Chapter 1The Choice He Couldn't Make: My Ex-Husband's Bitter Regret

Arthur Sterling got drunk one night and got a girl pregnant.

By the time I found out, her belly was already six months along.

He told me that if we kept this child, we could go back to the way things were.

I shook my head and stubbornly asked him:

"Me or this child—who do you choose?"

That day, he remained silent for a long time, unable to give me an answer.

But after I vanished from his life, he finally felt the crushing weight of regret.

* * *

Married for five years, I never imagined Arthur and I would end like this.

At the hospital entrance, Arthur was carefully helping a young, beautiful girl down the steps.

I stood a short distance away, making direct eye contact with him just as his face was full of tender care.

His eyes darted away, stiffly avoiding my gaze.

The heavily pregnant girl beside him also looked my way, tears instantly welling up in her eyes.

After safely helping the girl into a car and giving her a few careful instructions, Arthur finally walked over to me.

His steps were calm and composed, entirely devoid of the panic of a man who had just been caught.

He reached out and took my hands, which were as cold as ice, wrapping them tightly in his warm palms.

"Why are you at the hospital? Are you feeling unwell?"

He spoke with deep concern, raising a hand to touch my forehead.

I dodged his touch.

"Who is she?"

Arthur didn't answer my question. Instead, he pulled me into his embrace, trying to comfort me.

"She's no one important. Let's go home and I'll explain everything, okay?"

Hearing his gentle, soothing voice in this moment finally caused my tears to fall.

I looked up at him stubbornly, demanding an answer.

As long as he said it, I would believe him.

Arthur let out a soft sigh, then gently wiped the tears from the corners of my eyes.

"The child is mine."

The tears froze on my face. I felt as though I had forgotten how to breathe.

I bit my lower lip until it turned crimson, breaking free from his embrace and taking several steps back.

Only then did a flash of genuine anger cross Arthur's face.

He pulled me back to his side, looking at me with heartache.

"Eleanor, you can blame me, but don't torture yourself."

I couldn't understand why he would do something so devastating, yet still look at me with such profound love.

Amidst our silent standoff, the girl stepped out of the car.

"Get back inside!" Arthur ordered coldly, his voice devoid of any warmth.

The girl looked at him timidly but didn't retreat. A hint of determination appeared in her eyes.

"Mrs. Sterling, Mr. Sterling and I aren't what you think. This child was an accident."

She offered a bitter smile.

"If I had a choice, I would want this baby gone more than anyone."

My vision was blurred with tears. Though I couldn't clearly see the expression on Arthur's face, I knew him well enough to feel that his initial coldness toward her had already faded.

"Enough, stop talking!"

Jealousy and resentment flooded my heart, and I screamed in a total breakdown.

Startled, the girl swayed and nearly fell, but Arthur rushed forward and caught her securely in his arms.

I stared blankly at the scene. A wild thought flashed through my mind.

I lunged toward them.

Just as I was about to collide with her swollen belly, a massive force shoved me away.

I fell hard onto the pavement. Lifting my scraped, bleeding palms, I let out a miserable laugh.

Arthur stared in utter disbelief at his own outstretched hands, completely stunned by what he had just done.

That day, Arthur left the six-month pregnant girl behind and took me home.

But I knew in my heart that he and I had no future left.