Chapter 3

Seeing my expression darken, something long buried in Adrian's memory slowly resurfaced.

Back then, he had deliberately tampered with the condom. That was how Nina came to be.

He had known exactly how soft-hearted I was. Once there was a life, I would never walk away from it.

"You're this upset because of Nina, aren't you? Before, when there was no match, you were anxious all the time. Now that there is one, you're probably worried about whether the surgery will go smoothly."

His tone softened. He tapped on his phone, then held it out to me.

"I've already told my assistant. Once Nina's surgery date is confirmed, just inform her. She'll arrange my schedule. I'll go to the hospital with her. I'll personally walk her into the operating room. I won't leave during the surgery. I'll stay until she comes out."

I let out a bitter laugh. After taking a few steadying breaths, just as I was about to speak, a sharp ringtone cut through the air.

The screen lit up with the name-Sophia.

Adrian picked up immediately. After only a few words, he hurried to change his clothes.

"Mia has a sudden high fever. I need to go to the hospital. We're done talking about Nina. If anything urgent comes up, contact my assistant."

Watching his car disappear into the night, I realized just how wrong I had been.

If Adrian didn't love me, why would he ever care about my daughter?

All it took was one sentence-"Nina's bone marrow match was given to someone else"-and after an entire day, he still didn't know.

The cold wind on the balcony cut straight through me, clearing my mind completely.

I had once been afraid that divorcing Adrian would hurt Nina. But now I understood-no matter how much I endured in this marriage, she would only suffer more.

If that was the case, then this marriage had lost even its last shred of meaning.

I sat back down at the vanity and took out the jewelry I had hidden at the very bottom of my box.

The gemstones burned with brilliance, dazzling and bold-just like I used to be.

I opened my email and found the invitation again, accepting it without hesitation.

It was from the president of one of the top jewelry design companies in the industry.

I had hesitated when I first saw it yesterday. Now, there was no doubt left.

At the hospital, Sophia leaned against Adrian's shoulder, wiping her tears.

"I'm sorry, Adrian. I know I shouldn't have called you so late... but I didn't have anyone reliable by my side. I was just so scared."

Adrian pulled her into his arms, gently stroking her back.

"Don't apologize to me. The doctor said it's just a reaction to the medication. Nothing serious. I'll stay here with you tonight. Don't worry."

Sophia lifted her head, agreeing softly.

Her breath brushed against his throat, warm and teasing.

Adrian lowered his head. Her lips were right there-one step closer, and he could kiss her.

The air between them thickened, heating rapidly. Just as Sophia was about to lean in, Mia woke up.

"Mr. Foster, you came to stay with me!" Mia's voice was weak from the fever, yet still carried a soft, coaxing sweetness. "I knew it! You like me the most-and you like Mom too!"

Adrian let go of Sophia, a strange feeling creeping in.

For a split second just now, when he looked at her, Nora's face had flashed through his mind.

He shook the thought away, pushing aside the impulse, and walked over to tuck Mia in.

"You clever little thing. You're absolutely right."

Behind him, Sophia watched the scene, the brief flicker of regret from earlier already gone.

Back then, Adrian had hidden his status too well. That was why she had married someone else.

But now, he clearly cared most about her and her daughter. Being with him was only a matter of time.

At the Foster Estate.

By the time I finished packing everything, the first light of dawn had begun to break.

Once Nina woke up and I packed the rest of her things, we could finally leave this cage I had lived in for five years.

At the thought of this, my emotions tangled together. I sat there in silence, unmoving, until sunlight flooded the balcony.

"Mom, where are we going?"

Seeing me stuffing all her favorite toys into the suitcase, Nina looked confused.

"Where's Dad? I waited so long last night, but he never came back. Why isn't he here this morning either? Mom... are you and Dad unhappy because of me?"

Her string of questions left me so overwhelmed with sorrow that I didn't know how to answer.

"Nina, if from now on you live with me, and can only see your dad once in a while... would you be okay with that?"

"Mom... hasn't it always been like that? Mom, I like being with you."

She put down the toy in her hands and threw herself into my arms. My tears fell instantly.

I took her hand, pulled the suitcase along, and sent Adrian a message to inform him.

"Let's get a divorce."