A Second Chance at Love

A month after our breakup, I booked a gynecologist appointment. The last person I expected to see as my attending physician was my ex-boyfriend.

The handsome male doctor in front of me stared intently.

I said timidly, "I think I might be pregnant."

He hummed a faint "mm," and the next second, the stethoscope slipped from his hand.

His composure seemed to be cracking.

At that moment, all I wanted was to flee his office.

But then I remembered the hundred-dollar consultation fee, and I found myself sitting back down.

This specialist appointment was arranged by a friend who worked at the hospital. I never imagined it would land me in Adrian's hands.

He asked in a professional tone, "What seems to be the problem?"

"Doctor, I missed my period this month."

"When was your last one?" He wore a mask, his long fingers flying across the keyboard, the light cascading down his chiseled profile, making him look exceptionally handsome.

"Maybe August sixteenth?"

"The sixteenth? Are you sure?" His cold eyes flicked to me, a hint of impatience in his voice.

"Maybe the fourteenth? Uh, I can't really remember."

I never paid much attention to when it came, as long as it showed up eventually.

"I think it's just irregular periods. Just prescribe some medicine to regulate it," I said, waving my hand.

Probably from staying up late working overtime, too much stress. My body couldn't handle it, so it was delayed. In middle school, my period was late once because of academic pressure too.

He frowned, looking at me seriously, his tone reproachful. "How can you just take medicine casually? There are many reasons for a delayed period—it could be pregnancy—"

He paused himself at the word "pregnancy."

I was stunned for a moment too.

Snapping back to reality, I quickly waved my hands. "How could I be pregnant? Besides, I don't have morning sickness. I'm eating everything in sight."

"Go get an ultrasound first. Bring the results directly to me."

"Really, it's not necessary. Just prescribe something."

He stared at me, silent, but his eyes seemed to say, "Are you the doctor, or am I?"

People behind me started to urge us on, and his gaze at me grew faintly impatient.

After the blood draw, I sat on the bench playing a mobile game to pass the time.

One round later, twenty minutes had passed. I looked up and scanned the area. A tall, slender back was turned to me. A young nurse across from him was chattering away about something, a smile on her face.

Adrian's skin was naturally fair. Dressed in that white coat, with his sharp features, he exuded a refreshing, spring-like aura. Every time he appeared, it was both stunning and humbling.

Before and after our relationship, Adrian hadn't changed much. He was always busy with work. In our three years together, I spent every birthday alone, let alone Valentine's Day. He was either in surgery or on his way to the operating room.

He seemed uninterested in everything, except for certain things.

Cold as ice during the day, with a distant demeanor; passionate as fire at night.

Like a completely different person.

I was the one who initiated the breakup.

When I did, his reaction was more intense than I expected.

At least he asked why.

That saved me from feeling completely defeated.

Out of spite, the reason I gave was "too short."

"Other guys last five hours. You only last five minutes."

He said nothing, just stared at me with a dark expression for a long time.

His stare made my skin crawl. That feeling of being watched, like he was trying to bore holes into me, was especially uncomfortable.

But he didn't say a word. He just left, walked straight out.

That night, lying in bed staring at the ceiling, I couldn't sleep. My mind was full of his good qualities.

When I had my period, he never let me touch cold water. He washed my soiled clothes himself. When I went to meet his parents, he arranged everything in advance so I wouldn't feel awkward, singing my praises in front of them. When I couldn't sleep at night, he would massage my eyes and temples...

A faint wave of regret washed over me. I suddenly realized that aside from being busy with work, Adrian was perfect in every other way.

A month after the breakup, Adrian hadn't called even once. Could he have really moved on? My fingers itched, and I clicked on his social media feed, only to find he'd blocked me. Did he have a new girlfriend and not want me to know? The thought of another woman lying beside him right now made my heart ache uncontrollably.

When the nurse handed me the report, she said my progesterone levels were so high, I was definitely pregnant.

Seeing the results, my hands trembled uncontrollably.

If my parents found out I was pregnant out of wedlock, they'd break my legs.

I handed the report to Adrian, grumbling, "I think I'm pregnant."

He hummed a casual "mm," and the next second, the stethoscope slipped from his hand.

His composure seemed to shatter.

