After finalizing the details with my attorney, I made an appointment with the hospital for an abortion. With three days left before the procedure, I returned home to pack my bags.

The moment I stepped through the doors, I saw the laptop that was still sitting there in the living room. Before Austin and I headed out for that gathering, we were still snuggled up together on the couch, trying to pick the outfits we were going to wear at our wedding ceremony.

Now, only hours later, everything had changed.

Austin arrived home right after I packed my valuables up. A tinge of panic crossed his face when he saw my suitcase.

"Do you want to get a divorce? I will not agree to it. I only said what I said so that Elsa and our child will not have to continue living in the shadows."

I took a deep breath, fighting back the urge to throw up.

"Austin, what makes you think I can tolerate living alongside your little family of three? As you are aware, there is nothing I loathe more than unfaithful men."

He was well aware of the fact that my mother uncovered proof of my father's affair while they were in the car. Hot-tempered as she was, she snapped and lost all reason, engaging in a relentless argument with my father in the car.

Too distracted to pay attention to driving, my father smashed the car through the guardrails in the end. Both my parents died at the scene. I was 16 years old, while Elsa was ten at the time.

Austin's expression shifted, but he quickly regained his composure.

He defended, "But it's different with Elsa. She's your younger sister, and you are having trouble conceiving. Why not just raise her child as your own? Don't you think she has suffered enough for your sake the last three years?"

I started to tremble violently with rage when I heard that. I opened my mouth to tell him about my pregnancy, wanting to find out how he would react when he heard the news.

But… I decided to let it go.

"Serene, I gave up my right to be a father because I chose to be with you. Now that I've finally found a way for us both to have what we want—"

"Stop. You're making me sick!" I cut him off with a fierce scream, those useless tears filling my eyes once again. I grabbed my suitcase and rushed toward the door.

"You and I are over for good. I'm writing off the last eight years with you as a total loss," I said.

After being momentarily stunned, Austin yanked me back, pinning me in his arms forcefully. Suddenly, the scent of Elsa's perfume wafted up my nose.

As he forced himself to hide his panic, he softened his tone significantly. "Serene, you are still the one I love the most. I will treat you better moving forward and double my efforts in making up to you. Please don't go, okay?"

His warm breath brushed against my neck, and yet, my heart felt completely cold.

Just then, there was a soft click at the door. It was the sound of the door being unlocked. Then, Elsa pushed the door open and entered.

Elsa was as pale as a ghost, her eyes welling up instantly when she saw Austin trapping me in his arms.

"I know I have no right to say this, but can you please stay?" she asked, advancing slowly as tears trickled down her cheeks.

"I really love you very, very much, Rennie. Everything I've done… It was all because I didn't want to lose you," she said.

She reached out to take my hand, but I flinched back. Her hand froze midair, and she cried even harder. "I know I was wrong, but our child is already two years old. She can't be without a father."

As though she had gathered every ounce of her resolve, she pulled her phone out of her pocket and presented it to me. A single photo was displayed on the screen.

That little girl sat on Austin's shoulders, smiling from ear to ear. Meanwhile, Elsa stood next to them, watching them with a gentle gaze.

"Look, Rennie. This is our daughter. Her name is Shalom," Elsa said in a soft and tender voice.

"S-h-a-l-o-m, meaning 'peace.' We named her that because not a day goes by without me praying for your peace and happiness, Rennie.

"She knows who you are. Whenever I mention you to her, I'd tell her you are the nicest person in this entire world."

Elsa lifted her eyes to look at me, her eyes not only glistening with tears but also with hopeful anticipation.

"Let's raise her together, the three of us, just like how you raised me when we were young."

I looked at her tear-streaked face, then at the completely genuine look of affection and reliance in her eyes. Then, it finally hit me. She never felt like she was in the wrong.

I looked into her eyes as I replied calmly, "Your love is a price I cannot afford to pay."

I freed myself from Austin's grasp and marched toward the door, hauling my suitcase with me. Behind me, Elsa cried out hysterically, "Rennie! Hit me or cuss at me all you want. Just please don't leave me!"

She scrambled after me and threw herself at my feet, wrapping her arms around my legs. "I can't survive without you!"

I lowered my head to look at her. She was weeping so pitifully. Had this happened in the past, I would have given in and forgiven her.

But now, I only had an emotionless response to her. "Forget about surviving, then."

Austin lunged at Elsa, throwing his arms around her to protect her. His affection toward me vanished from his eyes once again.

"Do you have to be so heartless, Serene?" he questioned.

I fixed my eyes on them as I uttered frigidly, "I will get my attorney to send you the divorce agreement in three days' time."