Refusing to Love Again: My Ex's Regrets and My Bright Future

Miles had likely long forgotten why I was so adamant about having a child with him.

When I first married Miles, I already knew about Ophelia Smedley.

The way others referred to her as the "academic siren" was enough to make me realize the vast difference between us.

Her mother was a member of the influential Addison family, her father the CEO of the vast Smedley Corporation, and she had the life of a princess.

I, on the other hand, had nothing—ordinary in every way possible.

When Miles claimed to love me, I was overwhelmed with insecurity.

Why would he choose me over someone as perfect as Ophelia?

Yet, in a twisted mix of vanity and misguided ambition, I convinced myself of his love.

I thought I had nothing else to offer Miles, so I foolishly believed that giving him a child would solidify our bond.

In my mind, having a child equated to holding onto him.

My obsession with having a baby was merely an extension of my obsession with Miles.

But now, I no longer wanted Miles, and I refused to let a child become a pawn in his game.

The bodyguards were strong, forcefully shoving me into the back seat of the car.

As Miles climbed in after me, I finally snapped. I struck him hard across the face.

"My mother is dead! I will never be your test subject again!"

For a moment, Miles seemed genuinely stunned, but then he quickly laughed it off.

"Alexia, you're being overly dramatic. I just saw your mother not too long ago."

What he referred to as "not too long ago" was three months.

Even then, his visit to the hospital was brief, just five minutes in my mother's room before leaving, citing an urgent meeting.

My mother, clinging to her last moments, had desperately wanted to see him—not because they were close, but because she wanted to ensure he would take care of me after she was gone.

But even this small wish was denied.

Seeing Miles was a luxury my mother barely had, while Ophelia could see him every single day.

My chest tightened as I wiped away the tears.

Right now, all I wanted was to protect my child. If I participated in another trial, I would surely lose the baby.

Even if I were destined to die, even if this child wouldn't survive, I could not allow myself to be sacrificed for another experiment.

With that thought, I suddenly lowered the car window as far as it would go and leaned my entire body out, letting the wind slash across my face.

A hand grabbed my waist and yanked me back inside.

"Alexia, what the hell are you doing!"

"Let me go! I would rather die than be your guinea pig again!"

I struggled violently, and Miles had to use his tie to bind my hands behind my back, holding me tightly in his arms to keep me still.

For the first time, he saw the extent of my desperation, and in a rare moment of softness, he tried to soothe me.

"Alexia, you've been through countless trials before. This one is no different. I'll be with you the whole time; nothing will happen to you.

"I promise, we'll have the child you want, and I'll arrange for your mother's surgery immediately."

He had coaxed me into these trials many times before, playing on my love for him and my concern for my mother's health.

But my mother's death, the helplessness I felt trapped under the rubble, and my unborn child—all of it had drained the last bit of love I had for him.

As if to prove he wasn't lying, Miles picked up his phone and dialed his assistant right in front of me.

"Mr. Lee, arrange for a specialist consultation immediately. Schedule the surgery for Alexia's mother."

Before the assistant could respond, Miles hung up and looked at me, as if to say, "See? Satisfied now?"

If he had waited just a few more seconds, he would have learned that my mother had already passed away.

He didn't, though. Miles never had the patience for me.

I found it all absurd. I felt like the biggest fool.