He stood up, closed the door, and looked at me with those deep, dark eyes. Being stared at like that made me uneasy. I wondered if he was in shock, or if he didn't want the child...

I opened my mouth, pretending to be calm. "If you don't want it, I can get an a—"

The next second, a flurry of kisses landed on me.

Afterward.

His usually indifferent expression was tinged with a rare hint of a smile.

He looked at my swollen lips and chuckled. "Sit here for a while. Wait until I get off work, and I'll take you home."

My mind was a mess. I sat on the sofa, picked up a nearby book, and glanced at it. It was dry and boring, full of medical jargon. The more I read, the more tedious it became, and I ended up falling asleep.

When I woke up again, I found myself on a broad, warm back. Occasionally, I caught a faint whiff of a gentle shower gel scent, subtle and alluring, making me want to take a deep breath.

Adrian turned his head and smirked. "What are you doing?"

Busted, I was so embarrassed I could have died.

I buried my face in his back, pretending to still be asleep.

Adrian carried me to the parking lot. In the empty underground garage, his voice sounded particularly loud. "Get up."

My pretense failed. I snapped my eyes open. "I'm up."

Adrian set me down and smiled gently. "Did you sleep well?"

I glared at him without a word.

Adrian drove me back to my apartment complex. He didn't come up, just dropped me off at the building entrance and drove away. A small pang of disappointment hit me.

I lay on the sofa scrolling through videos. Three hours passed without me noticing. My stomach growled. I opened the fridge and found only a pack of instant noodles.

I could have cried.

Back when Adrian was around, he used to drag me to the supermarket whenever he had time. We'd always fill the trunk to the brim. Other people bought groceries; he hoarded them.

He explained it was because he was afraid that if he had to work late and didn't come home, I'd starve myself to death.

Looking at it now, he was right. I probably would starve to death.

A knock at the door pulled me back to reality.

I opened it to find Adrian. He looked down at me, his beautiful brows furrowed.

"You're only eating instant noodles?"

"Uh, it's all that's left."

He sighed, giving me a look that said he was at a loss for words. He carried a large bag straight into the kitchen, rolled up his sleeves, and started working.

Watching his busy figure, I was a bit dazed. His handsome profile, focused and serious, made him seem even more approachable.

I must have been staring too long. He noticed, turned around, and smirked.

"Pack your things. Move in with me."

"Huh?"

"You living alone worries me. Move in with me."

Was this a prelude to cohabitation? If my parents found out, my second leg would probably be gone too. Unwed pregnancy was already a major taboo in my family.

When I graduated from university, my family made it clear: dating was fine, but cohabitation and unwed pregnancy were absolutely forbidden. It always ends up hurting the girl.

I refused him outright. "No. I'm comfortable living alone."

Adrian said, "Do you want our child to know that Mommy and Daddy were already sleeping in separate rooms before they were even born?"

He continued, "Can you bear to let your baby eat instant noodles with you every day?"

A twisted logic, but I had to admit he had a point.

I was speechless.

"Time to eat."

Adrian had made four dishes and a soup. Every single one was my favorite.

Tears of joy (and hunger) streamed from the corners of my mouth.

I grabbed a braised meatball and started devouring it.

Adrian sat across from me, watching quietly. Seeing me eat with such gusto, he smirked. "Is it good?"

I was too busy eating to do more than nod perfunctorily.

"Want to eat it every day?"

I shook my head. "Eating it every day would get boring."

His face instantly darkened.

After dinner, I went to wash the dishes.

When I came out, I was about to tell him to head home, but I found him asleep on the sofa.

His head was tilted slightly, dark circles under his eyes. His long lashes fluttered faintly. He looked exhausted.

I sat beside him, studying him carefully. I couldn't resist reaching out to touch this man.

Before my hand could reach him, it was caught.

Our eyes met. My face flushed crimson. I tried to pull my hand free, but he held it tight.

I stammered an explanation. "I... I saw a mosquito on your face. I was trying to swat it."

He narrowed his long, seductive eyes. His smile seemed to hide a knife. "It's winter. Where would a mosquito come from?"

I could only offer an awkward laugh to ease the tension, inwardly cursing myself. *What was I thinking, reaching out to touch his face? And getting caught red-handed.*

He leaned in slowly. I backed away, ending up in a position where he was on top.

He braced himself on his hands. I was so scared my face went pale. We froze like that for a long time.

