2

"Happy 10th anniversary, my darling!"

I woke up from my dream with a sweet smell of perfume lingering in my nose.

The clock showed two o'clock, and the anniversary had long passed.

I didn't hesitate, and just said, "Dan, you have received the agreement, when are you going to handle the formalities?"

The hand that was reaching under the hem of my pajamas paused.

Soon he smiled again, "Joan, please! Yola didn't send the wrong package on purpose. Look, I brought the gift back to you personally."

He took out an exquisite gift box.

When I opened it, there was another pair of red high heels.

Dan said confidently, "It's my fault for not explaining it clearly. I will make up the gift to you in few days."

Yola was an intern at Johnson's company.

Her admiration for Dan was well known to everyone.

Dan did not avoid her admiration and transferred Yola to be his secretary.

He had been harassed by young girls before.

But he behaved himself under control at that time, and those girls had a sense of propriety, so naturally there was no further stories between them.

But Yola was different. She was able to prepare gifts for the elders and host family banquets for Dan. Even the anniversary gift for me had to be checked by her.

Dan took my silence as forgiveness and started to try to make conversation.

"Joan, don't go to my mother's 60th birthday party. You are too impulsive. I'm afraid it will turn out like last time."

I clutched the corner of the quilt, shaking with anger.

Last year, at my mother-in-law's birthday party, she humiliated me in front of everyone, saying that I had tarnished their family's reputation, and that the reason I couldn't get pregnant was because I had ruined my body due to promiscuity.

I couldn't help but make a few excuses, but my father-in-law got furious and kicked me out.

Dan didn't speak up for me.

I thought he had difficulties speaking out, but in the end he accused me of being impulsive.

I glanced at the ultrasound report on the bedside table, turning my back to him and saying, "I didn't have time to move out yesterday, and I thought you wouldn't come back. I'll leave at dawn, just in time to make room for Yola. She's young and healthy, so giving birth to many children in one pregnancy is not a dream."

"Joan, don't be so shameless! It's just a gift, does it really disturb you?"

I pointed at the lip marks on his collar and said, "I helped you out of kindness, why are you still angry?"

He slammed the door in anger and left, leaving with the words, "Joan, I have never owed you anything. It's just because you can't get pregnant!"

Every word seemed to suggest that I should face reality and admit my mistakes and apologize.

Ten years ago, he married me despite the opposition of his whole family.

Ten years later, his family became an excuse to reject me.

Unfortunately, this time, I wouldn't beg for peace humbly anymore.

A good beginning does not equal a good ending.

We met on a dark and secluded path.

"Your mother is worth 800 dollars, so 200 dollars is enough for you, my girl!"

I was harassed by a hooligan who spoke humiliating words to me and threw 200 dollars in my face.

When I was about to be dragged into the woods, Dan unexpectedly appeared and stood in front of me like a guardian angel.

"This is my girlfriend, get out of here!"

He shook his fist, shouting loudly.

He was so scared that his legs were shaking, but he still tried to act like a hero.

I shrank into his tall shadow, smiling shyly.

3

From then on, I had a follower.

Dan picked me up from school every day and insisted on watching me enter the house.

He gave me expensive and beautiful clothes, lying to me that they were cheap goods.

He anonymously gave my family a huge sum of money, which enabled us to escape the days of humiliation for survival.

Just when I was moved wildly, I heard someone gossiping, "The young master of the Johnson family was bewitched by a young bitch and fell in love with the bitch who is like a pile of garbage in the quagmire."

My inferiority complex made me desperately avoid Dan and cut off all contact with him.

It wasn't until my gambling father was in debt again and was ready to sell me to a brothel to pay off his debts.

Dan unexpectedly appeared again.

That time he was seriously injured.

Seeing that the matter had escalated, the debt collector fled in a hurry.

I didn't know where I got the strength from, but I carried him on my back and rushed to the hospital.

Tears mixed with blood splattered on the ground.

The doctor joked, "You two young lovers have such a good relationship. The girlfriend cried even more sadly than the injured boyfriend."

