He Ignored My Pain, I Demanded To Leave

Chapter 3

Jeffrey stopped contacting me after that.

I thought things would stay that way forever. Then Beryl got pregnant.

She stood in front of me with her chin slightly raised, proudly showing off her still-flat belly.

Jeffrey stood beside her the entire time, carefully supporting her waist like she was made of glass.

Looking at them together, I instinctively touched my own belly. And suddenly, I thought about my baby.

Three months after I started dating Jeffrey, I held a pregnancy test with two bright red lines and ran to find him, full of excitement. A tiny part of me believed this child might finally make our relationship different.

But after hearing the news, Jeffrey only frowned.

By the time his people escorted me into the hospital and those cold instruments entered my body, I had already lost the child before it ever had a chance to exist.

After the procedure, Jeffrey finally came to see me. I clearly caught a flash of panic in his eyes.

But in the end, all he said was "I don't like kids."

I stared blankly at Beryl's stomach for so long that I didn't even notice Jeffrey walking up beside me.

His voice sounded near my ear, "Beryl will be the future Mrs. Vance. We need a child. You're different. If you really like kids that much, we can adopt one someday."

I slowly closed my eyes and shook my head. My throat felt clogged, like something heavy was lodged inside it. I couldn't make a sound.

I thought, 'Yeah. Of course I was different.'

I turned around numbly, but suddenly laughter erupted from inside the room.

The moment I pushed open the door, my entire body froze.

Beryl stood in the center of the crowd, surrounded by people, holding up a pink leather notebook with a smug smile.

My diary. Inside were the only few photos Jeffrey and I had ever taken together.

The pictures had already fallen onto the floor, trampled beneath people's shoes.

Before I could react, Beryl casually flipped open the diary and deliberately read out loud.

"Jeffrey, I grew up an orphan. Thank you for giving me a home. I dreamed we got married, and I could finally stand beside you openly."

Every hidden feeling I had was ripped open and displayed in front of everyone. The room burst into wave after wave of laughter.

Beryl looked at me with fake sympathy, triumph shining in her eyes.

"So you really don't have parents, huh? No wonder you worked at bars sleeping with men. You should've told me sooner. I totally pity you now. If you love Jeffrey that much, I can give him to you."

The laughter around me grew louder and louder. Some mocked me openly. Others were just enjoying the drama.

My mind went completely blank. I rushed forward and snatched the diary back from her hands.

Clearly, Beryl hadn't expected me to suddenly lose control. She froze for half a second. Then a sly smile curved across her lips.

Her body tilted backward as she deliberately fell onto the floor, looking fragile and wronged.

"My belly hurts... My baby..."

The next second, Jeffrey rushed into the room. He immediately pulled Beryl gently into his arms. But when he turned to look at me, his eyes held nothing except disappointment and blame.

"Joyce, I told you a long time ago. I was never going to marry you. Even if you're upset, why would you push Beryl? She's pregnant."