I could feel his breath. His unfathomable, seemingly amused eyes smiled at me as he slowly lowered himself.

Watching him draw closer, I instinctively closed my eyes, with an expression of resigned acceptance. But I waited for a long time, and nothing happened.

I cautiously opened my eyes. Adrian was looking at my phone beside me, clearly amused.

"What are you looking at that's so funny?"

Adrian chuckled. "The group sent photos from our trip to Tibet."

I raised an eyebrow. "You went to Tibet after we broke up?"

Adrian smoothed the stray hairs from my forehead and explained, "It wasn't a vacation. The hospital sent a medical team to Tibet a while ago. I was on it."

I picked up the phone and scrolled through the photos. Adrian was smiling happily in the pictures. Beside him stood a fair-skinned girl. Zooming in, I could see her hand resting on his shoulder.

Whenever I took photos with him, he always had that cold expression. I rarely saw him smile like that.

I pretended to ask casually, "Is this girl new? I haven't seen her at the hospital before."

Adrian took the phone, hummed a faint "mm," and looked away sheepishly, his expression distracted.

"She's my new intern."

My mood became a little complicated. Adrian and I had been together for so long, but we'd never traveled together.

After a long day, I just wanted to shower and rest.

In the bathroom, I touched my stomach, my mind still blank. It felt unbelievable: there was actually a baby inside me.

I turned off the water, wrapped myself in a towel, and stepped out. "Go take a shower. I'm going to sleep. I'm exhausted."

Adrian was standing on the balcony, on the phone, his brows furrowed. I could faintly hear him scolding someone. When he heard me speak, he turned around and gave a perfunctory "mm."

I picked up the hairdryer to dry my hair, but he took it from me.

"Who were you talking to? Why were you so angry?"

He gave a helpless smile. "Who else? The new intern. Sigh, such a headache."

I hummed softly.

I rarely saw Adrian so emotionally agitated. At least, I'd never been the cause...

Adrian quickly turned the conversation back to me moving.

This guy was truly despicable, trying to bribe me with Gucci and Chanel.

I had no choice but to grit my teeth and reluctantly agree.

That night, as I was sleeping, someone started pawing at my clothes. Once they were off, the roving hands began.

Adrian quickly informed both sets of parents about my pregnancy.

My mother was thrilled that I'd landed such a high-quality son-in-law. My father just sat there with a dark expression, silent.

My legs were safe. The day before the visit, I told my younger brother to take the rolling pin from the house and burn it.

That evening, my mother was planning to show off her specialty: hand-pulled noodles.

But the rolling pin was gone, so she couldn't make them.

Before we even reached Adrian's house, his mother showed up early in the morning, beating a gong and carrying two old hens and six old turtles to nourish me.

I was about to say, "Auntie, you should keep these for yourselves."

She whipped out a red booklet and a set of car keys. A Rolls-Royce key.

I was stunned. I knew Adrian's family was wealthy, but I didn't know they were *that* wealthy.

I immediately changed my tune. "Mom, even if you stewed the entire chicken farm, I'd eat it all, soup and all."

Adrian's mother's eyes reddened as she said to me, "Claire, my son is finally getting married. My heart can finally rest easy. The girlfriends he had before all broke up with him because he was too busy. Only you didn't mind..."

She patted my shoulder. "Claire, once you have the baby, I'll give you two river-view villas. I like you as a daughter-in-law."

My jaw nearly hit the floor.

It was clear she really loved children.

The wedding was set for the end of the year, just a few months away.

Both sets of parents were urging us to get the marriage license as soon as possible.

My mind was still in a daze. I hadn't expected to get married so soon, and with a baby on the way. It all felt so surreal.

In the morning, I was half-asleep. Adrian was already awake, dressed in a formal suit.

I was woken up by how handsome he looked.

I rubbed my eyes. "Why are you up so early?"

He suddenly chuckled lowly, wrapped his arm around my waist, and gently lifted me onto a clean, dry countertop.

He leaned down, bracing his hands on either side of me, his dark eyes meeting mine. "Did you forget? Today is the day we get our marriage license."

I slapped my forehead. "Oh, I really did forget."

They say pregnancy makes you forgetful. I was only just beginning, and I was already getting ditzy.

