Chapter 4My husband's true love gave birth to a baby, and I leave to become a doctor without borders

Such a big matter, yet he spoke about it so casually.

I packed the last piece of clothing into my suitcase. Just then, my mother-in-law entered, seeing the suitcase by my feet with a look of 'finally, you know your place.'

"After all, she saved my life. I can't let her leave this world full of regrets..."

"I wanted to discuss this with you earlier, but since you were overseas, I didn't want to interrupt your studies. I thought it best to wait until you came back."

"If you're open to it, how about we raise this child together?"

Such a significant matter, yet he spoke of it so nonchalantly.

I tucked the last piece of clothing into my suitcase just as my mother-in-law walked in. Her expression said, "Finally, you've come to your senses."

"Since you weren't here, I let Adeline use your room. Now, the study has been converted into a nursery, so you'll need to sleep in the living room tonight. If you don't like that, feel free to check into a hotel."

I was genuinely exhausted and didn't have the energy to find a hotel, so I nodded, ready to make do on the sofa for the night.

But in the dead of night, the sound of a crying baby came from the bedroom.

I turned over, about to put in earplugs, when I heard Adeline's frustrated voice.

"Liam, can you do something about the baby? He’s been crying non-stop."

Then I heard Liam chuckle softly.

"Aren't you my darling? Just take care of yourself. Let the kid cry a bit more; it's good for his lungs."

I pulled the blanket over my head, trying hard to ignore their laughter.

But when I closed my eyes, I still saw Liam's face from when he first confessed his love to me.

Back then, he was lively and full of energy, with his whole world revolving around me.

But that version of him no longer belonged to me.

I drifted into a restless sleep, and by dawn, I was out the door with my suitcase.

At City Hall, I canceled my household registration and processed my papers to go abroad.

With all the necessary documentation, everything was handled quickly, and the staff didn't ask many questions.

Just as I was leaving, one of the staff handed me a piece of fruit candy.

"May all your wishes come true."

I gave her a grateful smile and found a nearby hotel.

After setting down my luggage, I went out to find something to eat and unexpectedly ran into Liam and Adeline with their family.

Adeline, wearing a Patek Philippe bracelet, looked smug, showing no sign of someone gravely ill.

"Olivia, I thought I recognized you from afar. Liam insisted you couldn't possibly be here."

Her gaze fell on the job flyer in my hand, and she smiled knowingly.

"So you're job hunting? But why would you settle for a waitress position?"

"Even if you're upset with Liam, there's no need to make things hard on yourself."

I stayed silent. A young girl had handed me the flyer on the street, and I took it because I felt sorry for her working in the cold weather.

Seeing my silence, Adeline's eyes gleamed with satisfaction, and her smile widened.

"If you'd told me you were looking for a job, maybe I could've helped."

"We're family. If you're doing well, Liam and the child will have support, and I can feel at ease."

At that moment, my silence was almost an admission.

Liam's previously confused expression turned harsh.

He frowned deeply, his lips forming a hard line, and looked at me with disdain.

"What's there to recommend? She insisted on leaving such a good job as a doctor. Now, even if she starves on the street, she doesn't deserve sympathy."

"Olivia, I can't believe you'd go to such lengths to force me to give up the child. You've really disappointed me!"

Staring at his familiar face, I felt like he was a stranger.

I remembered when we were first married, how internal competition at the hospital made me want to resign and switch careers.

Liam held me in his arms and gently comforted me:

"We're a team. No matter what you decide, I support you."

"Resigning is no big deal, honey. I'll always be here for you."

But now, he allowed another woman to humiliate me.

He forgot what he once told me and the deep feelings we shared.

Even my in-laws shook their heads in disdain.

"Olivia, you're like a hen that can't lay eggs and always out of the house. How can you compare to Adeline?"

"It's only natural for Liam to look for someone else. Blame yourself for not being attractive."

Their words grew more exaggerated, and passersby began to glance our way.

My hands clenched into fists at my sides, nails digging into my skin.

Just as I was about to speak, Adeline stepped forward.

"We're about to take a family photo, Olivia. Why don't you join us? I'll count on you to look after Liam and the baby in the future."

I glanced at her, saying nothing.

Liam immediately objected, shielding Adeline in his arms and sneering at me.

"Adeline, you're too kind, but she might not appreciate it."

"Olivia, who are you giving that face to? Go or don't go. Your presence would just lower our family's standards."

