearing me apart.

‘I'm sorry, baby. It's Mommy's fault, I couldn't protect you.’

"During the procedure, the pregnant woman suffered a perforation, leading to severe bleeding! Quickly! Get in touch with the patient's family!"

I fainted from the pain, but a nurse pushed me awake. "Where is your family’s phone number? You’re bleeding heavily, we need to contact them immediately..."

"The contact number for the child’s father is on the file!"

***

"Mr. Prescott, your wife is undergoing an abortion at the hospital and has severe bleeding. We need you to come and sign the paperwork!"

The nurse anxiously called out my name.

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

"Lyra, are you trying to set up a scene with the doctor now? Wait until you're dead, then tell me to come collect the body!"

The line went dead with a busy tone and the operating room was in chaos.

My consciousness continued to drift, but the moment I heard those words, it snapped back.

He would rather wait for my death than believe me, not even once.

I forced a bitter smile and it wasn’t until tears began to fall that I finally closed my eyes.

I was so tired. Living was so exhausting and loving someone who didn't love me was even more tiring.

But Lucian, if he knew that the person he loved would rather fake her death to escape, would he regret how he treated me?

Lucian and I grew up together as childhood friends, but my feelings for him could never be seen in the light.

The man who never showed interest in women fell in love with my roommate, Astrid, during our first year of university.

She was a gentle and beautiful girl, like a white rose.

The year we graduated, Astrid suddenly came to me, telling me she no longer loved Lucian and was planning to leave for overseas with her first love.

To spare Lucian’s feelings, she asked me to help her put on an act. What I didn’t expect was that this act would trap Lucian for ten years.

Over those ten years, the Aldridge Family fell apart and my mother, seeking protection from the Prescott Family, drugged Lucian’s drink and sent me to his bed.

From that moment on, I became his secret lover. And under the Prescott Family's scheme, I secretly became pregnant with Lucian's child, signing a surrogacy agreement.

Ten years of turmoil, all I got in return was exhaustion, both physically and emotionally.

After surviving a near-death experience, I woke up to find no one by my side.

In my daze, I thought I saw my father, the one who had always loved me and protected me from everything.

“Dad... I miss you so much.”

The room was quiet, except for the sound of the IV drip.

For the entire half-month, Lucian didn’t even call once.

The day I was discharged, I called his number. When he answered, his tone was full of cold mockery. “Wasn’t it a miscarriage with heavy bleeding? How are you still alive?”

I tightened my grip on the phone and let out a few cold laughs. “Thanks to Mr. Prescott, I’m still alive. Mr. Prescott, I have a news for you. Astrid... she’s still alive.”

The breathing on the other end of the line stopped.

In the ten years I spent with Lucian, every corner was filled with news about Astrid, but her whereabouts always seemed to come from all directions.

No matter what Lucian was doing, the moment there was any sign of her, he would drop everything and rush to her side.

All for a blurry video, too unclear to make out the face, he abandoned me, leaving me alone halfway up the mountain to chase after her overseas.

For a fake rumor, with no photos or videos to back it up, he could even walk away from me after we were in bed together.

I knew Astrid was fishing for something. She couldn't let go of her first love, but she also couldn’t give up on Lucian, the big catch. So she came back and I wasn’t surprised at all.

I took a taxi back to the "home" Lucian had given me. The place he provided as a refuge.

I had barely settled down after returning home from the hospital when I heard the sound of the door opening.

Lucian, dressed in black and looking exhausted, stood in the doorway. “Where is Astrid?”

I didn’t expect him to be so impatient. It hadn’t even been half an hour and he was already here, looking for me.

He had never come here on his own before. Every time, it was me begging him. That’s why Lucian would say I was selling myself. Sometimes, I couldn’t help but feel worthless too.

"The Prescott Family's financial support to the Aldridge Family must not be interrupted. You need to have the contract written out in black and white before we talk." With a sharp sound, he slammed the contract onto the table in front of me.