I changed into the white dress Adrian had prepared. He took my hand. "Let's go, Mrs. Ashford."

I thought we were early enough, but there were people even earlier. The civil affairs bureau was packed. It looked like we'd have to wait an hour or two.

Adrian seemed even more nervous than I was. He went to the bathroom several times in one hour.

I poked him gently, half-joking. "Adrian, is there something wrong with your kidneys? Why are you going to the bathroom so much?"

Adrian smirked, a hint of mischief in his eyes. "You should know by now whether my kidneys are good or not."

A nearby couple overheard and started giggling.

My face turned bright red.

I never knew this guy could be so shameless.

Just as it was almost our turn, a sharp phone ring cut through the air.

He answered, and his expression instantly turned serious. "Okay, I'll be right there."

I was used to this by now.

I waved my hand. "The civil affairs bureau will always be open. We can come back another time."

After Adrian left, I sat alone on the cold bench, watching the girls around me, all immersed in love, accompanied by their boyfriends. I felt a pang of loneliness.

The next second, a message popped up on my phone. "Claire, the car from the dealership has arrived. You can pick it up."

It was from Adrian's mother. My earlier gloom instantly vanished.

I excitedly went to pick up my new car. When I saw the brand-new Rolls-Royce, my legs went weak.

My legs were shaking the entire drive home.

The more nervous I got, the more prone I was to mistakes. I ended up rear-ending someone...

I was too scared to get out of the car. I called Adrian, my voice trembling. "Adrian, I've had a little accident."

His voice was urgent. "Are you okay?"

I looked down to check myself, and my heart sank. My white pants were stained with blood. Panic set in. "Adrian, I think I'm having a miscarriage..."

The next second, I fainted from sheer stress.

When I woke up again, I was lying in a hospital bed. A handsome man was standing beside me, but it wasn't Adrian.

He looked flustered when he saw me awake and quickly introduced himself as Sebastian.

I instinctively touched my stomach and asked weakly, "Is my baby still there?"

He twitched his lips. "Baby? You weren't even pregnant!"

He continued rambling. "You scared me to death. When I opened your car window, I thought you'd fainted from blood loss. Turns out it was just your period."

My head was buzzing. I put my hands on my stomach. It had all been a false alarm.

He held up a bag. "I don't know what brand of sanitary pads you girls use, so I bought them all."

His ears turned red as he said this.

I gave an awkward laugh. "Thank you. And I'm sorry about your car."

Sebastian smiled. "It's fine. The car's already in the shop."

"How much was it? I'll transfer the money to you."

Sebastian declined. "No, no. It's nothing."

But I insisted on paying him back. When he named a five-figure sum, I was so shocked I almost blurted out, "Can I just lend you my car to use instead?"

We eventually agreed on a payment plan.

I added him on social media. He had to go back to work, so he left.

When Adrian came in, he was flushed and out of breath. He must have run all the way here. His forehead was beaded with sweat.

My eyes stung. I bit my lip, not knowing how to tell him.

Seeing my nervous expression, Adrian suddenly laughed. He walked over and pulled me into a tight embrace.

The more I struggled, the tighter he held me.

Fine. I gave up struggling.

I lowered my eyes, my voice muffled. "Adrian, I'm not pregnant."

"Mm, I know." He rested his chin on my forehead and nuzzled me. He smelled faintly of disinfectant, which was oddly comforting.

My period hit me hard this time. My face was pale, and cold sweat beaded on my forehead. I'd just changed into my pajamas, and I'd already soiled them. What a headache.

Adrian made me some brown sugar water and got me a new set of pajamas from the closet. They were a bit big on me.

Alarm bells went off in my head. I grabbed the lace-trimmed pajamas and confronted Adrian, ready to bite his head off. "Why is there women's pajamas in the house?"

But what came out was, "Who told you to wash my underwear!"

My sense of shame was overwhelming. Even though Adrian and I had been together for three years, I'd never let him wash my intimate apparel.

Adrian frowned, beating me to the punch. "Why are you walking around barefoot? It's cold. You'll catch a chill. Get back in bed."

"Adrian, put the clothes down. I'll wash them later."

"What are you shy about? I've seen every part of you."

I was speechless.

Before I could say anything else, he hoisted me over his shoulder, pulled back the covers, and gently laid me down.

