Chapter 2

Ivy's POV

“We’re not keeping that child. Abort it. I want nothing to do with it.”

Rowan’s words exploded the moment we stepped into the house.

I had barely recovered from fainting earlier. At the hospital, the doctor’s confirmation still rang in my ears, I was three weeks pregnant. Three weeks. We had always been careful… except for that one reckless night three weeks ago when we ran out of pills. I never imagined it would come to this.

I ignored him and headed straight for the bedroom, but Rowan followed, his footsteps heavy behind me.

“Didn’t you hear me?” he shouted. “I said we’re not keeping it!”

I spun around, fury blazing through my veins. “Why? Why can’t I keep my child? After years of waiting, after everything I’ve endured in this marriage, I finally have a chance to be a mother, and you want me to throw it away?”

Rowan’s expression hardened. He stepped closer, lowering his voice as if trying to sound reasonable. “Sienna is already pregnant with my child. I’ve told her to keep it. You know how things are right now. There’s no money to take care of two children. Be realistic, Ivy.”

A dry, bitter laugh escaped my lips. “Realistic? You should have thought about being ‘realistic’ before getting both of us pregnant. Abortion is not an option. What if something goes wrong? What if I lose my womb? This child is mine, and I’m keeping it.”

His face twisted with irritation. He straightened up abruptly. “Fine. Keep it. But don’t expect me to be involved. I’m done with you. Sign the damn divorce papers and get out of my house.”

His words hit like a slap. “Your house?” I repeated, voice shaking with disbelief. “I’ve been paying the rent for the past three years, Rowan. You don’t get to throw me out!”

He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. “Sienna is moving in here in three days.”

The world tilted. My knees nearly gave out. “Moving in?” Tears stung my eyes as my voice cracked. “Rowan… must you humiliate me like this? Why are you punishing me? I’m sorry if I’ve done anything wrong. Please… just give me one more chance. I’ll work harder. I’ll do anything you want. Just don’t do this to me. I have nowhere else to go.”

He stared at me coldly for a moment, then stormed out without another word, leaving me alone in the suffocating silence. My chest felt like it was caving in.

“Sienna…” I whispered, my voice darkening with rage. “I won’t let you destroy everything I’ve built.”

I couldn’t just sit here and cry. Not while that woman was busy tearing my life apart.

Within minutes, I was in a cab heading to the Rae Mansion.

The moment I stepped into the sitting room, Mom and Dad turned toward me. Their expressions shifted when they saw the state I was in.

“Where is she?” I demanded, my voice trembling with barely contained fury. “Where’s Sienna?!”

A mocking voice floated in from the kitchen. “Who’s looking for me?”

Sienna emerged, a smug smile playing on her lips.

I didn’t think. I lunged forward, grabbing her by the collar of her designer shirt. “How could you? How dare you ruin my home?!”

She shoved me off with surprising strength and straightened her clothes. “Finally found out, huh? Rowan is going to be mine now. I’m carrying his child, something you couldn’t do for years.”

I moved to strike her again, but Mom grabbed my arm and delivered a stinging slap across my face.

“Mom…” I gasped, pressing a trembling hand to my burning cheek.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Mom snapped. “You want to hit a pregnant woman? For the record, Sienna didn’t snatch your husband. Rowan went to her willingly.”

“Is that supposed to make it okay?” I whispered, my voice breaking. I turned to Dad, desperate. “Dad… you knew? You knew she was sleeping with my husband, your daughter’s husband, and you said nothing?”

Dad shifted uncomfortably. “Your sister is pregnant now. What do you expect me to do? The best thing is for you both to stay with Rowan. Stop causing a scene and think about the family for once.”

Tears streamed down my face as I let out a hollow laugh. “I expected this. You’ve always been their little errand boy…”

Slap!

Dad’s palm connected hard with my cheek. The shock froze me in place. He had never hit me before. Never.

I looked at Mom, bitterness flooding my chest. “You took my father from me. We were fine until my real mother died right after my high school graduation. Two months later, you moved in with your daughter. I never disrespected you. I accepted you. But what did you do? You told Dad not to send me to college and he agreed.”

I glared at her. “Now you must be thrilled. Your daughter is pregnant, something you’ve never managed in all these years of marriage. Barren woman.”

Slap!

Another strike from Dad echoed through the room.

“Ivy!” he roared.

I stepped closer, refusing to back down. “Am I wrong? Eight years and you couldn’t give him a child. What does that make you?”

Dad’s hand shot out, gripping my neck tightly. “You will not speak to my wife like that,” he growled. “Whether she gives birth or not is none of your business. I’m not complaining. Watch your mouth, or you’ll regret it.”

I pried his fingers off my neck, staring straight into his eyes. “What else can you do to me, Dad? What else is left?”

A chilling smile slowly spread across Dad’s face as he released me. “Suit yourself, Ivy.”

Before I could respond, Sienna stepped forward, rubbing her belly with deliberate satisfaction. She leaned in close, her voice dropping to a venomous whisper so only I could hear.

“By the way… Rowan told me the doctor called him earlier. There’s something you should know about that precious baby of yours. It might not even survive the next few weeks.”

My blood ran cold.