Chapter 3

3

I lay on the operating table, letting the cold instruments enter my body. I felt the tiny life that was part of my flesh being stripped away bit by bit.

Tears streamed down my face. I felt a crushing guilt, but also a sense of liberation.

A few days later, at the clinic entrance, I ran straight into Jasper.

"Rainie? What are you doing at the hospital?"

The worry in his eyes looked so real. If I hadn't seen his hand firmly resting on Lyra's waist, I might have believed him.

"Lyra wasn't feeling well, so I brought her here for a checkup."

Hearing that, I let out a mocking laugh.

"I didn't realize you had taken a part-time job as a nurse."

Jasper's hand froze as he reached for me.

"Rainie, what is wrong with you? I'm just looking after a friend. Do you really have to be so nasty?"

Lyra stepped between us, wearing a look of fake concern.

"Oh, don't be so harsh, Jasper. Rainie is probably just moody because of the pregnancy. You should be more understanding."

"Rainie, I don't mean to overstep, but you're being way too sensitive. If anything was going on between Jasper and me, it would have happened ages ago, right?"

She reached out to grab my hand. Her cold fingers felt like a snake sliding across my skin, and I instinctively shoved her away.

"Rainie Sinclair! Have you lost your mind!"

He threw me aside with force and carefully helped Lyra back up.

"Rainie, if I knew you were going to act like this because you're pregnant, I should have dragged you to get the procedure myself!"

He picked Lyra up and walked away without looking back. He never saw my pale face or my trembling body.

Jasper hadn't wanted this baby at first. He kept saying it wasn't the right time and that we should focus on his career.

I was the one who wanted a perfect family so badly. I had begged him to let me keep it.

Now, he finally got exactly what he wanted.

Jasper didn't come home for two weeks. When he finally did, he brought Lyra with him.

At the dinner table, Jasper was incredibly attentive, putting food on Lyra's plate.

"Be careful, there are bones in that fish."

Lyra smiled shyly and glanced my way. "You should really look after Rainie instead. I can handle myself."

Jasper looked at me coldly. "She's the reason you're here. She was in a bad mood and caused your injury. Taking care of you is the least she can do."

I watched their little domestic display in silence.

The meal was filled with unspoken tension.

In the middle of the night, while Jasper slept soundly, I stared at his face.

Time had been kind to him. Near thirty, he had no wrinkles, only the rugged charm of a mature man.

Did he ever love me? I think he did.

But time had eroded the traces of our affection, and life had sucked the flavor out of our romance.

The tiny bit of sincerity left had been swallowed by his constant acting.

"Keep your voice down! Are you crazy doing this here?"

I was woken up by the sound of muffled voices and rustling clothes.

I kept my eyes shut, listening to Lyra's smug, sultry laughter. "What are you afraid of? She's a heavy sleeper. Besides, doesn't the risk make it more exciting?"

"I don't know what I'll do if she catches us."

Lyra whimpered playfully. "Then let her kill me. I've already decided I'm yours for life."

"I'll be your mistress, your pet, whatever you want, as long as I can be near you."

"Stop talking nonsense. I promise I'll give you a real title soon."

Then came the sounds of heavy breathing and wet kisses.

Tears silently soaked my pillow.

I had already decided to let go.

Why did my heart still hurt so much?