Chapter 4

"Pearl, I've told you this before," Hank snapped, his tone sharp. "You can't use your pregnancy as an excuse for your tantrums. Apologize to Susie right now, or we'll go get divorced this instant!"

His words made me laugh in disbelief and anger. I reached into my bag, pulled out the divorce papers I had prepared long ago, and threw them onto the table in front of him.

"Fine, let's go get divorced. Now."

Hank's expression darkened the moment he saw the papers. He glared at me, his mood shifting from arrogance to something colder.

"Pearl, you're still carrying our child," he said. "You're just being sensitive because of the pregnancy. I can forgive you for acting impulsively."

I met his gaze, unflinching, and after a long pause, I spoke.

"Hank, no one knows better than you whether I'm being impulsive or not."

His face froze. Susie, standing nearby, opened her mouth to speak but was cut off by Hank before she could say a word.

"Susie, we need to talk in private. Please go home for now, okay?"

She hesitated, her eyes widening as they darted to the divorce agreement and its detailed property division. Her expression twisted in anger, and she looked like she was about to start shouting at me, but Hank quickly ushered her out the door before she could cause a scene.

The moment she left, his demeanor changed. His voice softened with a hint of pleading.

"Pearl, I know you're upset about how close Susie and I are. But trust me, I only see her as a sister. You'll always be my wife, the one who holds the title of Madam in the Dawson family.

"What would become of our child if we divorce now? You're going to let them grow up in a broken home?"

I stayed silent, watching him intently.

"Hank, you don't love me," I said, my voice steady and clear. "We can divorce, give Susie the title she's been fighting for. Shouldn't you be happy about that?"

At that, his face contorted with frustration, and he angrily tossed the divorce papers aside.

"How could I not love—"

Before he could finish, his phone rang, and without needing to look, I already knew it was Susie. That special ringtone had been burned into my memory.

Under my unwavering gaze, Hank hesitated for only a second before answering the call. Whatever was said on the other end made him immediately stand up.

"Susie's in trouble. I need to go check on her," he said.

I stared at him, my face emotionless, offering no response.

Before leaving, he leaned down, as if trying to kiss me goodbye, but I instinctively pulled away. He stood there, awkwardly frozen in place.

"Pearl, I promise, after this, I'll keep my distance from Susie," he said.

I picked up the divorce agreement from the floor, my voice cold and steady. "Tomorrow morning, 9 a.m., at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of the Women's and Children's Hospital. Don't be late."

Hank nodded eagerly, mumbling promises as he rushed out the door, as if the person waiting outside was the most important one in his life.

I didn't respond. I simply deleted and blocked all his contact information.

The next morning, 9 a.m. came and went, but Hank never showed up.

It didn't matter. My parents accompanied me to the hospital, standing by as I walked into the surgery room.

The operating room was cold, the air chilling me to the bone, though nothing could compare to the cold that pierced me when the forceps entered my body.

Under the anesthesia, I slowly lost consciousness.

When I woke again, I was lying in a hospital bed.

My parents were there, and my mother's tear-filled eyes immediately overflowed the moment she saw me awake.

She grabbed my hand, her voice thick with concern. "Pearl, does it hurt?"

I smiled and shook my head. "They gave me anesthesia, so it doesn't hurt."

My mother looked like she wanted to say something more, but hesitated. My father, silent until now, sat stoically nearby. After a long pause, he finally spoke, his voice firm.

"Divorce! You must get divorced."

I nodded.

"Okay."

My mother, however, continued to fret over me, worried that the procedure would leave me with lasting complications. Every day, she brought meals from home, carefully ensuring that I recovered under her watchful care.

With her devoted attention, my body slowly regained its strength.

By the second day, I could get out of bed and walk on my own. Following the doctor's advice, I took slow steps around the hospital corridor, trying to build back my strength.

My parents were still worried. When it was mealtime, my mother had gone to prepare food, and my father went to fetch water, leaving me alone for a moment as I walked down the hall.

Unexpectedly, I ran straight into Hank, who was helping Susie walk. They both froze upon seeing me.

After an awkward silence, Hank spoke first, his voice faltering. "Pearl, Susie had a progesterone rupture. I was really worried about her, so I came to the hospital with her."

He then added, "I didn't know you were at this hospital too. How are your test results?"

I didn't want to engage with them and turned to leave, but before I could get far, Hank grabbed my wrist.