I was momentarily stunned, instinctively picking it up to examine it.

The contract was meticulously detailed, laying out all my demands, even specifying Aldridge Family's future shares, dividends and the contract’s duration.

I looked up at him, feeling a strange mix of unfamiliarity and pity.

Seeing the person I loved give his heart to someone else, that suffocating pain tugged relentlessly at my chest.

"Mr. Prescott, you spend a fortune for love? you really have guts." I let out a cold laugh, then signed the contract without a second thought.

I pulled out the phone with Astrid’s number stored in it and tossed it toward him.

"Astrid came back a month ago. Use this phone to call her, she’ll pick up."

Not long after Lucian left, the phone at home rang.

"Lucian doesn't want you anymore? Do you have any idea how hard the Aldridge Family is struggling right now? And you're just going to let go of someone like Lucian?"

A sharp pain surged through my lower abdomen and I curled up on the sofa, gasping for air as I clutched the phone.

"Mom, I've taken care of the funds."

After hearing my answer, she finally believed me.

But my mind was starting to drift.

"Since Lucian doesn't want you anymore, why not marry that blind man from the Thorne Family in the north of the city? The Aldridge Family has supported you all these years, you should..."

"Alright, I'll do as you wish."

Before she could finish, I cut her off and hung up the phone. The few words drained me completely.

Who I married no longer matters. What the Aldridge Family needed now was money and resources to rebuild and get my father out of prison.

The thought of resting at home shattered in that instant.

As I packed up my things, I realized, after living here for ten years, I had so little.

Lucian’s presence felt even more distant.

Looking at the empty, cold house, a wave of sadness and emptiness washed over me.

I wiped away my tears and began sealing my luggage, feeling the weight of the moment.

Just as I sat down, the door creaked open. Lucian stood there, dressed in a black suit, the bright light above casting a stark shadow on him.

Standing beside him was none other than Astrid.

“Lyra!” Astrid smiled and rushed to me, pulling me into a tight embrace. “I’ve missed you so much, Lyra.”

Sometimes, I couldn’t help but admire how effortlessly Astrid played the role of the perfect, most affectionate friend.

I also admired Lucian. It took him less than half an hour after signing the contract to get Astrid back.

And now, here they were.

Lucian’s face remained expressionless as he spoke, "Astrid just came back. She said she really wanted to see you, so I brought her over."

As they stepped inside, his footsteps faltered slightly as his gaze swept over the packed boxes.

"Are you moving out?"

His casual question made my heart skip a beat.

"You don’t have to move out. I won’t need this place and Astrid won’t be living here either."

Astrid's expression changed slightly, her grip on my hand tightening. She turned to me with a smile, pulling my hand along.

"That's right. Lucian told me. Over the years, you've taken care of him so much. This house is a little gesture from us to show our appreciation."

Taken care of...

Did Lucian really say that to Astrid?

Of course, he couldn’t let her know about our relationship. He probably thought that Astrid would always remain pure and spotless. What he didn’t realize was that she knew everything.

"I don’t need it anymore. I’ve already found another place to live," I replied, standing up to pack my things. A wave of dizziness hit me and I struggled to stay steady on my feet.

Lucian reached out to steady me. He frowned as he looked at me. "Your face looks really pale. What’s wrong?"

His question, so casual yet tinged with concern, made me feel a little dazed. It was as though the person who made me get the abortion was not him.

"Lyra, what happened to you?" Astrid’s face was full of concern as she took my hand.

“Is it because you’ve been too busy with work lately? Lucian! With what’s happening to the Aldridge Family, how can you not help Lyra…?”

Her tone was sweet with a hint of playful reproach, while Lucian patiently comforted her.

Their closeness, indifferent to my presence, made me feel nauseous.

“You two keep acting, I’m leaving,” I said sharply, standing up and turning to walk away.

Lucian’s expression darkened instantly, his face filled with frustration.