Chapter 2

"Adrian, it's all thanks to you that Mia was able to find a suitable bone marrow match so quickly."

In the hospital room, Sophia slipped her arm through his, her voice trembling slightly.

"Ever since Mia was diagnosed, I haven't had a moment of peace. I've been on edge day and night, terrified she might leave me... just like her father did."

Adrian freed one hand and gently wiped her tears.

"That won't happen. No matter when, I'll be there for you."

Sophia nodded, casually brushing her hair aside, exposing the graceful curve of her neck.

"Mia, be good. Starting tonight, we'll be staying here, okay? Then you won't get nosebleeds anymore."

"But I'm scared... and I don't like how it smells here." The little girl burrowed deeper into Adrian's arms, whining softly. "Mr. Foster, can you stay with me tonight? I checked earlier, there are two rooms. You can stay with Mom."

"Mia," Sophia said, her cheeks flushing faintly, "only daddy and mommy share a room. You shouldn't say that to Mr. Foster again."

"Then Mr. Foster can just be my dad. Mr. Foster, my mom is so pretty. You must like her too."

Adrian's gaze lingered on Sophia's increasingly flushed face, the air between them turning unmistakably intimate.

"Kids say whatever comes to mind. Don't take it seriously." Sophia's eyes shimmered as she spoke softly, "And after I explained earlier, your wife still didn't seem very happy. Adrian, you should go home and talk to her. If she really misunderstands us, it could reflect badly on you."

"She knows better." Adrian spoke casually, ruffling Mia's hair before staying with them until late into the night, only leaving for home after that.

The moment he stepped inside, something felt off.

At this hour, I would usually be in the kitchen, preparing breakfast for him the next day.

But now, the kitchen stood empty.

"Is Nina asleep?"

I had just stepped out of the bathroom when I saw Adrian changing in the walk-in closet.

Since Nina was born, this was the first time he had ever asked about her on his own.

When I walked straight to the vanity without answering him, he finally realized I was actually angry.

He had always thought I was easy to appease-that a few soft words would be enough.

Thinking that, Adrian walked over and lightly patted my shoulder.

"Nora, I've known Sophia for years. Her husband was my classmate. Now she's raising a sick child on her own. You should be more understanding. And Mia is just a child, just like Nina. Kids don't know better. You shouldn't take it to heart."

"Do you even know how much Nina wanted you to go to the hospital with her?"

Thinking of the disappointment on Nina's face that morning, it felt a heavy, suffocating ache in my chest.

"And Nina..."

I was about to tell him about the lost bone marrow, but Adrian cut me off, clearly annoyed.

"That's enough. She's a child, what's your excuse? I trusted you, and this is how you act? And it's your job as her mother to teach her to be independent, not cling to others all the time. If she's like this, that's your failure."

I stood there, staring at him, his words sounding utterly absurd.

A four-year-old should depend on her parents.

And Nina had been diagnosed with leukemia since she was little. She never cried during treatments or checkups, and even learned to take her medicine on her own.

To me, she was already so mature and independent it broke my heart. I never imagined her own father would label her like this because of me.

A hollow sadness settled in me as I murmured, "You're right. A child only needs her mother."

Seeing me yield, Adrian's tone softened slightly.

"Good that you understand. I give you a million dollars every month. Isn't this exactly what you're supposed to do? It's not even hard. After all, you're not like Sophia. She's capable and driven. Right after graduation, she had more job offers than she could choose from. You, on the other hand, didn't get a single offer. Being a housewife suits you."

He said it as casually as if he were commenting on the weather, while my eyes burned red and my body trembled.

"Adrian, do you remember why I don't have a job?"

I once worked in an office tower too, chasing my dreams for a whole year.

Then Adrian suddenly wanted a child. I refused, and he fought with me, even threatening divorce.

Soon after, I got pregnant unexpectedly, and the severe morning sickness landed me in the hospital.

Adrian stepped in and quit my job for me.

We had a huge fight over it, and somehow, it all led us here.

And now, looking at Sophia and her daughter, I finally understood. The only reason Adrian had insisted on having a child back then... was because he was still trying to prove something to Sophia. I had never been anything more than a sacrifice.