Chapter 2

2

Lindsey accepted my request almost immediately.

She sent a short message: “Tomorrow at eight, Club Obsidian.”

I replied with a simple, “Okay.”

Then I opened her social media profile.

Lindsey had not blocked me from viewing her posts.

Or rather, she never considered me a worthy rival in the first place.

I lowered my gaze, looking at the vibrant, smiling Paxton captured in her photos.

I had not seen that version of Paxton in years.

He gave Lindsey boyish grins and prepared thoughtful little gifts for her.

He even hand-carved a ring for her, engraved with their initials.

Memories rushed back into my mind uninvited.

When Paxton and I got our marriage license, he had no money for a wedding.

He took me to a cheap diner, bought two cans of soda, and split a burger.

Amidst the cheap neon lights, Paxton pulled the soda tab off his can and slid it onto my finger. “Summer, I promise I will buy you a real diamond ring one day.”

The young boy had nothing to his name, but the sincerity in his eyes was more precious than any gem.

I believed him.

I kept those two soda tabs in a velvet box for ten whole years.

Later on, as Paxton built his business empire, he never mentioned buying a ring again.

I kept making excuses for him, telling myself he was just too busy.

As long as his heart belonged to me, nothing else mattered.

Now, every sweet illusion was shattered.

I smiled bitterly. Paxton knew everything.

He just felt that I was no longer worth the effort to please.

Locking my phone, I began packing his things.

By the time I had packed every single item of Paxton’s into boxes, it was already eleven at night.

I ignored his text message: “Babe, do not wait up for me. Go to sleep.”

I texted Lindsey for an address: “I am having Paxton’s things sent to your place.”

She sent a location in an ultra-wealthy gated community.

My heart sank.

No wonder Paxton could not resist. Her family’s fortune was enough to save him ten years of hard labor.

I hired a courier service to deliver the boxes, then climbed into bed completely exhausted.

I did not sleep a wink all night.

The next morning, I looked in the mirror at my bloodshot eyes.

I went straight to the clinic. “I want to end this pregnancy.”

The doctor, an old acquaintance who knew how much pain I had endured through IVF, tried to stop me. “Do not make a rash decision. If you lose this baby, you might never be able to conceive again.”

“You love children so much. How can you just give it up?”

My hand rested on my lower belly, and a pang of hesitation hit me.

I sent Paxton one last text, giving him a final chance.

“Cut all ties with Lindsey Frost, and I will pretend none of this ever happened.”

“For the sake of our baby and me, fire her from the company, okay?”

After a long silence, he only replied with three words: “Stop making scenes.”

My heart plunged into an icy abyss.

“Doctor, do not wait. Please prepare the procedure.”

…

An hour later, I was lying on the recovery bed.

I stared blankly at the sterile white ceiling.

Baby, do not blame Mommy. Mommy is hurting too.

But I could never let you come into this world only to face a father who does not love us.

After all, against the Frost family and Lindsey, I could never win.

I rested for most of the day.

Only when evening fell did I call a cab to Club Obsidian.

Lindsey sat in the VIP booth, scanning me from head to toe. “Have you made up your mind? How much do you want?”

“You are quite obedient, going to the clinic on your own to take care of it. Saved me the trouble.”

As expected, she had people watching me.

I gave a tragic smile. “Miss Frost, you are young and gorgeous. Why must you steal Paxton?”

“Do you know we have been together for ten years?”

“Of course I know,” she said with pity in her eyes. “You suffered with him, but the woman who gets to stand beside him in the end can only be me.”

“Paxton is the most promising rising star my father has ever endorsed, and he suits my taste perfectly. So, I am having him.”

Lindsey pushed a blank check toward me.

“Miss Ward, fill in a number.”

Every memory I shared with Paxton flashed through my mind like a movie reel.

In the end, I picked up the pen and signed my name. “Fifty million dollars to buy out my ten years with Paxton.”

“Once the funds clear in three days, I will leave this city forever and vanish from your lives.”