Damn, the cramps were starting again. I made a pained face. It felt like someone was punching my stomach repeatedly.

His warm palm rubbed my belly, the pressure from his fingers just right. The ache immediately subsided.

Just as I was drifting off to sleep, I vaguely heard Adrian answer a phone call and leave.

The next morning, I was woken by the noise from the kitchen. I got out of bed and headed over.

Adrian's mother was busy in the kitchen. She turned and saw me, her face full of warmth. She held up a large carrot and beamed. "Claire! Come in, come in. Look what I made for you."

"Look at this! A few days ago, Adrian's father and I went hiking in the mountains. We dug up this huge ginseng!"

My lips twitched. So *that's* what ginseng looks like!

She brought me a bowl of chicken soup. "Try it. Is it too bland?"

I was like a pig eating fine dining. One sip, and my nose started gushing blood.

Just then, Adrian pushed open the door and saw the scene.

I was completely flustered.

He strode over, wet a towel with cold water, and pressed it to my nose.

He frowned. "What happened?"

Adrian's mother explained, "This is the ginseng your father and I just dug up from the mountains. I brought it over to nourish Claire."

Adrian sighed. "Mom, there's no need. Claire isn't pregnant."

Adrian's mother's face froze, her disappointment evident. The atmosphere became incredibly awkward.

I averted my gaze, unable to look her in the eye.

I just wanted to find a hole to crawl into.

Adrian continued, "Claire is still young. It's too early to get married now. We'll talk about it later."

Adrian's mother's face turned sour.

I was also stunned. Adrian had never mentioned postponing the wedding. When did he decide that? Why didn't I know?

I felt terrible. Adrian had made this decision without consulting me.

When he explained later, he said, "I was busy and forgot to tell you. Didn't you say before that you didn't want to get married so early?"

That evening, my colleagues wanted to have a get-together. I decided to drown my sorrows. Too many bizarre things had been happening lately, one after another. Honestly, I hadn't felt strongly about having a child, but when I found out I wasn't pregnant, I felt a strange emptiness.

After a few drinks, I needed to use the restroom. On my way back, I was so disoriented I walked into the wrong room. There were so many handsome guys in there, all different types.

I was having a great time with them when the door suddenly burst open.

A group of police officers stormed in. I'd never seen anything like this. The alcohol instantly evaporated.

For the first time in my life, I was arrested for being involved in a vice raid. I grabbed a police officer's pant leg, sobbing and pleading. "I was drunk! I accidentally walked into the wrong room!"

The young, handsome officer said sternly, "That's what everyone says when they get caught."

"I'm innocent!"

"Save it for the station."

I stared resentfully at the man in front of me. Looking closer, his features seemed familiar.

I blurted out, "Did you get your butt fixed?"

The vice raid scene went silent. Everyone's eyes were on me.

When I realized what I'd said, the officer's face, which had been so composed, turned bright red.

I stammered an explanation. "No, no, no! I meant your car!"

At the police station

Sebastian had investigated and confirmed I was innocent. Now I needed someone to come bail me out.

I glanced at my phone. Adrian hadn't called. After thinking it over, I decided to call him.

When he answered, a sweet female voice came through.

My heart skipped a beat. "Who is this? Where's Adrian?"

"Dr. Ashford is on top of me."

My mind went blank. "What? What are you... doing..."

"Beep, beep—"

The line went dead.

When I called again, his phone was off.

To make things even more awkward, Sebastian was standing in front of me, holding a cup of instant noodles, his light eyes looking at me with sympathy.

I managed a weak smile. "You heard that?"

He raised an eyebrow. "Your boyfriend seems busy right now."

I was speechless.

I didn't want to dwell on what that meant, but my mind couldn't help picturing Adrian with another woman...

Was that why he didn't want to marry me? Had he fallen for someone else after the breakup? But then I got pregnant, and he felt obligated to be with me. The thought made my chest ache.

A cool voice interrupted my thoughts. "It's so late, and no one's come to get you. I'm about to get off work. I'll bail you out."

To thank him, I offered to buy him dinner.

He smiled and nodded. "Sure. How about now?"

I was taken aback. "Huh?!"

Sebastian took me to a Sichuan restaurant. When the dishes arrived, they were swimming in red chili oil. The boiled beef slices were covered in a thick layer of peppers.

