The Choice to Abort

After returning from the hospital, I drifted through each day in a daze.A few days later, River came home from his "business trip." He had no idea that I already knew about his plan to use a surrogate and pretended as if everything was perfectly normal. But I had already made quiet plans of my own. What he didn't know was that the woman, once told she might never conceive, was now carrying his child."Baby, you've been distracted all month. Are you still worried about not being able to get pregnant? I love you. As long as you're by my side, it doesn't matter if we never have children." His gentle voice filled my ears. I stared blankly at him, only to notice the book in his hands—The Pregnancy Guide.The memory of the hospital surged up all at once, and a bitter smile tugged at my lips.River must have noticed the change in my expression because he quickly tried to cover the book title. "It's for a distant relative—an aunt of mine. She's having a geriatric pregnancy, and her health

I looked at her, the corners of my lips curling into a mocking smile. "Do you take me for that fool River? Do you think I can't see through your little schemes? Don't forget, we were once roommates in college. You hated kids back then. And now, all of a sudden, you're overflowing with maternal love?"Seeing that I had called her bluff, Yvonne dropped the pretense. "You're right, I do hate kids. But I don't hate River. I saved his life, and because of that, I lost the chance to ever be a mother. He'll owe me forever. Once the baby is born, do you really think he'll choose you over me?"Her words made me laugh outright. "Yvonne, if I remember correctly, your hysterectomy wasn't because you saved him—it was because of multiple miscarriages. You had no choice but to have that surgery, isn't that right?"She shot to her feet, her face full of shock. However, he quickly smoothed her expression and said evenly, "And who would believe you now? Do you have any proof? If you really had eviden

Before opening the text message, River already felt a wave of dread rising in his chest. His heartbeat grew unsteady, and unease spread through him like a chill. He hesitated for a long time but eventually tapped on the unread message. As the words appeared on the screen, his face stiffened, the color draining from it."What's wrong? Why do you look so pale?" Yvonne leaned closer naturally, glancing at the phone before teasing with a pout. "Is Joanne throwing another tantrum again? She's even threatening to get a lawyer for the divorce. Wait—I remember now. Wasn't her childhood sweetheart a lawyer? Do you think the two of them are teaming up to stage some act?"River seized on her explanation like a lifeline, nodding to reassure himself. "She loves me too much. There's no way she'd divorce me over something so trivial… She's only trying to scare me."But even as he said it, panic clawed at his heart. With trembling fingers, he opened the email. The very first attachment was a photo

"Fuck off!"River didn't hesitate for a second. He hung up on the woman who had spent years deceiving him and was still trying to deceive him. The next call he made was to his assistant, instructing him to dig into the truth behind what really happened back then.His mind was clear now—he wanted justice for the child he had lost.Unable to reach River, Yvonne began to panic. Desperation drove her to plan a visit in person.The results of the investigation came quickly. And when the truth lay bare before his eyes, River realized just how deeply he had been played. Rage consumed him as he drove back home.The moment he stepped into the residential complex and saw the lights on in his house, his heart leapt. For a fleeting instant, hope flickered in his gaze. He pushed the door open eagerly. "Baby, I knew it—you came back. You've forgiven me—"But the words died in his throat. From the kitchen, Yvonne emerged with a bright smile, apron tied neatly around her waist.River's face dar

And what did I get in return? A husband who wanted to have a test-tube baby with his old flame—and a surrogate who just so happened to be her mother.My mocking tone filled his eyes with despair. However, staring into those bloodshot eyes, I felt nothing anymore—no anger, no sadness, not even disappointment. I had no wish to waste another word on him. I turned to leave.Suddenly, madness flashed across his gaze as he grabbed me, pinning me against the courtyard wall. He lowered his head, trying to press his lips to mine. Disgust churned in me so violently that I wrenched my face away—and then gagged right in front of him.He froze, staring at me in silence, eyes rimmed red. His lips twisted into a hideous, broken smile before he finally forced out the words. "Joanne, do you think I'm disgusting?"I gave him no answer. After all, we were adults now, and silence was its own kind of answer. The truth was that I did find him disgusting—not only from his actions but the way he had sha