Chapter 1

On our third anniversary, Clement pressured me to bring some files he had left at home to his campus.

Heavily pregnant, I braved the pouring rain and headed out with the specific files he insisted on having.

But less than five hundred meters from the school, a group of local thugs cornered me in a dark alley to rob me.

To protect Clement’s files, I held onto my bag with all my might.

Infuriated, the thugs stabbed me repeatedly. My blood stained the rain-slicked pavement a gruesome crimson.

As I weakly tried to call Clement for help, his childhood friend Matt’s call came through first.

Over the speaker, I could hear Clement and his friends laughing and making a bet.

"Hey Clement, is Caroline really going to bring you those files in this storm?"

"Aren't you afraid she’ll find out the envelope only contains the sketch you drew of Grace and get mad at you?"

Clement let out a soft chuckle, his tone dripping with sheer contempt.

"She wouldn't dare."

Clement's words hit me like a physical blow. I stumbled, lost my footing, and collapsed heavily onto the cold, wet ground.

To the sound of Grace and Clement flirting and laughing through the phone, my consciousness slowly faded away as I lay in the dark.

Two hours later, having lost a massive amount of blood, I was rushed to the ER.

When I finally woke up, the doctor gave me a pitiful look and shook his head. It was too late. The baby was gone.

I stared blankly at my now-flat stomach, letting the tears stream silently down my face.

Clement, since you let me lose our child over a stupid joke with your friends, I’m done. I’ll let you two have each other.