He raised an eyebrow at me. "Can you handle spicy food?"

My stomach churned. Was it too late to say no?

I said, "I just finished five packs of super-spicy chili strips last week."

Of course, I left out the part about the subsequent stomach issues.

By the end of the meal, my lips were red and swollen. Suddenly, I felt a familiar, urgent sensation.

Damn. I forgot I was still on my period. I shouldn't have eaten spicy food.

When it was time to leave, I looked awkwardly at Sebastian, my face flushed. "Um... I might have trouble standing up."

He caught on immediately. He took off his trench coat and handed it to me, perfect for covering the back of my pants.

"I might get your coat dirty."

Sebastian said casually, "It's fine."

He drove me to my apartment complex. Just as I got out of the car, I saw a familiar figure standing by the flowerbed.

His hair was disheveled, dark circles under his eyes. When he saw Sebastian, his face darkened.

His voice was icy. "Why are you back so late?"

I completely ignored Adrian, bent down, and smiled at Sebastian. "Thanks for your help. I'll return your coat another day."

He hummed softly, then drove away.

When I turned around, Adrian's face was as black as thunder.

Upstairs, I stiffly explained the evening's events.

He frowned. "Something that big happened, and you didn't think to call me?"

At that, all my grievances came flooding back. "I did call! A girl answered."

"She said you were on top of her. Adrian, explain that."

Adrian looked confused for a moment, then laughed helplessly. "The light bulb in the on-call room was broken. I was on a ladder fixing it. It wasn't convenient to answer the phone, so I asked a colleague to take it. Nothing happened."

I asked, "Was it your intern?"

Adrian nodded. "There's nothing between us. She has a boyfriend."

He even showed me a photo of the intern and her boyfriend on his phone. Turns out, he was also a doctor at the hospital.

I continued, "Then why didn't you answer when I called again?"

"My phone died. When I charged it, I called you over a dozen times, but you didn't answer. Don't you have an explanation for me?"

Adrian raised an eyebrow at me.

"Um... I blocked you."

I'd been so angry that I'd blocked him.

Sigh. What a headache.

Why had so many unlucky things been happening lately?

I was silent for a long time, then looked up at him seriously. "Adrian, I think we should take a break. We only got back together because of the pregnancy. Since the test showed I'm not pregnant, I don't think we need to continue."

Adrian grabbed my hand, his brows furrowed. "Didn't I already explain everything?"

I pulled my hand free. "Adrian, really. Let's just cool off for a while. Too much has happened lately. My mind is a mess."

He was silent.

He helped me pack my bags and drove me back to my apartment complex. As he closed the car door, he looked like he wanted to say something but stopped.

Three months later.

The saying "unlucky in love, lucky at work" definitely wasn't meant for me.

I had thrown myself into my work, vowing to make a name for myself and have my boss bow down to me.

Reality had other plans.

I was working myself to the bone, and my project wasn't making any progress. I got chewed out by my boss every day, like a schoolkid.

Turns out, novels are full of lies.

My best friend said I was making my own bed. I had a perfectly good man like Adrian, and I chose to throw myself into the corporate grind instead. Was the cold, hard subway seat really comparable to the soft, plush interior of a Rolls-Royce?

Work was busy, but it kept me occupied. I no longer spent my days revolving around Adrian.

After work, I rode my bike home.

Under a streetlamp, I saw a familiar figure. A girl was standing beside Adrian, chattering away about something.

He took out some money, bought a roasted sweet potato, and handed it to her.

It was a heartwarming scene.

I was momentarily distracted. I remembered my university days. It was freezing outside, and I was lying in my dorm bed in my pajamas, about to fall asleep while on the phone with Adrian.

My roommate bought a roasted sweet potato, and the room filled with its sweet aroma.

I muttered, "That roasted sweet potato smells so good."

He laughed on the other end. "What's so great about a roasted sweet potato?"

I ignored him.

Fifteen minutes later, he texted me to come downstairs.

The northern winter was brutal. His fair face was even paler from the cold.

He frowned. "Why did you come down in slippers? You should have put on another pair of socks."

He pulled out a bag of candied chestnuts and a roasted sweet potato from his coat, still steaming.

He shoved them into my arms and, without even waiting for a thank you, told me to go back up.

"Don't catch a cold."

