But the moment she actually got pregnant, he had dragged her to the hospital to get rid of it without any room for discussion.

Julian, do you have any idea? Just last year, I took eleven full bottles of birth control pills for you.

You were the one who personally forced me to give up my child. You don't deserve to be a father.

Chapter 4

Just then, a knock sounded at the door.

Selina’s agent hurried in with a stack of documents, looking rushed. "Mr. Grant, we need your signature on Selina's schedule."

Jade spoke up. "Go ahead with your work. I’m going home."

Halfway out, she suddenly realized she had lost her left earring.

Retracing her steps back to the CEO’s office, she heard Julian’s impatient voice coming from inside.

"I told you, don't come looking for me when Jade is around."

Selina pouted playfully. "Julian, don't be so mean to me. She’s the one who ruined our fun first."

As she spoke, Selina guided Julian’s hand to her waist, her voice turning seductive. "I’m wearing something special for you underneath. Don't you want to see?"

Julian hesitated for a split second before pulling Selina into his arms and muffling her voice with a kiss.

The jarring sounds drifted through the solid wood door.

The coldness of the metal doorknob seeped into Jade’s palm and traveled straight to her heart.

Even though she had already given up on Julian, hearing the two of them together still felt like a knife twisting in her chest.

Her fingertips turned white from the pressure as she pulled out her phone and dialed Julian’s number.

Inside the office, the phone rang for half a second before it was immediately declined.

He hadn't hesitated for a moment.

Jade’s heart went numb with cold. She turned and walked away with stiff movements.

It wasn't until two hours later that Julian returned the call. "I was in a meeting just now. What's up?"

By now, Jade had composed herself. Hearing Julian’s lies on the other end of the line felt pathetic and ironic.

"It’s nothing. I dropped an earring, but I've already found it."

Julian, with acting skills like yours, you’re the one who deserves a Best Actor award.

Two days later, at the Metropolis International Hotel.

Jade was having dinner with the Grant family.

She reached out to pick up a piece of fish with her chopsticks, but Julian’s mother rotated the lazy Susan, moving the dish away from her.

"You've eaten so much, yet you haven't managed to produce a single heir. Even if we raised a dog, it would have had a litter after ten years."

Jade’s silence only made Julian’s father more furious. He didn't bother to hide the disgust in his eyes.

"Do you know what they used to call stars in the old days? Playthings! Just items for entertainment. I don't see why people worship you."

"Your priority right now should be quitting your job and focusing on continuing the Grant family line!"

Jade finally spoke. "I understand. I’ll be retiring from the screen."

Not just retiring. In five days, she would be leaving forever with her baby.

Julian tightened his grip on Jade’s hand. "Mom, Dad, stop giving Jade a hard time. We’ll handle the matter of the child ourselves."

As they were speaking, there was a knock at the private room door.

Selina Song appeared with a bottle of premium ginseng wine, a bright smile on her face.

"Mr. Grant, I heard your voice and thought I'd stop by. I brought this wine for you."

Despite her polite words, Selina showed no intention of leaving after delivering the wine. Instead, she picked up a teacup from the table.

"Uncle, Auntie, I felt an instant connection with you both. If you don't mind, I’d love to be your goddaughter!"

"Sister Jade is always so busy. Unlike me—I just want to stay close and chat with you two."

Julian’s eyes turned cold. Just as he was about to speak, his father interrupted with a laugh.

"If only I had a daughter-in-law as sensible as you. Not like some people who don't even know how to read the room!"

Julian’s mother also looked pleased, gesturing for Selina to take the seat beside her. "Good girl, come sit and eat with us."

In the ten years she had been married into the Grant family, Julian’s parents had never once allowed her to sit in the seat next to them.

Julian’s gaze grew even colder as he looked at Selina. "This is a family dinner. You shouldn't be sitting there."

Tears quickly welled up in Selina’s eyes. She gave Jade a resentful glare before standing up and rushing out.

Julian’s expression flickered. He looked like he wanted to get up and follow her, but after glancing at Jade—who was still quietly eating with her head down—he stayed put, though his mind was clearly elsewhere.

His mother’s snide remarks and his father’s accusations began to rain down on Jade once again.

Jade simply stood up. "I'm not feeling well. I'll head back first. Enjoy your dinner."

She walked away so quickly that Julian didn't have time to see the expression on her face.

It wasn't until she was locked inside the restroom that Jade let her strength fail. She slumped down, and the tears she had been holding back finally broke free.

She pinched her palms, telling herself: Don't listen. Don't look. Don't care.

The doctor had said that emotional stress could affect the baby.

It didn't matter if the Grant family didn't want her. The baby was her only real family now.

Suddenly, a notification popped up on her phone from social media.

Selina had posted a photo of the dinner with the Grant family, specifically tagging Jade.

"Having dinner with my boyfriend’s family and ran into Sister Jade. What a coincidence!"

Even though Selina hadn't included everyone's faces in the shot, Jade recognized the Grant family home instantly.

Chapter 5

A comment was immediately pushed to the top of the feed.

"Selina and her boyfriend are goals! Forever together!"

The nausea that had finally subsided surged once again.

With reddened eyes, Jade forced herself to keep scrolling with a self-destructive persistence.

Amidst the countless blessings, an account named "Thinking of Selina" replied with two simple words: "We will."

The account Julian used to tip Selina during her broadcasts was also named "Thinking of Selina."

The color drained from Jade’s face. She took several deep breaths before her trembling hand tapped on the profile.

It was completely blank.

Julian had set it to private.

Jade stared at the phone screen in a daze for a long time before letting out a self-deprecating laugh.

A moment later, tears fell like pearls from a broken string, sliding past her defiant lips and splashing onto the floor.

Julian called, his voice full of concern. "You said you weren't feeling well earlier. Are you better now?"

Jade wiped away her tears, struggling to steady her voice. "I’m fine now."

Julian’s brow remained furrowed. "I’m coming back—"

At that moment, Selina had just finished serving tea to Julian’s parents.

As she sat down, she saw "Jade" flashing on his incoming call display. She bit her lip, slipped off her shoe, and deliberately pressed her leg against Julian’s side.

Julian’s breathing shifted instantly. "Something came up at the office," he muttered into the phone. "Go to the hospital if you're really that uncomfortable." Then, he hung up.

Outside the window, the bustling city lights reflected off the glass and onto Jade’s face.

The winter night was lively, but the thousands of glowing lights had nothing to do with her.

On the drive back, the driver noticed Jade’s pale complexion and couldn't help but ask, "Mrs. Grant, you look very unwell. Should I take you to the hospital?"

Jade shook her head gently.

The driver fell silent and drove her home in peace.

As she reached to open the car door, the ring on her finger slipped off and fell onto the floor mat.

Jade froze. Had she really lost that much weight in just a few days?

The driver offered to stay and help her look, but Jade refused.

She fumbled around by herself for a long time before finally finding it.

Yet, as she looked at the ring, she hesitated to put it back on.

After a long pause, she opened the glove compartment in front of the passenger seat. "Things that don't belong to me shouldn't be taken away."

With a soft click, the compartment opened, and a pile of "protection" packets spilled into view.

In an instant, the air seemed to vanish from the car.

She had never had intimacy with Julian in this vehicle.

Jade’s chest heaved violently. Her hand recoiled as if she had been electrocuted, and she scrambled to open the door.

The moment she stepped out, she stopped, moved by a strange impulse. She reached back in, took a photo, and then closed the compartment before walking away.