“From that moment on.”
“Jack, we’re over.”
No response.
Jack’s gentle voice suddenly rang out:
“Don’t be afraid, I’m here. I’ll protect you.”
I turned around.
He was wearing headphones, voice chatting with Tiffany while they played a game together.
The sounds of their game continued late into the night.
I sat alone on the balcony, repeatedly stroking my stomach as the baby kicked vigorously,
and dialed the doctor’s number.
“Doctor, I’d like to schedule an abortion.”
The next morning.
I was woken by sharp pains in my abdomen. I struggled to find Jack.
He was sitting on the couch, long legs crossed.
His phone kept pinging with notifications, and he was smiling from ear to ear.
I called his name several times before he looked up.
Seeing my pale face, he froze for a moment, then hurriedly helped me sit down, his fingers kneading my shoulders.
<
96%
“Honey, I can’t accompany you today. Mr. Murphy is waiting for me to discuss acquiring a cruise ship. The company is developing a new tourism route.“”
His tone was light, as if everything from yesterday had already been forgotten.
He was always like this, letting me go to bed upset.
As if just ignoring me and giving me the cold shoulder would automatically solve the problem.
The pain made me instinctively grab his hand, but his other hand was still focused on typing, completely ignoring me.
Tiffany’s shameless yelling came from outside:
“Jack, your dad’s here! What are you dawdling for?”
Jack immediately broke free from me, put down his phone and ran towards the door.
I collapsed on the floor, my elbow knocking over his phone.
On the screen, a group chat called “Princess Tiffany and Her Knights” was pinned at the
top.
I couldn’t help but click on it, and froze in place.
“Emma is such a drama queen. I told you ages ago that you two weren’t compatible, but you wouldn’t listen.“”
“It’s so exhausting having an outsider at every gathering. You should’ve just married Tiffany back then!”
Tiffany sent a tongue–sticking–out emoji:
“Whatever, it’s my birthday today, why bring up that killjoy? Jack said he’s buying a cruise ship as my birthday gift. This princess is ready for the sea breeze and sunshine!”
Jack’s teasing reply followed: “Kowtow to daddy and this life is yours.”
<
Aug
Tiffany immediately sent a kowtowing emoji:
“Now your life is mine, I order you not to bring your wife today!”
“Bro, I saw Tiffany packed a bikini. Who’s the real birthday gift here? [wink]”
It felt like a bucket of ice water had been dumped over me, leaving me cold and
breathless.
As expected, people can act, but their true colors always show in their inner circle.
When I first tried to fit in with them, everyone seemed as friendly as angels.
But I mistook their politeness for sincerity.
They were an impenetrable fortress, and I would always be the unwelcome outsider.
The pain intensified. I trembled as I took out my phone and took screenshots, page by
page.
96%
When Jack came back for his phone, I was already curled up on the couch in pain.
He didn’t even glance at me, in a rush to leave.
“Honey, my friends want to go play on the cruise ship too. You’re pregnant and can’t join in the fun anyway, so don’t bother coming along.”
I was deathly pale as I grabbed his sleeve:
“My stomach hurts, can you take me to the hospital?”
