Chapter 3

Jennie lay weakly in bed, her lips drained of all color as she listened to the doctor speak with Chloe.

The doctor’s expression was grave.

“She had just suffered a miscarriage, so her body was already extremely weak. Now she’s lost a dangerous amount of blood on top of that. The damage is severe. I’m afraid she may have a great deal of difficulty getting pregnant again.”

Chloe was so furious that she kicked the couch.

“Damn those two! I’m going to kill them!”

She might never be able to have another child?

Jennie placed a hand over her flat stomach as tears filled her eyes.

Afraid Chloe would hear her and worry, she bit down hard on her lip to keep herself from making a sound.

The doctor warned them carefully, “She needs to avoid stress, emotional upset, and any further physical strain.”

Chloe’s eyes reddened.

Refusing to give up, she asked, “Doctor, if she takes good care of herself, is there still a chance she could become a mother someday?”

The doctor was silent for a moment before giving a cautious answer.

“Possibly. It all depends on how well she recovers.”

“All right. I understand. Thank you, Doctor.”

After seeing the doctor out, Chloe returned to the bedside and took Jennie’s hand. She struggled to keep her voice steady.

“Jennie, don’t worry. The doctor didn’t say you definitely can’t get pregnant again. We’ll make sure you get the best care possible. Your body can still recover.”

Jennie closed her eyes and took a deep breath, forcing back the tears.

“It doesn’t matter whether I can have children anymore. I’ve finally realized that no man will ever be worth having a child for again.”

One marriage had already left her broken and bleeding.

She never wanted to marry again.

And if she never married, what did it matter whether she could have children?

Chloe’s nose stung. When she spoke, her voice was thick with tears.

“Jennie, let’s transfer you to another hospital and get you a different room. This time, I’m not leaving your side for a second. That bastard and that bitch won’t get another chance to hurt you.”

Jennie nodded.

“Okay.”

Chloe quickly arranged the hospital transfer.

Jennie was still dangerously weak, so Chloe took care of her with utmost caution, terrified that even the slightest bump might hurt her again.

Once Jennie was settled into her new room, Chloe stayed with her around the clock, determined to keep Daryl and Zara from coming anywhere near her.

“Chloe, what did the police say about Zara?”

Just hearing Zara’s name made Chloe’s temper flare all over again.

“What else could they say? The security footage didn’t actually catch her pouring the oil. And Fisher Corporation’s legal team is notoriously ruthless. They tore the case apart in no time. Without solid evidence, the police had no choice but to release her.”

Jennie tightened her grip on the bedsheet.

Chloe continued, “And that’s not even the worst part. The police said that even if there was footage of Zara doing it, they still couldn’t charge her with attempted murder. At most, she could be charged wth assault.”

Jennie bit her lip, furious and unwilling to accept it.

Zara had killed her baby.

How could she walk away without consequences and continue living as though nothing had happened?

“It’s all Daryl’s fault,” Chloe raged. “If that bastard weren’t protecting her, Zara would never dare act this brazenly. I hope he rots.”

Jennie reached for Chloe’s hand.

“Chloe, help me prepare divorce papers. As soon as I’m discharged, I’m divorcing Daryl.”

Chloe nearly jumped for joy.

“You’re finally leaving him! You should’ve done this years ago!”

Jennie smiled bitterly.

“I was blind and stupid. I hate myself for ever falling in love with him.”

“Everyone makes mistakes,” Chloe said gently. “You’re still young. You’re getting out before he wastes the rest of your life. Let him and Zara stay together and make each other miserable forever.”

Jennie turned toward the window, where sunlight streamed in.

Chloe was right.

She didn’t have to waste the rest of her life on Daryl Fisher.

She should’ve come to her senses long ago.

The price of finally waking up had simply been far too high.

For the next several days, Chloe rarely left Jennie’s side.

Jennie’s parents called during that time, but she didn’t want them to worry, so she made up excuses and brushed off their questions.

Daryl called too.

Not to ask how she was doing.

Not to show concern.

Only to blame her again.

“Why did you transfer hospitals? Jennie, there’s a limit to how long you can keep throwing a tantrum. Can you stop making such a big deal out of everything? If there’s nothing seriously wrong with you, then check out and come home. Staying in the hospital all the time...”

Jennie hung up before he could finish and blocked his number.

Daryl didn’t appear again for the next month.

Jennie spent a week in the hospital, then another month at a private recovery center. She didn’t leave until her body had fully recovered.

After checking out of the recovery center, she didn’t go home.

Instead, she took the divorce papers she had prepared weeks ago and went straight to Fisher Corporation to find Daryl.

When she reached the CEO’s office, she had barely cracked the door open when the conversation inside stopped her in her tracks.

“Daryl, it’s been over a month. Aren’t you going to bring Jennie home? What if she starts making another scene?”

“Daryl, I’m telling you, women are nothing but trouble. They want to control where you go and expect you to spend every second with them. Look at us. We do whatever we want. That’s real freedom.”

Jennie peered through the narrow gap.

Zara had spoken first. The second voice belonged to another member of their group, Gavin Cole.

Zara and Gavin were sitting on the couch, while their other friend, Hayden Shaw, sat on the edge of Daryl’s desk, fidgeting with the rotating pen holder.

“If it were up to me, I’d rather marry Zara,” Hayden said. “She’s laid-back, low-maintenance, and wouldn’t try to control everything I did.”

Zara rose, walked over, and smacked him hard.

“Stop talking nonsense. We’re bros. Have you ever heard of bros getting married? That’s disgusting.”

Hayden sat up straighter and threw an arm around her shoulders.

“I was only joking. Besides, if Jennie hadn’t manipulated Daryl, he never would’ve married her. That woman is way too calculating.”

Gavin sighed regretfully.

“Nothing he can do about it now. She’s pregnant. Even if Daryl regrets marrying her and wants a divorce, he’s stuck.”

Expressionless, Jennie looked at Daryl, who sat silently behind his desk with a dark expression.

His friends were insulting and humiliating her right in front of him.

Yet from beginning to end, he never said a single word in her defense.

Back when she loved Daryl, she had endured every joke, insult, and cruel remark his friends threw at her.

This time, she refused to swallow it.

Jennie kicked the office door open.

The crash made all four people inside jump.

The moment Daryl saw her walk in, the gloom vanished from his face. A flicker of delight appeared in his eyes.

“So you’re finally done throwing your tantrum?”

Jennie laughed in disbelief.

He had known she was angry.

Yet he had left her alone for more than a month without once trying to find her, comfort her, or help her through any of it.

He had simply expected her to deal with the pain on her own and return when she was finished.

Jennie pulled the divorce papers from her bag and tossed them onto his desk.

“Daryl Fisher, I want a divorce. The papers are right there. Sign them so we can end this cleanly and go our separate ways.”

The office fell into complete silence.

Daryl froze.

So did Zara, Gavin, and Hayden.