Too Late—You Cost Me Both Our Babies

Chapter 3

Our married life was still difficult. Yet every month, we would grit our teeth and set aside a fixed sum as a nest egg for our baby.

For three whole years, we lived frugally and saved up a full 300,000 dollars.

Five years ago was the toughest phase of Julian's business. The company suffered a heavy blow, its cash flow dried up, and our savings were wiped out overnight.

It was also during those most desperate days that I found out I was pregnant. That was our first child after marriage. Even though life was hard and the road ahead uncertain, the moment I heard the news about the baby, I was still filled with joy.

I thought about how we still had 300,000 dollars set aside for the baby. Enough to get us through the hardest phase, enough to raise a child.

I took my bank card and went to the bank full of hope to withdraw the money. The balance shown on the screen was zero.

I panicked and rushed home to confront Julian. That day, his eyes red-rimmed, he hugged me and broke down sobbing, apologizing over and over. He said the gap in the company was too big, he had nowhere else to turn and used this deposit to cover the losses. His face full of regret, he choked out apologies. He said he had never expected me to get pregnant at this time, that he was useless, that he had failed me and the child.

Back then, looking at his exhausted, guilt-ridden face, I felt more heartache than grievance and didn't blame him one bit. I empathized with the hardships of building his company and understood the desperation of having no way out. I willingly swallowed all my grievances and went to the hospital alone to abort our first baby.

But I never could have imagined the 300,000 dollars that made me lose my first child had never been used to fill the gap. It had been used to fund his affair with Ruby.

My first child, gone. My second child, gone too—all because of him.

Immense grief and despair swept through my entire body. I knelt on the cold floor. My whole body trembled violently, tears streamed silently down my face, and I was too choked with sobs to make a sound.

Ruby looked down at my wretched state. "Ms. Tylor, in the end, you still don't love him enough, nor can you give him the happiness he wants. All these years, you haven't even given birth to a child. Only I, only I truly and wholeheartedly love Mr. Ward."

I braced myself against the cold floor. After a long time, I finally stopped my uncontrollable trembling. I uttered one word in a low voice, "Fine."

Slowly bracing myself against the wall, I staggered to my feet. I walked step by step to the desk and turned on the computer. I quickly edited and printed out a divorce agreement.

I pushed it in front of Ruby. "Have him sign it."

A dazzling flash of joy and triumph instantly erupted in Ruby's eyes. She picked up the agreement, elated and lighthearted. "Good. I will definitely have Mr. Ward sign it as soon as possible." She turned and left quickly.

I pulled up the home surveillance footage on my phone. I had originally installed these cameras for the cats at home, never imagining they would help me catch him cheating.

Before long, Ruby showed up. She entered the door code with practiced ease—it was our wedding anniversary date. She walked into the living room as if she owned the place and headed straight for the kitchen.

Julian was bent over, carefully simmering a pot of broth. Hearing footsteps, he turned around. When he saw Ruby, a tender smile instantly filled his eyes.

Ruby stepped forward, stood on her tiptoes, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him. Julian reached out and wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her close, and bent down to respond passionately.

Once they were done, Ruby took the divorce agreement out of her bag. She held it up in front of him and cooed, "Mr. Ward, this is an internship agreement from the law firm. Could you sign it?"

Julian was lost in desire, his eyes full of tender, doting affection. He didn't so much as glance at the contents of the document. He casually took it, picked up the pen, and signed his name with a swift, confident stroke.

The moment the pen left the paper, Ruby's smile grew even brighter.

A moment later, Julian could no longer restrain himself. He bent down and scooped her up into his arms, striding toward the sofa.