Chapter 4

It was a week later when Connor dropped by my place to check on me.

I had no idea how Julie found out about it, but she soon also showed up at my place and launched into an impassioned tirade.

"Have you come to your senses yet, Queenie? You can't keep this baby—it's a result of a terrible mistake! If you go through with this, I can't be your friend anymore, and you'll be a source of shame to everyone you know!"

Upon seeing that I was ignoring her, Julie headed straight for Connor. With a glint flashing in her eyes, she pulled the same stunt again, stumbling forward and falling directly into Connor's embrace.

I didn't miss the brief, triumphant glint in her eyes.

However, Connor merely stepped to the side, causing Julie to fall to the ground and wince in pain. She looked up at Conor with a delicate, fragile expression, tears glistening in her eyes as she bravely held them back.

"You can rest assured that even though my family doesn't have much and that you're Brookhaven's heir, I'm not going to try to get money out of you for this tiny scrape. I may be poor, but I still possess my dignity!"

Connor stared down at her, saying coldly, "I have an excellent lawyer who is good at handling staged-accident scams. Do you care to see for yourself?"

Julie's expression froze before she scrambled to her feet and hurried to my side. "You can't accept handouts like this! Otherwise, you'll completely lose your self-respect! What matters most in this life is your reputation and your dignity, Queenie.

"You see, poverty is no excuse to abandon one's principles. I've already scheduled an appointment with the doctor for you, so please trust me on this."

I had heard that same speech so many times that I was sick of it. I merely responded with a dismissive nod and ushered her out.

In the days that followed, Julie pulled out all the stops—pressuring me to end the pregnancy and parading her so-called integrity in front of Connor.

I was in the middle of packing my belongings when Julie suddenly called. "Haven't you realized your mistake yet, Queenie? When are you going to get the abortion? I'll come along with you."

"That won't be necessary since I'm going abroad."

Upon hearing that, Julie immediately started making her own assumptions. "I get it now! You're worried that the Greene family might come after you if you stay in Caledonia, right? Is that why you're planning to go abroad to get rid of the baby?"

I merely replied with a noncommittal hum, and she immediately brightened up. "That's great, Queenie! As poor as we are, we still have to hold on to our integrity and not let ourselves be manipulated by the rich! I'll help you find a lawyer to take Connor—that bastard—to court once you return!"

I could tell by her voice that she was thrilled, but she had no idea that I was actually going abroad to have the baby.

Thanks to Connor's arrangements, I was soon out of the country, where I spent my days relaxing, eating, and sleeping. Thus, as the days went by, I finally gave birth to a healthy baby girl.

I handed over the baby to the Greenes once I received 60 million dollars in my bank account and made arrangements to return to Caledonia to see my parents.

I had just returned to Caledonia for a few days when Connor sought me out again. He explained that the childcare expert had recommended that a baby needed to bond with its mother from the start, so he dragged me to the shopping mall to buy baby supplies.

However, upon leaving the store, I received a message from Julie. "When are you returning to Caledonia, Queenie? I've already found you a lawyer, who will make sure Connor gets the longest prison sentence possible!"

I didn't bother to text her back, but as luck would have it, we ran right into her when we turned around. Julie was clinging to the arm of a hefty man with a protruding belly, her other hand flaunting several shopping bags plastered with flashy designer logos.

Upon seeing us, Julie's expression twisted with panic. She hurried over, her gaze flicking back and forth between Connor and me, as well as the baby stroller at our side.

Then, in a fit of frenzy, she grabbed me by the throat and shrieked, "You said you had an abortion, Queenie! Where did this child come from?"