Chapter 2

Even though I was long used to his cruelty, his words still pierced my heart.

He pitied Chloe for her miscarriage, but he chose to forget that I had also carried two of his children.

My throat tightened, and I looked up to force back the tears.

With a bitter laugh, I asked, "Then what exactly do you want me to do, Carter?"

Carter gently stroked Chloe's pale cheek, his voice softening.

"If you hadn't hung that stupid car accessory to trigger Chloe, she wouldn't have insisted on doing it in the back seat. She lost so much blood, and it's entirely your fault."

He looked up at me coldly. "I remember you two share the same rare blood type. You'll donate your blood to her."

The moment the words left his mouth, his thugs stepped forward without hesitation, dragging me toward the blood-drawing chair.

I struggled with all my might, refusing to cooperate.

"Carter, are you insane? I have a baby in my womb! Are you trying to kill your own child?"

Chloe's nose turned red as she sobbed, "Forget it, Carter. I don't mind losing some blood. After all, she's carrying your child. I know how much you want a baby of your own... It's just my bad luck..."

Carter's brief hesitation vanished instantly at her tears.

He commanded coldly, "She wasn't this dramatic when she had her miscarriage. It's just 800cc of blood. Draw it! It's not like this is her first pregnancy anyway."

Every ounce of strength in my body seemed to drain away with those words.

I stared blankly at the man in front of me.

The very last shred of affection I had held for him turned to ash.

I had conceived our first child six months after our wedding.

I had been so excited to share the news with him, only to walk into our bedroom and find him naked, wrapped around Chloe on our wedding bed.

The shock caused me to start bleeding on the spot.

Instead of showing remorse, Carter forced the open marriage agreement on me.

"Can't you just learn to be a proper Mrs. Brooks? Look at the other wives in our circle. Who throws a tantrum like you?"

"We can both have our fun and not interfere with each other. Isn't that perfect?"

I had screamed hysterically, slapping his face. "How could you do this? You told me you married me because you loved me!"

Carter had pushed me away impatiently. "Are you done acting crazy?"

"I married you because I loved you, yes. But I also love Lily, Chloe, and Amy. The world is huge. Loving only one person for the rest of your life is just pathetic and boring."

"Grow up, Amelia."

I miscarried that very night.

He had actually looked relieved, saying, "Maybe it's for the best. The timing was bad anyway."

My heart had been ripped to shreds. I began to act like a madwoman, desperately trying to catch him with other women. But every time I fought back, my family's business took a harder hit.

My parents had begged me with tears in their eyes to stop.

Looking at their aging faces and white hair, I finally got scared.

I submitted to Carter and accepted the open marriage.

Soon after, I got pregnant again.

Coincidentally, Chloe found out she was pregnant at the same time.

Carter had been ecstatic. He spun Chloe around in his arms, laughing like a happy child. It was the first time I had ever seen such genuine joy on his face.

My heart bled. I asked him, "What about me, Carter? What about my baby?"

What had he said back then?

He had frowned, looking at me, then at Chloe, before waving his hand in annoyance.

"I was drunk that night. I thought you were Chloe."

"You can't have this baby. I promised Chloe our firstborn would be hers. Go get an abortion."

I was dragged to the operating table like an animal, stripped of all dignity.

The cold metal instruments entered my body, and the blinding pain ripped me in half.

My second child was taken from me just like that.

And now, he had the nerve to say, "It's not like this is her first pregnancy anyway."

How utterly pathetic.