When I snapped back to reality, the figures were long gone.

That night, I thought I wouldn't be able to sleep, but the moment my head hit the pillow, I was out within five minutes.

I dreamed that Adrian married another woman, and he was incredibly good to her.

My heart ached. I couldn't tell if it was a dream or reality.

When I woke up, my pillow was soaked.

Adrian and I were truly over, weren't we?

The next day at work, the office was buzzing.

My deskmate, Jenny, grabbed my arm. "Claire, did you hear? Marcus jumped."

My face went pale. Marcus was the project lead. He was dedicated and a total workaholic.

I stammered, "What happened?"

Jenny pulled out her phone. "It's all over the news. He collapsed from overwork at the office last night. He was only in his thirties, with a family—a wife, a three-year-old son..."

I couldn't process it. I was distracted all morning.

At noon, there was a commotion. A woman, Marcus's wife, had brought her family to make a scene.

I'd never seen a workplace protest before.

My mind went blank. When they started waving knives around, I was terrified, frozen to the spot. A police officer shoved me aside, taking the blow for me.

The police quickly got the situation under control.

The officer who saved me was Sebastian. The knife hadn't actually hit him, just a minor scratch with a little blood.

I was about to bandage him when a hand with well-defined fingers took the bandage from me.

I turned around and saw a familiar face. For a moment, I was dazed.

I bit my lip, trying hard not to cry.

"What are you doing here?"

He pressed his lips together. "I saw the news alert about your company. I rushed over."

His dark eyes scanned me from head to toe. "Are you hurt?"

I shook my head. "The police arrived quickly. The family was taken away. I'm fine."

Adrian finally looked up at Sebastian and gave a slight nod. "Thank you."

Sebastian chuckled. "It's nothing. Take care of your girlfriend. She was staring at her phone for a long time. Looked like she was waiting for your call."

My face instantly turned bright red.

Sebastian was right. I had been terrified earlier, my heart racing. I really wanted to call Adrian. But then I remembered he might be in a new relationship...

Reason pulled me back.

"I called you so many times. Why didn't you answer?"

I pulled out my phone and saw dozens of missed calls from Adrian.

I was stunned, my emotions a whirlwind.

He ruffled my hair. "When you didn't answer my calls, I was so worried. I was terrified something had happened to you. Now I realize how worried you must have felt all those times I was too busy to answer. Claire, will you give me a chance to make it up to you?"

I was confused. Hesitantly, I asked, "You're not seeing anyone?"

He took my hand, laughing helplessly. "You've been my only girlfriend from the start. Who else would there be?"

My eyes welled up. I hugged Adrian. "Okay."

The wedding was still set for the end of the year.

The night before the wedding, my mind was still a bit hazy.

Adrian leaned down and rubbed my cheek. "What are you thinking about, so lost in thought?"

I said, "We're getting married tomorrow. It feels so surreal."

Adrian sighed. "Stop overthinking. We have a wedding night to get through."

I was speechless.

I lay down and tried to clear my head.

Soon, I heard the sound of deep, even breathing beside me. He was asleep.

Adrian didn't seem to have any pre-wedding jitters. He went about his day, working overtime like usual, as if nothing was happening.

I was just about to fall asleep myself when I heard him mumble, "Wife."

"Mm."

"Wife, are you cold?"

"Mm."

Suddenly, he pressed against me, his hands roaming my body, making me hot and bothered.

I snapped, "Go to sleep! We're getting married tomorrow!"

With that, I turned over and tried to sleep.

But my words didn't even last three minutes.

He took advantage, his cold hands unbuttoning my pajamas and wandering freely.

On the day of the wedding, the usually calm and collected Adrian actually cried.

He held me and said, "Having you in my life is the best thing that ever happened to me."

On the first day of my period, my back ached and my stomach cramped. In a moment of stupidity, I drank an iced cola.

Karma hit fast. I was writhing in pain on the bed.

Adrian rubbed my stomach while scolding me for eating the wrong things.

Suddenly, he stopped and looked at me with deep, meaningful eyes.

I'd seen that look before. It meant trouble.

"I have a way to cure your stomachache."

My eyes lit up.

"What is it?"

"Have a baby."

I rolled my eyes and politely removed his hand from my stomach.

"Strangely enough, my stomach doesn't hurt that much anymore."