Chapter 3

3.

For the next few weeks, Jaxson treated me like a queen.

Even when Sutton called, he didn't run to her like a lost puppy.

Until one ordinary morning.

Sutton burst into my room, threw herself on her knees, and sobbed that she was pregnant with Jaxson's baby.

Jaxson, who was in the kitchen making breakfast, dropped his spatula.

"I never even touched you! How could you..."

Sutton's crying was gut-wrenching.

"It was that night... the night you drank too much. It just happened."

She crawled forward and grabbed the hem of my jeans.

"Please, Savannah, don't make me terminate the pregnancy. I'll be quiet. I'll just be like a pet in the house. Please?"

When I didn't speak, she wailed even harder.

"You're an orphan like me! You should understand! Just say yes, and I'll be your slave forever!"

Her words were like daggers.

Jaxson looked at her with pity and stepped forward to help her up.

I stayed silent and called our private doctor.

After an exam, the doctor confirmed the timeline matched Sutton's story perfectly.

Once the doctor left, Jaxson looked at me, his face full of guilt.

He stammered, unable to find the words.

I broke the silence.

"Since it's your blood, keep it. But you've failed me again, Jaxson."

I tried to sound calm, but my voice trembled.

Jaxson was drowning in remorse.

"Savannah, I messed up. But I can't just abandon my own child. And you know we've been married for years without a baby. Maybe I'm wrong, but you aren't perfect either... tell me, what do you want? I'll give you anything to make up for it."

I felt like laughing.

"Don't you think it's a bit late for that? If you want to make it up to me, give me the pill."

Jaxson grit his teeth and agreed.

He swore to the heavens.

"Savannah, I swear this is the last time. If I ever mess up again, let me lose everything. Let me go back to being the penniless loser I was!"

He had no idea he was out of chances.

I took the last Regret Pill, but I didn't swallow it in front of him.

As soon as he left for the office, I collapsed onto the floor, clutching that tiny pill.

I was finally, finally going to be free!

For years, because of the System's restrictions, I was anchored to him.

I couldn't go more than two miles away from him.

All my hard work had been funneled into his luck, which was why his career had skyrocketed.

Whether it was freezing winter or scorching summer, if he was at the office, I was nearby.

If he was home, I never left.

He never cared where I was because he was certain that whenever he turned around, I'd be there.

I walked out of the Sterling mansion.

Goodbye, Jaxson. Rot in hell.