With that, he took Adeline and headed toward the photo studio.

"We'll leave now. Don't let us stop you from looking for a job, Olivia~"

Before leaving, Adeline gave me a meaningful look.

Watching them walk away, I felt no waves in my heart.

To the outside world, they seemed like such a harmonious family.

If that’s what Liam wants, then why not let them have it?

4.

Three days before leaving, I received a message from the director.

He said the expert I had asked him to contact was in the country for a forum and could help check on my mother-in-law's asthma.

She had been dealing with asthma for years. Although it was under control, it still sometimes flared up, and she'd been to the hospital in emergencies before.

So, while studying abroad, I asked colleagues to collect related cases for me.

No matter what, the years of relationship still meant something. Once I finished this, we'd be even.

But when I told her I wanted to take her to the hospital, her face changed instantly.

"Why go to the hospital for no reason? Are you cursing me just because I criticized you?"

"Olivia, you're so malicious. The last time I had a check-up, the doctor said I was healthy. What's there to check?"

"There's a top expert on asthma in the country today. You could see him, just as a follow-up..."

Before I could finish, she threw a water cup at me.

"Sounds great, but could a jobless person like you really schedule with a top expert? All you do is brag! Remember when Adeline stayed up late to book my appointment? Where were you then?"

She compared me to Adeline at every turn, her attitude clear.

No matter what I did, it was wrong. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't compare to Adeline.

With this thought in mind, I just smiled bitterly.

"Fine, if you don't want to go, we won't."

Maybe I'm just meddling where I shouldn't.

Soon, it was time for the baby's Full Moon Celebration.

I arrived late, seeing the banquet hall packed with relatives whose names I didn't know. For a moment, I felt dazed.

The event was even grander than my wedding to Liam.

And right by the entrance, there was a family photo of the five of them.

As for me, from start to finish, I was just a joke.

Relatives and friends whispered when they saw me, and I could guess the gist.

Soon, Aunt Fiona grabbed my arm, making small talk.

"Olivia, when did you return? Liam never mentioned it. And when did you have a baby?"

"I heard you're being promoted to Chief Medical Officer at the General Hospital after your studies abroad. Your future's so bright!"

I didn't say anything, just nodded politely.

But I could see the disdain in their eyes.

After all, I wasn't in the family photo.

And it wasn’t me standing by Liam at the banquet.

Someone pointed at the woman feeding Liam dessert and asked.

"Olivia, who is that?"

I smiled faintly.

"Liam's new wife."

The gossiping aunts nearby widened their eyes, then huddled together, whispering again.

Since Liam’s family didn’t care, why should I cover for them?

Just then, Liam took the stage and grabbed the microphone.

"I'm so glad everyone could come to my son's Full Moon Celebration."

"Before this, I never considered becoming a father or believed I could play the role well."

"But when I heard the baby's cries, I realized the responsibility and duties of fatherhood."

The aunt next to me shouted, "Let the baby's mother come up and say a few words! Where's the mother?"

The banquet hall's atmosphere froze for a moment.

Everyone's eyes darted between Adeline and me.

The answer was obvious, but the aunt's question seemed to urge Liam to admit it himself.

"I never really considered becoming a father before now and certainly didn't think I could handle the responsibility."

"But when I heard the baby's cries, the weight of fatherhood hit me."

Aunt Hazel loudly interjected, "Let the child's mother come up and speak! Where is she?"

The room fell silent.

Eyes darted between me and Olivia.

The truth was all but spoken, but Aunt Hazel seemed intent on hearing Liam Bennett admit it himself.

Locking eyes with Liam, I slowly made my way to the stage.

He was dumbfounded as I took the microphone from him.

"What are you doing? Don't you dare say anything reckless," he hissed, panic flickering in his eyes as he grabbed my sleeve, but I brushed him off without looking back.

A clear conscience fears no accusation.

I began speaking calmly, "First, thank you all for traveling here for this celebration."

"Many of you witnessed Liam Bennett and me getting married, and have supported us with your blessings. You might have seen our family photo at the entrance earlier."

Liam’s face paled at this.

He charged toward me, trying to snatch the microphone.

I quickly sidestepped, holding the microphone firmly as I continued:

"Honestly, I was shocked too, but more so when I returned from a year abroad to find Liam Bennett with another woman. They even had a child."

"They tried to convince me it was for my own good to accept the child as mine. But I refuse to bear that burden or swallow that lie."

"Liam Bennett, I want a divorce."