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Lahat ng Kabanata ng The Gentle Trap: Kabanata 1 - Kabanata 9

9 Kabanata

Chapter 1

I, Christine Sonnet, stood outside the study and held the ultrasound report I had just printed.The baby's outline was crystal clear. Its tiny hands and feet reminded me of a seed that had just begun to sprout.'Lucky Luther.' That was the name Jim Luther had given our baby. He said he hoped our child would grow up with good fortune and be surrounded by love.At this moment, the name that used to signify blessings felt painfully ironic.I dug my nails into the paper until they tore through the word 'Lucky.'This was absurd. When he named our child, he was thinking about another woman.My stomach suddenly churned, and I felt something acidic in my throat.I instinctively ran into the bathroom next door.Leaning over the sink, I dry-heaved several times, but nothing came up.I glanced at the ultrasound report, which was now crumpled into a ball beside me, and felt like someone had reached into my chest and squeezed my heart.The baby's tiny hands and feet were still perfectly v

Chapter 2

"Jim, Lucy's back. She's at the airport."It was Jim's childhood friend, Fabian Scott.I steadied myself against the wall and slowly made my way toward the corner.Jim had his back to me. His voice was lowered to a whisper. "Wasn't she supposed to come back next week?""She came back early." Fabian glanced in my direction and tugged at Jim's sleeve."You'd better go. I'll cover for you here."Jim glanced in the bathroom's direction. I quickly pulled myself out of sight."Just tell her something came up at the company," he instructed Fabian in a deep voice. "Don't let her get suspicious."Their footsteps gradually faded into the distance. Leaning against the wall, I retrieved my phone and scrolled through my contacts.The first call I made was to a lawyer. "Draft a divorce agreement for me. The sooner the better."The second was to my professor. "Professor, I'd like to reapply for the PhD program at Meridian College of Technology."There was a brief silence on the other end. "A

Chapter 3

I had spoken in a cold tone.Jim was silent for a moment before turning around and walking into the kitchen.A little while later, he came back with a bowl of oatmeal."Here, I made this fresh. Eat it while it's warm."I lowered my head and ate the oatmeal. He sat across from me. His voice carried a hint of impatience."Christine, why have you become so difficult lately?"My grip tightened around the spoon.Back when my morning sickness was so bad that I couldn't eat, he used to make all kinds of dishes for me. Sometimes, he'd even drive out in the middle of the night just to buy the pastries I was craving."Honey, whatever you want to eat, I'll make it or buy it for you. As long as you're happy."He used to say that.Now, I was nothing but a burden to him.I lowered my head, and my tears silently fell into the oatmeal.When he saw my expression, his tone softened. "Didn't you want to have maternity photos taken? I made an appointment for today."I froze for a moment. I to

Chapter 4

Jim finally spoke, "Lucy, that's enough."Jim's tone sounded like he was trying to stop an argument, but his eyes never left Lucy's face.I clenched my fists, and my nails dug deep into my palms.For the next week, Jim left home early in the morning and came home late at night.I never asked where he went. We lived under the same roof, yet we might as well have been strangers.Today was the day of my prenatal checkup.I texted him, but he didn't reply. I called him, but he didn't answer either.In the end, I had no choice but to take a cab to the hospital alone.The waiting room was packed with couples. Husbands carefully supported their wives while speaking softly as they comforted them.I sat alone in a corner with my medical records in my hands. As if sensing my emotions, the baby gave me a gentle kick."Number 28, Christine."When I heard the nurse call my name, I struggled to my feet and slowly made my way into the examination room. I pressed one hand against the wall f

