Chapter 2

“But there is no us anymore, Austin.”

I mumbled it out loud without realizing it.

Austin hugged me and said, “Briar, don’t say crazy things like that.

“I promised your mother I’d take care of you for the rest of your life.”

When I looked into his panicked eyes, I finally realized that it was not an illusion. Austin had indeed come to see me.

But before he could finish peeling the apple in his hand, he stood up and left again.

He was still carrying a box in his hand.

Clearly, he was in the hospital because of the contents of the box.

I was just wondering what was inside the box when he spoke first.

“Sorry, Briar. You know how stubborn Tawny is. She won’t sign the renewal agreement unless she sees the actual fetus.”

Something snapped in me.

He had actually turned our baby’s remains into a tool to please his sugar baby.

I ignored how weak my body felt and ripped the tubes off my body.

I desperately crawled to his feet.

“You already took away the baby’s right to live.

“Please, for the sake of what we used to have, spare its dignity just this one last time.”

Austin was preoccupied with the agreement that had not yet been signed. His eager footsteps did not pause for a moment.

“Briar, the living come first.

“Don’t worry. Once she’s done looking at it, I’ll send it off right away for a proper burial.”

I was shoved hard to the side. My freshly stitched wound instantly tore open, and I started bleeding all over the floor.

But that did not even come close to the pain in my heart.

Back in my hospital bed, I took out my phone and dialed that familiar number without hesitation.

“Professor, I’m confirming my spot for that overseas research project you mentioned.”

“Aren’t you about to give birth? Would your husband be okay with that?

“What about your sick mother? Can you really walk away from all of that?”

I forced myself to hold back my grief as I choked out the words, “The baby is gone. My mother will be gone soon, too.

“It’s over between Austin and me...”

After a long sigh on the other end, my mentor’s pained voice came through.

“I understand. I’ll take care of everything. You should take care of yourself.”

After hanging up, I went to handle the hospital discharge procedures. I took a cab to Austin’s house to pack my belongings.

The project would commence in about a month. It was also the same amount of time the doctors gave my mother.

Before leaving, I would stay by my mother’s bedside. I would not leave until I have seen her off peacefully.

As I approached Austin’s house, a commotion came from inside.

I quickened my pace. Through the doorway, I saw Austin kneeling in the yard in front of his father, Alexander Revelstone.

“I’m not getting up until you agree to let me marry Tawny.”

Seeing his stubbornness reminded me of the shy twenty-year-old boy from ten years ago.

Back then, he had also begged my father, “I’ll only have Briar as my wife as long as I live.

“I’ll continue asking until you agree!”

Alexander was furious. He hurled the teacup in his hand hard at the stone floor.

“It’s only been a few years, and you’ve changed your partner again?

“How long is this little fling supposed to last this time?”

“It’s for real this time.”

He squeezed Tawny’s hand, who was beside him.

“Tawny and I are never splitting up.”

“I can’t be bothered with your messy affairs!” Alexander snorted coldly and left while leaning on his cane.

Austin helped Tawny carefully up from the floor. He turned and saw me.

A flash of guilt appeared in his eyes. However, he quickly regained his composure.

“Tawny’s pregnant. You know how hard life is for an illegitimate child in this world.

“But I promise you this. Once her kid is Revelstone’s legitimate family member, I’ll divorce her and marry you again.”

Austin had forgotten something. He was an illegitimate child himself because his father had cheated.

He was only accepted in the Revelstone family after Alexander’s legitimate wife and child died in a car accident.

Unfortunately, his mother, Mary Revelstone, had already passed away. Years of hard work had taken a toll on her health.

The poor woman never had a single good day in her entire life.

Every time I thought about who was really to blame for her misfortune, I recalled Austin’s promises.

[I will never betray Briar as long as I live. If I break that promise, I hope I die a gruesome death.]

I looked at Austin. I knew his face so well, but at that moment, I did not recognize it.

“No thanks. I hope you two have a long and happy life together.”

I pulled my hand from his grip before turning around and heading upstairs to pack my belongings.