What Love Cost Me

Selfishness

"You've changed. You've adopted materialistic values. You'll do anything to get what you want now, won't you?"

I clenched my fists so tightly that my nails cut into my palms and drew blood.

Fighting back tears, I said, "It's been five years. This is my last chance to transfer back to headquarters. If I miss it, I'll age out next year. George, I can't let this chance go."

I could not afford to waste my youth waiting until I was over the age limit and lost the qualification forever, or until the day he might finally change his mind.

If I wanted it, I needed to fight for it.

George's gaze locked on me for a long while. An emotion I couldn't name flashed across his eyes.

He softly coaxed, "I understand it's been five difficult years, but please be patient and wait another year. Ivy, I promise you. It won't be long."

He stepped behind me and wrapped his arms around me, lifting a hand as if to wipe away my tears.

I dodged his approaching hand and mocked, "Why do I have to wait? Did you give the spot to someone else? Let me guess. It's Mia, right?"

He dropped his gentle pretense. A shadow darkened his expression.

"Did you plan all of this only because you think I cheated on you with Mia? Fine! I'll do as you wish! I'll have you know that even if we get a divorce, you aren't transferring back any sooner. Is this what you want?"

I met his eyes without flinching. "Yes."

He grabbed his pen and signed his name with more force than intended, as if treating an enemy.

Then, he threw the divorce papers in my face.

"Don't think of coming back and begging for forgiveness when you fail to transfer back to the headquarters and have nowhere else to go!"

…

During the first month of the divorce cooling-off period, I threw myself into work. I took on every difficult case, every heavy assignment, and did everything I could to secure that transfer slot.

Finally, I was shortlisted.

Everything went as planned, except for one thing.

I was three months pregnant.

Because I had spent so long working in the harsh conditions of the battlefield, my menstrual cycle had become irregular. That was why I had not realized it sooner.

I worked backward and figured it happened three months ago, when George summoned me back to Kingsfield with one call.

He was drunk and rough in bed.

Suddenly, I recalled that Mia had been seen being very close to another man.

Our child was the result of George losing control.

It shouldn't exist at all.

Not long after I had learned about my pregnancy, he came to me.

His position allowed him to retrieve the medical reports from my workplace.

It was only a matter of time before he learned it.

He glanced at my belly and demanded, "Mia has learned about your pregnancy. She couldn't have babies after getting injured on the frontline. When she heard the news, it upset her. As her acquaintance, you should be thoughtful and abort it."

My fingers hovered over my stomach. I felt my blood run cold in my veins.

At the beginning of our marriage, we dreamed about a life with a kid.

Back then, he said, "It'll be perfect if it's a girl who looks like you. I've always wanted to meet a younger you."

But now, he wanted me to abort the child simply because it saddened Mia.

He was ruining the beautiful memories I hoped to cling to.

Something in me decided to rebel against him.

I refused to do as told.

I opposed him, "This is my child. I have the final say. Stay out of it."

His eyes darkened at once. He stepped forward and grabbed my wrist, his grip so hard it felt as though he might snap the bone.

"We're no longer together! Keeping the child will remind Mia of her loss! Don't you understand? If I want to make you get rid of it, I have plenty of ways to do it."

I had no choice but to meet his eyes, and I didn't waver despite the tears pricking my eyes.

"How funny you can't bear to see Mia's tears. Are you sure she's just a mentee, not something more?"

Fury clouded his eyes. Agitated, he raised his hand and snapped, "You're out of line, Ivy."