Chapter 5

As the flight-booking page loaded, the doorknob turned. Jim walked in.He was holding a glass of warm milk, and his gaze swept across my laptop screen. "What are you doing up so late?"I quickly switched to another page. "Nothing. I was just searching for some music for the baby."He walked up to me from behind and rested a hand on my shoulder. "Honey, Lucy's only staying at our house for a few days. You're about to give birth. Don't overthink it."I switched off the laptop and stood up. "I'm tired. I'm going to bed."He stood there looking like he wanted to say something. In the end, he only sighed before turning around and leaving.I switched on the laptop again and booked a flight to Baronica.The glow of the screen illuminated my face. I gently touched my protruding belly and felt completely at peace.This time, I was really leaving.Early the next morning, I opened my wardrobe and started packing.In the corner sat a faded red velvet jewelry box. Its edges were worn whit

Chapter 6

When I woke up again, the harsh white light made me squint.The smell of disinfectant filled my nostrils. I was lying in a hospital bed with an IV tube connected to my hand."You're awake?" The doctor walked over. His expression was solemn. "I'm very sorry. We couldn't save the baby."My entire body trembled. I grabbed the bedsheet firmly. "Why?""The impact to your abdomen caused a placental abruption." The doctor flipped through my medical chart. "You had already suffered severe bleeding by the time you arrived. We did everything we could."I closed my eyes as a buzzing sound filled my ears."Should we notify your family?" a nurse asked softly.I shook my head. My voice was hoarse. "No."The room was terrifyingly quiet. The only sound was the steady beeping of the monitor.I touched my lower abdomen. It was flat again, just as it had been before the pregnancy. It felt unbearably empty like something had been ripped out of me."Lucky," I whispered. Tears silently streamed do

Chapter 7

I yanked my hand free and glared at Jim coldly. "Lucky is in heaven now. You can go there if you want to see him."I paused before smiling. "Oh, that's right. Someone like you would go straight to hell even after you die. What makes you think you're worthy of seeing my child?"His face instantly went pale. He staggered back a step. "That's impossible. You were perfectly fine a month ago. If you hadn't thrown a fit and run off to another country–""Jim." I cut him off. "How dare you even mention Lucky? When you took Lucy to the hospital, did you think about Lucky? When you let her move into our home, did you think about Lucky?"He opened his mouth but couldn't say a word.I turned around and headed inside. He stepped forward to stop me, but the security guard at the entrance blocked his way."Christine!" He dropped to his knees in the snow. His voice turned hoarse. "Please let me see Lucky–"I closed the door, shutting out the snow and his desperate cries.Inside, my lawyer was

Chapter 8

I snorted and headed in the bathroom's direction. "You can leave now," I said.He staggered to his feet. When he reached the door, he suddenly turned around. "Christine, I–""Get out." I cut him off coldly.After he left, I ran into the bathroom and frantically washed my hands.I turned the faucet on full blast. Cold water poured over my hands, but no matter how long I washed them, I couldn't get rid of the sickening feeling.I stared at my pale reflection in the mirror and whispered, "Lucky, I'll make them pay."After Jim left, I stood by the window and watched his silhouette disappear into the snow.A few weeks later, I saw the domestic news headline about Lucy.[Former Luther Group executive Lucy Lindt arrested for alleged corporate fraud and embezzlement.]The reports detailed how Lucy had abused her position to forge contracts, embezzle company funds, and even allegedly launder money.Jim had provided a complete chain of evidence, including her falsified financial statem

Chapter 9

I went to a fertility clinic in Baronica and signed the consent forms to conceive using donor sperm.The doctor handed me the profile of a sperm donor. He was six-foot-one, a graduate from a prominent college, and had no known history of hereditary diseases in his family."Ms. Sonnet, are you sure you want to raise a child on your own?" the doctor asked.I nodded and touched the necklace around my neck. "Yes. I'm capable of giving my child the best life possible now."However, Jim had never truly left my life.He continued secretly monitoring me through the security cameras in my apartment and my phone's location services.He had even bribed an employee at the coffee shop I frequently visited.He was like a predator lurking in the shadows, watching my every move.So the moment I stepped into the fertility clinic, he knew.He stormed into my apartment. His face was livid. "Christine, have you lost your mind? Are you really going to have another man's baby? You're betraying Luck

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