Chapter 1

Chapter 1

"An abortion requires a family member's signature. The fetus is already over three months old, so a medical abortion isn't an option. Don't even think about secretly taking pills to end it—you could risk your life," the doctor said.

He had been bowing his head to write in my medical record, but when he heard I wanted an abortion, he frowned and shot me a sharp, meaningful glance.

It made sense. How many people would react like me—asking the doctor about getting an abortion the moment they found out they were pregnant?

My lips froze for a second, but I quickly composed myself. I lowered my head, pretending to wipe away tears, and said in a wronged tone, "I'm an orphan. The baby's father has a mistress, and we're already in the final stages of getting a divorce. He'll definitely refuse to acknowledge this child, let alone come here to sign for me."

"The hospital has rules. Besides, you two aren't divorced yet—he's still your husband, and he has the right to know," the doctor replied firmly.

I reluctantly took the medical record and walked out of the consultation room, slamming the door hard behind me—all traces of my earlier fragile act gone.

If one hospital didn't work, I'd learn from the experience and try harder at the next one.

But just as I got into a taxi, Daniel Song called. I silently cursed under my breath: How annoying.

I didn't want to answer. We'd already signed the agreement, and the property division was done. At this stage, there was nothing left for us to talk about except money.

Yet the ringtone kept blaring. After the first call went unanswered and hung up automatically, he called right back. I simply turned off my phone—out of sight, out of mind.

"Oh, young lady, why aren't you answering? Did you fight with your boyfriend?" the driver asked, noticing my bad mood. He turned down the volume of the car radio and looked at me through the rearview mirror, sounding concerned.

Boyfriend?

I let out a cold laugh, but suddenly felt a twinge of sadness.

Back when Daniel Song was 18, he stood on stage as the top graduate to give a speech at the graduation ceremony. At the end, he suddenly looked down at me in the audience. With a determined gaze, he said clearly, word by word, "Eva White, will you let me copy your college application choices?"

The crowd erupted in an uproar, chanting "Say yes!" and "Get together!"

Daniel and I had grown up together like childhood sweethearts, bickering and playing in the same neighborhood. I'd never once thought he had feelings for me.

I froze on the spot. It wasn't until he pushed through the crowd and stood in front of me—his clear, handsome eyes crinkling with a smile—that I snapped out of it. He held out a bouquet of balloon flowers and said, "Eva White, can I apply to be your boyfriend?"

The breeze fluttered the hem of his shirt and blurred my vision. I nodded, and that's how we got together.