Chapter 5

The day before my scheduled check-up, I went to the hospital.

In the ultrasound room, cold gel was applied to my stomach, and the transducer slid over it.

The doctor pointed at the screen. "The baby is very healthy. Look, these are the tiny hands, and these are the feet..."

The tiny figure was moving, and my heart clenched painfully.

With a cracked voice, I asked, "Doctor... the baby's father is trying to force me to give up custody. What should I do?"

The older female doctor adjusted her glasses, looking at me with a complicated expression. "At this stage, an induced labor or giving up the baby would be devastating to you. Besides... the baby can already feel pain."

She placed her hand gently on my stomach. "This baby seems very lively."

I bit my lip so hard I tasted blood.

My steps were unsteady as I walked out of the clinic.

But at the end of the long hallway, I saw the one person I dreaded meeting.

Julian stood there in his bespoke suit, looking every bit the powerful CEO of the Vance Group.

"Come back with me." He grabbed my wrist, his grip so tight it nearly crushed my bones. "Stop throwing tantrums."

"A tantrum?" I looked up at him. "Julian, you think this is a tantrum?"

"That agreement was expired and useless," he said impatiently. "Seraphina's heart is weak. I just wanted to give her some security"

"So I'm just the stepping stone for your beautiful love story?" I wrenched my hand back.

"Julian, do you remember the year we got married, when I had a hundred-and-four-degree fever? You said you were too busy to come home. Later, I saw Seraphina's Instagram post showing you two skiing in Switzerland."

"On our third anniversary, you said you had a board meeting, but I saw your car in the background of Seraphina's selfie."

"Every time I had a prenatal check-up, you were too busy. Yet you always had time to go to her art shows, buy her jewelry, and celebrate every single one of her birthdays."

I listed them one by one, my voice as calm as if I were telling someone else's story.

Julian's expression finally cracked. "You... you knew all along?"

"Because I never said anything, I just kept telling myself to give you one more chance, to believe in you one more time."

I smiled, but tears streamed down my face. "It was only when I saw that agreement that I realized what a fool I've been."

He fell silent. For the first time, I saw a flicker of guilt in his eyes.

But it was too late. Way too late.

"I will have this baby," I said softly. "But it has nothing to do with you."

"From now on, the baby and I have absolutely nothing to do with Julian Vance."

With that, I turned and walked away.

He didn't chase after me.

For the next few days, I shut off all communication and rested in my apartment.

My lawyer told me Julian refused to sign the divorce papers.

"Mrs. Vance, if you insist on a divorce, we'll have to go to court. But since you are pregnant, the court usually favors mediation first."

"Furthermore, Mr. Vance made it clear that if you go to court, he has the resources to take full custody of the child."

Marcus's voice sounded helpless.

I held the phone, silent for a long time.

I knew Julian could do it. He had endless wealth and power. I had nothing but the baby in my belly.

"Marcus, how long would a contested divorce take?"

"If he drags it out and uses his connections... it could take years."

Years?

I couldn't wait that long. My baby couldn't be born into this chaos.

I had to make Julian agree to the divorce himself.