Chapter 2

The office instantly fell into a deathly silence.

Leonardo’s gaze fell on the report in my hand, his pupils sharply contracting.

But there wasn’t a hint of joy on his face, only a flash of extreme irritation and disgust.

Tiffany tugged at his sleeve, her eyes instantly red, tears streaming down her face, her voice trembling like leaves in the autumn wind.

“Leonardo… Aria is pregnant too… What about our baby?”

“I should just go. I don’t want to break up your family. I’ll just have the baby alone and raise it myself…”

She made a move to stand up. Leonardo immediately pressed her back onto the sofa, his face contorted with distress, and quickly reached out to wipe her tears.

“What nonsense! The child in your belly is my child, Leonardo’s! Who dares to make you leave! If anyone leaves, it’s her!”

After comforting Tiffany, he turned his head and looked down at me, his eyes as cold as poisoned ice blades.

“Aria, this child can’t stay.”

I thought I misheard, my ears ringing. “What did you say?”

Leonardo strode to the desk, pulled open a drawer, took out a pre-prepared abortion consent form, and slammed it down on the table.

“I said, go to the hospital tomorrow and get the procedure done.”

He pointed at the trembling Tiffany on the sofa, his tone self-righteous:

“Tiffany developed a chronic illness after saving me back then. She has severe depression and can’t handle any stress.”

“Given her current condition, she absolutely cannot see that you’re also pregnant.”

“You’re strong, healthy as an ox. You can have children a couple of years later; it’ll be the same.”

I stared at the man before me in disbelief, as if looking at a completely unfamiliar monster.

To protect his mistress’s child, he wanted to kill his own flesh and blood?

“Leonardo, are you insane! This is our child! The child we’ve longed for for five years!”

“Yesterday, you were still touching my belly, saying that if it was a girl, you’d buy her all the best dresses in the world!”

“Plans change!” Leonardo interrupted me impatiently, his voice dripping with arrogant condescension.

“Aria, don’t be unreasonable. This might be Tiffany’s only chance to be a mother in her life. I must protect her.”

“You’ve held my wife’s position for five whole years, enjoyed so much wealth and glory. You should be content.”

“Now, for Tiffany, what’s wrong with you suffering a little inconvenience? Don’t look at me like I owe you millions!”

I looked at his self-righteous face, my stomach churning, the disgust shooting right through me.

“What if I refuse to go through with it?” I gritted my teeth, asking each word distinctly.

Leonardo sneered, his eyes filled with overt threat and disdain.

“Aria, don’t make me do this the hard way.”

“You’re a housewife who hasn’t worked and has been out of touch with society for five years. What do you have to fight me with?”

“Without me, you can’t even support yourself, let alone a child!”

“Tomorrow morning at eight, I’ll have the driver pick you up for the hospital. Don’t force me to send people to drag you there.”

“If things get too ugly, you’re the one who’ll be embarrassed!”