Chapter 3: Let’s Get a Divorce

Emily noticed Joe staring at her belly. Clearly, compared to why she was here, Joe was more concerned about her stomach.

Because inside was his and Olivia's child.

"Just finished my prenatal checkup, passing by here." Emily's voice was calm to the point of numbness.

Joe frowned, his tone carrying reproach, "After the checkup you should go straight home! What if something happens to a pregnant woman like you walking around outside?"

Emily's gaze fell on Olivia behind him, a smile curling at her lips: "Didn't you say you had an international meeting today and couldn't come with me to the checkup? How come you have time to help Olivia pick up the kid?"

Joe's expression changed slightly, but his tone remained cold: "The meeting was cancelled. Olivia has a hard time taking care of the child alone, I was passing by to help out."

"Passing by?" Emily let out a light laugh, "The company is on the east side, the kindergarten is on the west side, and you call that passing by?"

The atmosphere suddenly went quiet for a few seconds.

A flash of displeasure crossed Joe's eyes: "Emily, what's wrong with you today? Why such a bad temper?"

Olivia walked forward holding Nicholas, a gentle smile on her face: "Emily, I know you're pregnant and emotionally unstable, prone to overthinking. But you really don't need to suspect Joe and me, we're just ordinary friends."

Ordinary friends.

Would ordinary friends secretly swap someone's eggs with yours?

Would ordinary friends make you pregnant with his child?

Emily felt her stomach churning, a wave of nausea.

She laughed coldly: "Olivia, you're really wasted not being an actress."

Olivia's expression became awkward for a moment: "What are you talking about?"

"You know very well what I mean." Emily's gaze swept across her face, landing on Joe, then on Nicholas, "Or do you want me to spell it out in front of the child?"

At this moment, Joe's expression also changed. He strode forward, blocking Olivia, looking at Emily with cold, sharp eyes: "Enough! What exactly do you want? In public like this, what scene are you trying to make?"

Emily looked at Joe's back as he protected Olivia, feeling like her heart had been stabbed hard.

He had never protected her like this.

Just as she was about to say something, she suddenly felt a sharp pain in her arm.

Emily looked down to see Nicholas biting hard on her arm, his small face full of anger.

"Bad woman! You're bullying my mom! I'll bite you to death!"

Emily took a sharp breath from the pain, but didn't push him away.

She looked at Nicholas, this was the child she had carried for ten months and given birth to.

Yet he hated her like an enemy.

Emily's heart ached and felt exhausted.

"Nicholas! What are you doing? Let go!"

Olivia cried out, quickly stepping forward to pull Nicholas away, looking at Emily with reddened eyes, her voice choked with emotion: "Emily, Nicholas is still young, he doesn't understand. Please don't hold it against him. He's just too protective of me, he didn't mean it."

Nicholas looked at Joe with grievance, reaching out his little hands: "Daddy, hold me!"

Hearing this form of address, Emily's heart ached unbearably.

Joe naturally picked him up, offering her no explanation, only saying flatly: "I'll take Nicholas away first. You reflect on yourself."

With that, he left her, a pregnant woman, standing alone on the street, and walked away with Olivia.

Emily stared at the harmonious backs of the three people until they completely disappeared, then her whole body went limp as she leaned against the plane tree beside her.

She finally saw clearly Joe's coldness and determination. He didn't love her, yet he still wanted to torment her.

Suddenly, the nauseous feeling in her stomach surged up. Emily bent over, supporting herself against the tree trunk, dry heaving several times.

But nothing came out, only tears, falling drop by drop onto the ground.

She tried to take a step, but found her legs weak. After barely walking two steps, her vision suddenly spun, and then she lost consciousness.

When Emily opened her eyes again, she found herself lying in a hospital bed.

"You're awake?" Helena's voice sounded nearby, carrying reproach, "You're a pregnant woman, five months along, wandering around outside. Do you know how dangerous that is? If we'd brought you in any later, both you and the baby would have been in danger!"

Emily opened her mouth, her voice hoarse beyond recognition: "Dr. Collins, I've made up my mind. I want an abortion."

Dr. Helena froze, her hand clenching tight: "Are you sure?"

Emily nodded heavily, then closed her eyes, tears sliding from the corners.

Dr. Helena looked at her, silent for a long time, finally nodding: "Alright. If you're certain, I'll arrange the surgery as soon as possible."

She stood up, walked to her desk, took out a document, and came back to hand it to Emily.

"This is the abortion consent form. You need to read it carefully and confirm you understand all the risks and consequences."

Emily took the document and signed it without even thinking.

Dr. Helena scheduled the abortion for three days later, reminding her to rest well and pay attention to nutrition during these days.

Emily left the hospital and returned home.

She pushed open the door, and the aroma of food hit her face.

She froze for a moment.

Joe never went into the kitchen. In these three years, he hadn't even poured her a glass of water.

Emily walked into the living room and saw the dining table covered with food, all her favorites.

Joe was busy at the dining table. Seeing Emily, he stood up, walked to her, took the bag from her hand, his tone unusually gentle: "You're back? Hungry? I had the chef make your favorite dishes."

Emily looked at him without speaking.

She knew Joe too well.

His tenderness always came with conditions.

"Come, sit down." Joe pulled out a chair, helping her sit down, "You've been in a bad mood these past few days. I specially prepared these, wanting to have a good talk with you."

Emily sat down, looking at the table full of delicious food, with no appetite whatsoever.

"Emily, I know I've been too busy lately and neglected you." His voice was very soft and gentle, like coaxing a child, "I promise you, after the baby is born, I'll spend quality time with you and the child. The three of us will go skiing in Novaria, sunbathing in Lumaria, wherever you want to go..."

The three of us.

Emily lowered her head, looking at her slightly protruding belly, a mocking smile pulling at her lips.

If this were before, she would have thought how happy she was at this moment.

Now she only found it ironic. Joe was doing all this just to keep her stable, to make sure she gave birth to Olivia's child.

"Joe." Emily interrupted him, looking into his eyes, expressionless: "Let's get divorced."