Chapter 2

I bit my lip and clutched the hem of my clothes, but my resolve quickly shattered as tears rolled down my cheeks.

Zack took a deep breath and pulled me into his arms. He lost his composure when he felt my frail shoulders shaking uncontrollably and the tears soaking into the skin of his neck. The scene absolutely broke his heart.

He stroked my back gently, pressing his lips together firmly before comforting me.

"Everything will be alright, Ashley. We can always have more children in the future. Your leg is still injured, and you need surgery immediately, or it will be ruined."

I knew full well that his goal wasn't to heal my leg. It was to extract my bone marrow.

Tears welled in my eyes as I shook my head vigorously. "I don't want the surgery. Can we just go home, please?"

He had already killed our baby. Was he also trying to kill me next?

"Be good, Ashley. You just have to endure it a little longer. The pain will fade soon. When you open your eyes, everything will be fine."

"No…"

But before I could finish, Zack pinned down my arms and legs. Seconds later, the doctor administered the anesthetic.

As my consciousness began to slip away, I heard the doctor warn Zack, his voice heavy with reluctance.

"Are you certain about this, Mr. Burton? The baby is gone, and your wife has just had her placenta forcibly removed. She's extremely weak. If you extract her bone marrow now, it could cost her her life. One wrong move, and…

"Furthermore, her uterus is severely damaged. She will never be able to carry another child."

So, that was it. I would never be able to bear children again.

Those instruments had been forced roughly into my body, leaving my uterus in a state of utter ruin. And even now, Zack was still trying to deceive me.

"Avril can't wait any longer. My heart aches that much more for every second she spends suffering in agony. I can't bear to see her suffer anymore.

"So what if she can't have any more children? Avril will bear my children later. We'll just raise them as Ashley's children. Schedule the surgery immediately! No more dilly-dallying!"

Zack gave the order, his eyes sharp and ruthless.

As the anesthesia took full effect, I closed my eyes, tears sliding down silently as my heart plummeted into an endless abyss.

Everything I felt shattered in that instant, leaving nothing but debris and wreckage behind.

…

When I opened my eyes again, Zack's eyes were bloodshot, yet he beamed with joy.

"Darling! How are you feeling? You've been unconscious for three days and nights! You nearly scared me to death. How could I ever continue living without you?

“The doctor said you'll never regain the use of your injured leg because it wasn't treated in time. But it doesn't matter. I'll take care of you for the rest of your life. No matter what happens to you, I will always love you.”

I offered a bitter, hollow smile.

Was that really so? Had he really tried to save my leg? Or had he just taken advantage of my unconscious state to drain every last bit of marrow from my bones?

Did he even love me at all? Was his version of love nothing more than constant, relentless harm?

If that was the case, I absolutely wanted nothing to do with it.

I stayed silent, tears streaming down my face. My thoughts drifted back to my child who had been a part of my body and soul for eight months.

I never even got to catch a glimpse of him. I never had the chance to hold him in my arms.

Zack let out a deep, heavy sigh when he saw how upset I was.

He wiped me down with warm water. He attended to my needs, personally feeding me, telling me stories every day to lull me to sleep, and busying himself with every little task. He played the part of a man who cherished his wife above all else extremely well.