The Choice to Abort

The Last Gift

Watching that video left me sick to my stomach and made me think how they could be so brazen.

Still, I couldn't help but wonder—when the man who swore he loved me looked forward to another woman giving birth to his child, when he remembered the vows he had made to me, did he ever feel guilt? Or was he only thrilled, proud, and secretly satisfied?

Late at night, I finally finished packing my bags. I had barely sat down to catch my breath when River rushed back home. The moment he saw me on the couch, guilt clouded his face. He strode over, wrapped me tightly in his arms, and held me as though that could erase everything.

Seeing that I remained silent, he pressed his lips together and whispered, "Baby, believe me, this will be the last time. From now on, I'll stay by your side and never upset you again."

I drew in a deep breath and slowly picked up the divorce papers I had prepared long ago. "River, let's get divorced."

The tenderness drained from his face in an instant. He grabbed the papers and tore them to pieces without hesitation. "You think threatening me with divorce will make me give up Yvonne's child? You know I hate being threatened. You can't bear a progeny, and after walking away from me, what other man would stay loyal to you and never look down on you? Joanne, your threats won't work. That child will be born!"

But by then, I no longer cared about him or Yvonne's baby. All I wanted was to escape this marriage that had destroyed me. "Think whatever you want. I'll say it again—I want a divorce."

River shot me a cold glance before turning and walking away. I touched my pale face, lifted my suitcase, and left without looking back.

Before I stepped out, I sent him a text. 'If you refuse to sign the divorce papers, I'll have my lawyer file for it directly. At the same time, I compiled Yvonne's secret about losing her uterus along with the proof of my abortion into an email and sent it to his phone. My final gift before the divorce. May we never meet again.'

…

On the way to the maternity retreat with Yvonne, River passed by a bridal shop. He stopped in front of a display, eyes drawn to the delicate white gown inside.

"This wedding dress is beautiful. If only I could wear it one day," she said, clinging sweetly to his arm.

"Sure," he replied absentmindedly. "Joanne would look stunning in it. I spoke too harshly just now and made her angry. I should pick up something she likes to eat and make it up to her." As he spoke, he reached for his phone, intending to ask me what I wanted.

But Yvonne's smile faltered instantly, and she murmured in wounded tones, "It's all my fault… I shouldn't have insisted you give me a child."

River frowned and answered solemnly, "None of this is your fault. You lost your ability to have children by saving me. I owe you a great deal. She's just too jealous, too immature."

At that, he pulled out my chat with him—only to see the unread notification waiting on the screen.