What Love Cost Me

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A swishing sound pierced the air. I bared my face, my cheeks wet with tears.

The pain didn't come as expected because George's phone rang.

The specific ringtone revealed that it was Mia calling.

Tenderness replaced the fury in his eyes. He picked up the call and softly asked, "What is it? Just wait at home. I'll cook. You don't need to do it."

Her soft sobs came from the other end of the line.

I supposed she tried to cook for him but ended up injuring herself, so he was now patiently comforting her.

"Sure. Don't worry. I'll have her get rid of the baby. You'll always be my favorite little one. Nobody can ever steal me from you."

He was as gentle as he could be, but somehow it made me sick.

I turned around and pulled the blanket over my chest.

Tears rolled down my face onto the pillow.

After he hung up the phone, he stayed silent for a long time. Finally, he adjusted my blanket.

"Abort it. I'll pay for the operation and the postoperative care. I understand your frustration about being unable to be transferred back to the headquarters. That's why you divorced me. Ivy, believe it or not, there's nothing going on between Mia and me."

I kept my eyes shut, refusing to reply as my tears continued to fall.

When his patience finally bottomed out, George rose to his feet, threatening, "Fine. You can keep the baby. But remember, you'll never get to work at the headquarters anymore. This is the only concession I'm making for you."

The headquarters were having a heavy workload at the moment.

I knew very well that the kid would be a hindrance, so I scheduled an operation without hesitation.

I left the room with an aching stomach.

They were announcing the chosen candidate today, and I had to be present.

When I arrived at the headquarters lobby, an ovation caught my attention.

"Let's welcome Dr. Williams back! Congratulations on gaining the opportunity to be mentored by Dr. Durand!" The crowd cheered.

Mia stood at the podium to express her gratitude.

George smiled proudly and always gave her encouraging nods.

Anyone could mistake them for a couple.

I staggered into the crowd and demanded, "Isn't the list coming out today? I've submitted the application. Why did you announce the results without me?"

Mia pointed at a notice on the notice board. "Dr. Drew, they won't consider a pregnant woman for the vacancy in the headquarters. Dr. Durand personally reported you, so I'm the only doctor who'll be transferred back to the headquarters this time."

A metallic taste spread on my tongue.

I held back my tears and turned to George for an explanation.

He returned my gaze indifferently, as though I were a stranger. "I suggested you abort the child, but you were too stubborn to listen."

An intense pain twisted my guts, making me feel nauseous. My temples throbbed from my headache.

My body was shaking violently as I laid out the facts. "You never asked me to abort the baby for my sake. You only wanted it gone because she cried to you. You manipulated the result and pushed her transfer through for your own selfish reasons."

He frowned at me.

"You're making a scene now, Ivy. At this point, the candidate has been selected. There's no use questioning it."

His words fueled my anger.

I sacrificed everything for a simple dream.

How could he deprive me of the chance?

I wouldn't let him abuse his status anymore.

I rushed onto the podium, pulled out my phone, and sent the evidence I had prepared into the group chat.

Then, I looked at the room and spoke clearly.

"During the past two years of Mia's deployment on the frontline, she violated regulations again and again by returning to Kingsfield without permission. Even when she was an intern, patients filed multiple complaints against her.

"Last year, she made a fatal mistake during surgery, and George helped cover it up. She is not qualified to be transferred back at all."