Chapter 3

His parents watched their son behave like this, disappointment written all over their faces.

But all they could really do was stand by me.

Beyond that, there was nothing they could do to help.

After dinner.

They left, but not before warning their son to treat me better.

Finn agreed to everything.

Not long after his parents were gone.

He dropped the act completely.

"Go scrub the toilet clean."

"I missed the bowl when I peed just now."

Seeing me stand there without moving.

His brow furrowed. "Are you deaf? Didn't you hear what I said?"

"You want to go hungry again?"

I bit my lip and said, my voice trembling, "Finn, can't you just treat me a little better?"

"You think I'm not working because I'm lazy?"

"Look at me... how am I supposed to earn money?"

I looked down at my swollen belly.

Tears kept swimming in my eyes.

All I'd wanted was for him to understand how hard this was for me.

After all, a pregnant woman goes through no small amount of suffering.

But he was exactly the same as before.

Not a trace of pity for me.

The same couldn't-care-less look on his face.

As if he was already certain I could never leave him.

"If you've got time to run your mouth, that toilet could've been done already."

"So get moving."

Seeing that he still showed not the slightest hint of remorse.

My heart gave up on this man completely.

Without a word I turned and went to the bathroom.

Scrubbing the toilet with my big belly.

That night in bed.

He rolled over and wrapped his arm around me.

Before, it had never felt like anything.

But tonight a wave of disgust went through me.

I was almost sick to my stomach!

In that moment.

I understood clearly that toward this man.

I'd already recoiled, rejected him from the bottom of my heart.

To avoid being too close to him.

After that I used the excuse that pregnant women are light sleepers.

And refused to share a bed with him.

Later.

I really couldn't stand the humiliation of holding out my hand to him for money.

So I asked the girls in our group chat.

Whether there was any work a pregnant woman could do.

The girls had always assumed I was at home enjoying a happy, easy pregnancy.

When they heard I was looking for a job, sharp as they were.

They immediately guessed the reason behind it.

One of them called to tell me her cousin ran a restaurant.

And he happened to need someone at the front desk to keep the books.

Once her cousin learned my situation.

He hired me on the spot, no fuss.

With an extra thousand dollars a month, too.

I hadn't been working there half a month.

When Finn noticed something was off.

He frowned and asked me, "You've been leaving early and coming back late every day lately."

"What have you been doing?"

"You got someone on the side?"

Facing Finn's suspicion and interrogation.

I told him the truth.

"A friend helped me find a job. I work at a restaurant."

"You're kidding me?"

Finn didn't believe a word of it. "In the shape you're in now, what boss would dare take you on?"

"Believe it or don't, your choice."

Finn really didn't believe me.

To check whether it was true.

He even took a day off on purpose and secretly followed me.

Only when he confirmed I really was working at a restaurant.

Did he finally believe what I'd said.

My friend's cousin, meaning my boss.

Seeing that I was pregnant, he went out of his way to buy me some supplements out of his own pocket.

Right as I was thanking him.

Finn suddenly stormed into the restaurant and grabbed him by the collar.

Then without a word, he drove a fist hard into him.

"You bastard, you dare hit on my wife?"