One Hundred Betrayals, One Final No

When I woke up again, Lucius was sitting beside me.

There was none of the smug satisfaction he'd worn when he toyed with me before.

He looked weighed down by worry.

"Why…" His voice was unsteady. "Why didn't you tell me you were pregnant? If you'd told me earlier, I wouldn't have done this… I'm sorry…"

For a moment, I thought I'd misheard him.

I lowered my gaze to my flat stomach.

Pregnant?

I had once tried to use pregnancy to make Lucius come back to me. No matter how many times I clung to him, no matter how many doctors I saw, it never worked.

Now, when I had finally decided to leave, it came.

Lucius was just as stunned. He gripped my hand tightly.

For the first time, I saw unmistakable guilt on his face.

"The doctor said the baby almost didn't make it," he said hoarsely. "I'm sorry… this is all my fault… Don't worry. I swear I'll never do this again."

"Do what?" I looked at him calmly. "Stop cheating, or stop toying with me?"

A flash of conflict crossed his face. In the end, it seemed to take all his strength to force out two words.

"The latter."

Before I could speak, he continued, "Maisie is very fragile. If I suddenly break up with her, she'll collapse. She is your sister, after all. You wouldn't want her to get hurt, would you? And if she makes a scene, it'll damage both our families' reputations."

I had countless ways to argue back. But seeing how anxious he looked, I suddenly lost all desire to speak.

"You should leave," I said quietly. "I'm tired."

Lucius looked at me deeply.

Then, as he passed a doctor in the hallway, he issued a cold warning.

"Take good care of her. If anything happens to her or the child, I'll shut this hospital down."

This child seemed to have changed how Lucius looked at me. But it couldn't change how he felt. And it couldn't change my decision to leave.

Nine days left… then everything would end.