Chapter 2 Three Years Was All We Had

I'd asked Orson nine times to go to City Hall with me to get our marriage license, right up until they closed for the day.

I'd always believed he was genuinely too busy with work. But unfortunately, I happened to see his messages with Cressida.

"Orson, we agreed we'd get our marriage licenses on the same day. Don't you dare go behind my back and get yours without me."

"Don't worry. Why don't we just go get our marriage licenses together? That counts as doing it together, don't you think so?"

Cressida responded with an emoji.

I finally understood the truth. It wasn't that Orson didn't want to get married. He just didn't want to marry me.

My whole body began to tremble uncontrollably.

Not long after, I started bleeding.

That was why my baby had to stay in an incubator from the moment he was born.

I let out a bitter laugh, but the ringing of my phone pulled me out of my thoughts.

"Sera, which hospital are you at? I'll send someone over. You're making me worry."

I sniffed and said, "I'm okay now, Dad. The baby and I are both safe."

After hanging up, I sent my father the hospital's address and soon fell asleep.

…

I dreamed that Orson and I had fallen in love at first sight. Back then, he was a college student with nothing to his name.

I supported him through medical school, stood by him while he worked on his research, drove him to the lab through the rain, and shared countless simple meals of bread and pickles with him.

Just when his research was finally starting to show promise, Orson spent every last dollar he had on a ring and proposed to me.

"Seraphina, you're the one I want to spend forever with."

However, it had only been three short years.

Soon after that, Cressida appeared. She was an intern at Orson's lab, bright and full of life, capturing his attention immediately.

He stopped coming home and spent night after night at the lab. Even when he did come home, all he talked about was Cressida.

I once asked him outright, but he answered calmly, "She's just an intern. Trust me, I wouldn't do anything out of line."

But I knew he'd already fallen for her.

I wanted to leave, but I was already pregnant with our child. I stubbornly wanted to give him a chance. Even more so, I wanted to give our baby a complete family.

Now, I couldn't bring myself to stay in the relationship.

…

When I woke up, Orson was already beside my bed with breakfast. The moment he saw me stir, he hurried over. "Here, have something to eat. I just checked on the baby in the incubator. He's doing fine."

My body went rigid for a moment, but I obediently drank the stew Orson had prepared.

Seeing that, he secretly let out a sigh of relief, probably thinking yesterday's incident had blown over. In truth, I simply couldn't be bothered to argue anymore.

Ten minutes later, Orson stared at his phone, seemingly troubled.

In the end, he spoke. "I'll get someone to stay with you. The lab's pretty busy these next couple of days, so I won't be able to come by."

I nodded. "Okay."

Orson looked at me in surprise. He stood up delightedly and ruffled my hair. "Seraphina, you're so understanding now."

While looking at him, I answered solemnly, "Ever since I ended things with you yesterday, we have nothing to do with each other. I'll pay for the caregiver later. You can leave now."

Hearing this, Orson's expression darkened. "What do you mean? How many times do I have to tell you? The lab's been hectic. There's nothing going on between Cressie and me. Gosh, why won't you believe me?"

I looked at the anger in Orson's eyes and calmly shrugged him off. "Do you think I'm stupid? If there's really nothing going on between you two, why would you agree to get your marriage licenses on the same day?"

Orson froze for a moment before snapping angrily, "You went through my phone?"

I couldn't help but laugh. "I don't have the energy to play games with you anymore. Now that I'm leaving, do whatever you want with her. I'll get out of your way."

I felt an overwhelming sense of heartache, but I pretended to be fine.

All of a sudden, Orson sighed. "Stop this, Seraphina. We have Alaric now. If you want to get our marriage license, we'll go as soon as you're discharged. As for Cressie, if you don't like her, I'll have her leave the lab."

I stared at him in surprise, but he simply leaned down and kissed my forehead. "Seraphina, I'll be back for you."

I frowned just as my phone began ringing.

The person's voice came through. "It's been a while, Seraphina."