Chapter 2

Watching the private room about to be sealed shut, I cradled my belly, my whole body crawling with cold.

All because at eight, I stole one piece of candy and my stepmother shut me in the freezer for two hours.

Ever since, I'd had claustrophobia, terrified of being alone and of cold, sealed-up spaces.

Gerard knew all of this.

Back when we were dating, he was the one who took me to the hospital every week for checkups and counseling.

I snapped back to myself and felt the suffocation the fear was dragging up.

My body shook harder.

Even the mild air-conditioning now felt like knives boring straight into my nose, my throat.

"Gerard, let me out."

"If I stay in here, my baby and I will both die."

I bit down on my bloodless lips and looked at Gerard, who was holding Myrtle, almost begging him.

At my words, his eyes dropped to the swell of my belly.

His brows drew together slightly, a flicker of hesitation in his face.

Seeing this, Myrtle in his arms shifted her gaze to my ashen face.

She covered her mouth and gasped.

"What is she even talking about? All we did was ask you to sit here quietly and help earn the money for the baby. How could that put you and the little one in danger?"

"She's not going to use that claustrophobia as an excuse again, is she? Even the doctor said your condition has improved so much."

At that, Gerard's breathing caught.

He remembered the medication bottles in my cabinet gathering dust, and he was certain I was lying to him.

The disgust in his eyes deepened, and his voice came out cold.

"Hailey, if you're going to lie, at least come up with a decent excuse."

Then he made to leave, carrying her.

Watching the soundproof door about to close, I lunged forward to stop it.

A bodyguard blocked me head-on.

In the shove, my foot slipped and I crashed hard to the floor.

I felt a warm stream running between my legs, and I clutched my belly.

My face slowly went panicked, white.

"Gerard, something's wrong, the baby got hit—call an ambulance!"

At that, he instinctively let go of Myrtle and started toward me to check on me.

But his wrist was seized tight.

Then Myrtle looked at me and shook her head with feigned worry.

"Sis, I saw it clearly. You sat yourself down on the floor."

"I know you're trying to make Gerard stay, but no matter what, you can't use the baby as a joke."

The bodyguard beside her dropped to his knees in terror at the sight.

"Mr. Gilbert, I—I didn't use any force at all. Mrs. Gilbert fell on her own."

Gerard's steps stopped.

Watching his eyes turn colder, I let out a bitter laugh.

Just as I thought. He didn't believe me.

Feeling the fierce contractions, I dragged my heavy body and crawled toward the sofa, one push at a time.

I meant to save myself.

But the man's tall figure took the phone away first.

I met Gerard's cold, handsome eyes.

He spoke, his voice like ice:

"Stop the act. The doctor said your due date is two months off."

"Your pulse steadied long ago. How could one light bump cause anything?"