Chapter 3

My heart spasmed as though thousands of needles were piercing it. I fought not to remember, but the memories surged over me until I could barely breathe.

Was Julian truly like this with only me?

He had always thought I was dirty.

By the time Julian returned, my attorney had delivered the printed agreement to the hospital room.

I uncapped a pen myself and held it out. "Sign this."

Julian instinctively reached for it, but the moment he saw my fingers around the pen, his hand snapped back and his eyes shifted away.

After an awkward pause, he forced a casual tone. "What is it?"

"A small agreement."

Understanding dawned on him. "The Sterling Group deal you arranged? Leave it there. I'll sign it later."

I stared directly at him. "I need you to sign it now. Why won't you, Julian? Is it because I touched the pen?"

He sighed. "Liv, stop imagining things. I react because I see you as a woman. My allergy is proof that I love you. Don't be jealous over nothing."

He refused to look at me and sat in the exact spot Tessa had occupied. Then he tipped his chin toward her. "Tessa, you're my executive assistant. Sign it on my behalf. Olivia arranged the deal, so I trust her. Go ahead."

Tessa gave him a playful wink. "Yes, Mr. Carver."

She took the agreement from me, flipped to the final page, and smoothly signed Julian Carver in the space provided under the proxy authority he had just granted.

When she used his secure corporate authorization token, she finally noticed that it was a divorce agreement. She gave me a meaningful look but said nothing.

"All signed, Julian. I'll put it in your briefcase."

Julian nodded lazily and finally set down his phone. "Liv, stop being angry. I reserved a table at the rooftop restaurant tonight. I'll take you out for something good."

I could not believe what I was hearing. I laughed bitterly. "Do you remember that I just had an embryo transfer? Do you remember that I'm pregnant?"

Embarrassed at being challenged, Julian's face flushed and then hardened.

"Do you have to be so dramatic? I told you your body wasn't suited for pregnancy, but you insisted. I'm allergic to women, so IVF was always the only option. You chose this. Why are you blaming me now?

"I work all day and still make time to visit you and calm you down. What more do you want?"

Julian stood and put on his suit jacket. "I planned to celebrate the Sterling deal with you. Since you don't want to go, I'll take Tessa and meet the team instead. Get some rest."

Tessa immediately pressed herself against him and tugged his sleeve like a spoiled girlfriend. "Perfect! Julian, we haven't gone out drinking together in forever. Tonight, we don't stop until sunrise."

The sight made the room spin. A violent cramp tore through my lower abdomen.

Alarmed, I grabbed Julian's sleeve. "Julian, the baby..."

Terror flooded his face. He recoiled as though I carried the plague and shoved me to the floor.

"I told you not to touch me! I'll break out. I could die!"

He ripped off his jacket. The place my hand had touched was already red and swollen.

My back slammed into the corner of the wall. Pain stole my breath. When I opened my eyes again, blood and fluid were pooling beneath me.

Terrified, I seized Julian's arm. "Save the baby. Please... my baby..."

His hand visibly swelled where I had touched him, smeared with my blood and bodily fluid. He shoved me away in a frenzy, gagging as he tore off his shirt and locked himself in the bathroom.