Dan blushed slightly, "I'm not her boyfriend yet, but it's only temporary."

He didn't say the latter sentence.

I added in a low voice, "Maybe soon."

After the doctor left, we both sat side by side on the bed.

His slightly warm body temperature penetrated into my heart along with his blood.

Dan was the first to break the silence, his words a little clumsy, "Joan, don't worry, if you are in danger, I will definitely stand in front of you."

I timidly told him about my life. With a father who was addicted to gambling and a mother in high heels who lived on prostitution, I was born of humble parentage.

I was afraid that he would give up after he knew my family situation, and I was even more afraid that he would regret it in the future.

I also told him that what my mom hated most was seeing me cry.

Every time I cried, she would scold me, "I even sold myself for you, and I still have to laugh with others every day. You are in no position to shed tears when you are comfortably at home!"

I raised my head with tearful eyes and looked at Dan, "You won't make me cry in the future, right? Hmm..."

The boy used his immature actions to stop my anxiety and tears.

Dan used all his wealth to pay off my father's debts in exchange for my freedom.

His parents threatened us to break up by severing their kindred relationship.

We were penniless during those years, but we wandered around the nation and remained loyal to each other.

It made me think that we would hold hands with our love and grow old together.

"Congratulations on your wish coming true. The baby is healthy."

The doctor's blessing interrupted my memories. The baby's heartbeat was amplified through the stethoscope, hitting my heart like a hammer.

I forced a smile and said, "Yeah."

That doctor was an expert in gynecology and had been helping me with my health.

When she found out I was pregnant, she was overjoyed and genuinely relieved.

"You two must have suffered a lot for this child. You must be careful in the first three months. By the way, why didn't your husband come with you?"

Noticing that I was silent for a long time, the doctor asked in confusion, "What's wrong? Are you feeling uncomfortable somewhere?"

I bitterly dodged her hand that was about to check my condition and took deep breaths, "Actually, I don't plan to have the child anymore... Is it too late to have an abortion now?"

She stared at me in disbelief, "You took so many medicines and had so many injections, so you finally got pregnant. How can you just decide not to have it?"

I shook my head, "A kid that is not expected will not be happy even if it is born."

The doctor sighed regretfully, "I see. You can go back and discuss it with your husband again. Look, the child's hands and feet are almost formed."

I said firmly, "I don't want the child. I choose to have an abortion."

I took the abortion drug and felt pain deep inside my body, but I felt happy inside.

The last expectation was about to be taken away.

I stroked the image of my child on the ultrasound and couldn't help but burst into tears.

My baby, you were what I thought about day and night.

But your mother was blind and chose an irresponsible father.

I didn't want you to be born and suffer the injustice.

Back then, I and Dan, struggled to get married.

But in recent years, his love and affection for me had gradually faded, and the house was always empty and desolate.

My mother-in-law always found fault with me for not being able to get pregnant.

I also thought that if we had a child, he would be able to pay more attention to me.

As it turned out, I was totally wrong.

I moved out overnight last night and didn't sleep the whole night.

When I was sitting in a taxi, I saw Yola's Twitter-"I experience so many pains in my period! But he cares for me and he is making me lemonade.”

I could easily recognize the man wearing an apron in the picture.

Look, he knew how to love and care.

But no longer for me.

When I walked out of the operating room, I ran into Dan.

He looked somewhat delighted, "Joan, I was a little harsh yesterday. Are you here for a pre-pregnancy checkup? Don't worry, if we prepare well for pregnancy, you will definitely get pregnant."

"Well, I got pregnant, but I aborted."

I told him the truth, taking pleasure in irritating him.

His expression suddenly darkened.

Yola poked her head out coquettishly, "Joan, I was not feeling well at work, and Mr. Johnson said he was very familiar with the doctor, so he brought me here to get checked."

The ultrasound report in my hand caught Dan's attention. He snatched it away and looked at it with a look of surprise on his face, "You are pregnant, why didn't you tell me?"

Before he could finish his words, he was stunned.

The torn rips on the paper were made by him a few days ago.