Chapter 2

With Adeline's help, I finally managed to get into the passenger seat. I had just fastened my seat belt when a runaway truck came hurtling toward us.

I had no time to dodge. All I could do was shove Adeline away with everything I had.

In the end, I was trapped inside the wreckage myself. Almost immediately, warmth spread between my legs, and I felt my baby slipping away.

I trembled, desperate to scream for help. Tears blurred my vision, yet I couldn't make a sound.

In the haze of unconsciousness, I heard Adeline's frantic sobs and Elliot Caldwell's voice.

"Stop messing around, Adeline!" Elliot barked. "So, anytime I'm with Veronica, you just make up whatever lies you want?

"A car accident? Seriously? You're ridiculous. Do you have any idea how rare something like that even is?

"I'm warning you. Stay away from that crazy best friend of yours! Don't start getting jealous like her. Veronica's hurt right now, and I'm in the middle of dressing her wounds. Stop bothering me!"

Eventually, passersby called the police and an ambulance, and Adeline and I were rushed to the hospital.

…

Although Adeline and I survived, both of us lost our babies forever.

I looked at Adeline as she clutched her phone tightly. The surgery had drained the color from her face.

"I'm sorry. I never thought Elliot could really stand by and do nothing," she said, tears streaming down her face.

I needed emergency surgery after losing too much time. It was a high-risk procedure that only Elliot could perform.

However, he was convinced that Adeline was simply jealous of Veronica. He dismissed it as a lie and blamed her for everything instead.

In the end, my uterus had to be removed. I would never be able to have children of my own again.

I let out a sigh. Just as I was about to speak, Elliot's call came through.

"Have you lost your mind? A car accident yesterday, and now you're telling me you had a miscarriage? What's next? Are you going to jump off a building tomorrow?

"Worse, you've learned to threaten me with divorce. Birds of a feather truly flock together. You've picked up nothing but bad habits from Emilia!"

Elliot went on, "If it weren't for the fact that I still have to change Veronica's bandages today, I'd come teach you both a lesson!

"Rowan's a psychiatrist, and his job is stressful enough. Not only is Emilia inconsiderate, but she stirs up trouble every day. Honestly, they should just get a divorce. Having a sister-in-law like her disgusts me!"

The call ended abruptly.

I looked at Adeline. Her eyes were red-rimmed, and she was trembling uncontrollably.

I reached out to pat the back of her hand, saying, "Don't listen to him. Get some rest. After that, we'll file for divorce together."

All at once, tears streamed down Adeline's cheeks.

Looking at her tear-streaked face, I couldn't stop crying either. The love we had once dreamed of had pushed us both into an abyss.

Ever since Veronica had been diagnosed with depression and attempted suicide at home, the Caldwell brothers had revolved around her every waking moment.

Rowan had even stopped seeing other patients altogether, treating only Veronica.

To help her sleep, he called her every night and told her bedtime stories.

Meanwhile, I was suffering from severe morning sickness. I could barely sleep, yet he dismissed me as being dramatic.

"Everyone else is doing just fine. Why are you the only one with so many problems?" Rowan had snapped.

He'd take Veronica to the amusement park but refused my simple requests for walks.

"You have Adeline, don't you? Veronica only has Elliot and me."

I watched my body change during pregnancy and sank into anxiety. Before long, I was consumed by depression.

But when Rowan learned about it, he shot me an impatient glare. His voice dripped with barely concealed disgust as he spat, "Veronica has depression, and now you're copying her? Emilia, do you think lying is funny?"