BOOK1–Chapter 1
The day Julian learned I was pregnant, he burst into tears. To pray for the child, he donated 500,000 dollars in my name. He even hired a lawyer to notarize the allocation of 3 million dollars to me as a guarantee and purchased a million–dollar jade at an auction, claiming it would bring me peace and help ensure a safe
pregnancy.
In front of the media, he knelt on one knee, gently stroked my belly, and made a solemn vow.
“Audrey, thank you for giving me a new identity. I promise to protect you both for the rest of my life.”
I smiled, but bitterness surged within me. Because deep down, I knew–we had no future.
Amid the thunderous applause, reporters
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eagerly thrust microphones toward me, demanding a response.
“How do you feel at this moment? Please share your thoughts!”
I shook my head, my expression cold and indifferent. “I have nothing to say. Thank
you.”
Without waiting for a reaction, I turned and walked away, citing fatigue from my early pregnancy as an excuse to retreat to the back hall.
The room fell into a stunned silence. Julian Foster, however, didn’t falter. He immediately stepped forward to smooth things over.
“Thank you for your concern,” he addressed the crowd warmly. “Today’s schedule has been overwhelming, and my wife is truly exhausted. Please understand and don‘ t overthink her reaction. Pregnancy is incredibly hard, especially for her. She has sacrificed so much for me, and
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I deeply regret how much she’s had to endure. Please, let her rest.”
He then smiled and gestured toward the banquet hall. “There’s a feast prepared for everyone, along with tokens of appreciation. Please, enjoy yourselves and collect them afterward.”
His words worked like magic. The crowd, previously skeptical and judgmental, softened. The sharp glares and whispered criticisms transformed into envy and admiration.
I glanced back, catching Julian‘ s gaze filled with what seemed like love. I forced a faint smile in return.
But my heart was already riddled with
scars.
If he truly felt sorry for me…
Would he parade me before the media, forcing me to smile through exhaustion when all I needed was rest in the fragile. stages of early pregnancy?
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He knew the truth. We had been married for eight long years without a child. Eight years of heartbreak, detours, and sacrifices -all for this baby. Finally, through artificial insemination, I was pregnant. And yet, instead of protecting me, I was dragged to events, placed under glaring spotlights, and made to endure prying questions.
The world admired his devotion, but I
knew better.
The answer came swiftly. My phone buzzed relentlessly, ringing over ten times before I glanced at the screen. It was a message from Hazel Wallace, Julian’s secretary.
Attached were two photos that pierced me like daggers.
In the first, Julian cradled her bare, smooth belly with both hands, his lips pressed lovingly against it. In the second, he knelt on one knee, slipping shoes onto her feet, a faint kiss mark visible on her neck. The images radiated joy–the unrestrained excitement of a man about to become a
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father.
My vision blurred as tears welled up. My chest tightened, and I forced myself to read Hazel’s accompanying text, each word sharper than the last:
“Audrey, do you think our due dates will align? The day you found out you were pregnant, I discovered I was too!”
“Julian was ecstatic! He insisted on rewarding me. He bought me a jade bracelet, transferred 3 million dollars, and promised to celebrate our joy quietly–just for me. Isn‘ t it ironic how all the media attention you dislike is actually his way of celebrating my pregnancy?”
“You’ve always hated the fanfare, haven’t you? Don‘ t delude yourself into thinking Julian’s happiness is about your pregnancy. You‘ re just a facade for the public. The truth? It’s all for me.”
Another photo followed.
It was the jade bracelet Julian had won at
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auction–the same one he claimed was for
my peace of mind.
