Chapter 3

Nina sat in the hallway, staring blankly at the report in her hands. The words "Pregnancy Confirmed" felt like a punch to the gut, sending her thoughts into chaos. But there was no hesitation. She had already made up her mind—this baby had to go. For years, she had been quietly getting ready to leave Shane, saving money bit by bit. Not long ago, her university professor had contacted her about an overseas exchange program for further studies. She had applied for it. If everything went smoothly, she could leave the country and completely sever her ties with Shane. But all of that depended on her not being pregnant. "Nina!" a familiar voice called out. Nina looked up to see her childhood best friend, Lisette Jones. Lisette worked in the hospital's surgery department. The moment she got Nina's call, she rushed over. One look at Nina's face, and she could already guess what she was thinking. "Are you really sure about the abortion?" "Yes." Nina nodded. "Please help me arrange the procedure as soon as possible." Lisette had initially wanted to persuade her to keep the baby. As a doctor, she knew how difficult it was for someone with Nina's condition to conceive. If she terminated this pregnancy, her uterus could suffer further damage, possibly making it impossible for her to ever get pregnant again. But looking at Nina's pale face now, Lisette couldn't say a word. In the end, she simply patted Nina's hand. "Honestly, it's probably for the best. Who knows what kind of lunatic Shane's child would grow up to be?" Nina added, "There's one more thing I need your help with. I need a fake medical report saying I was never pregnant." Lisette agreed immediately, "No problem. I'll take care of it when I get back. Come in tomorrow for a pre-op checkup, and if everything goes well, we can schedule the procedure within the week." Just as she finished speaking, Nina's phone rang. It was Shane. "Hello?" His voice was cold. "Bring the contract from my office to Lumora Palace Hotel." After graduating, Nina had planned to find a job, but Abigail had convinced her otherwise. She insisted that working for the family business was better than being someone else's employee. That was how Nina ended up as Shane's secretary. But after Wendy returned, even that position became awkward for her. … Nina arrived at the hotel and pushed open the private room door. A strong mix of alcohol and smoke immediately hit her, making her stomach churn. She suppressed her nausea and walked in with the documents. Shane sat at the head of the table. When he saw her enter, he merely lifted his gaze lazily. "What took you so long?" "There was traffic on the way," Nina answered dutifully. She had delivered the documents, but Shane didn't dismiss her, nor did he offer her a seat. Left with no choice, she lowered her gaze and stood quietly to the side. The others in the room were sharp enough to pick up on Shane's intentional disregard for her. After all, when the Lawson family found Wendy, they had made a grand spectacle of it, hosting a banquet to celebrate Wendy's return. Nina, the imposter, had become a well-known joke. "Ms. Lawson, long time no see. Do you still remember me?" Jack Mercer approached with a drink in hand, his intentions far from pure. "The last time I saw you was at the Lawson residence. But, well, times change… Regardless, Ms. Lawson, you're still my friend. Come on. Let's have a drink." With that, he pushed a full glass of wine toward Nina. She had no way to refuse and instinctively looked at Shane. Shane's eyes narrowed slightly, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Since it's a toast, you should drink." His words cemented Nina's position in the room. If even Shane didn't speak up for her, who would? Jack's eyes lit up when he heard the permission. He pushed the glass closer, the rim nearly touching Nina's lips. "Come on. Shane already agreed. Are you afraid of getting drunk?" His smile was both suggestive and lecherous. He reached out, brushing against her hand. "What's there to be afraid of? If you drink too much, we'll just book a room upstairs. Don't worry. Even if Shane doesn't take care of you, we definitely will." Nina's skin crawled as Jack grabbed her wrist. "I'm sorry, but I really can't drink—" "Come on. After two bottles, even a lightweight can drink!" Jack was relentless, attempting to force the glass to her lips. Nina instinctively stepped back, her fingers trembling as she reached out and grabbed Shane's arm. Finally, Shane spoke, "Enough." His voice was indifferent. "If she can't drink, leave it." Nina finally let out a breath of relief, only then realizing that her back was covered in cold sweat. … When the gathering ended, Nina walked out of the hotel. Shane's car was already waiting by the curb. The driver, Logan Ryder, left as soon as the car pulled up, and Shane opened the door, glancing at her. "Get in." His voice was deep. "Do you need me to say it twice?" Nina hesitated for a moment before stepping inside. The moment she entered, her wrist was grabbed, and Shane exerted force, pressing her down onto the back seat. He leaned over and bit her delicate earlobe. "No—" A startled gasp escaped her lips. Shane had clearly been drinking—the scent of whiskey lingered in his breath. But even if he were sober, it wasn't like he would stop just because she told him to. But all Nina could think about was the ticking time bomb inside her—the child. Her blood ran cold. In a desperate struggle, her bag slipped, and the medical report she had gotten today fell to the floor. She reached out to grab it, but Shane was faster. Seizing the moment, Nina blurted out, "I went to the doctor today. They said I have a hormonal imbalance and need treatment. For now, I can't—we can't be intimate." It was a complete lie. The document stating she couldn't engage in intercourse was something Lisette had prepared just to fool Shane before her abortion. The dim car interior was illuminated by passing streetlights, casting shifting shadows inside. Nina couldn't make out his expression, and her palms were drenched in sweat. When he finally let go of her, she exhaled in relief. Sitting up quickly, she shakily buttoned her disheveled shirt—only for her wrist to be seized once more. Shane's eyes were dark and unreadable as he stared at her. Nina stiffened, fearing that he had seen through her lie. "I—" She tried to say something to reinforce her story, but Shane suddenly pulled her forward. Caught off guard, Nina tumbled straight into his arms. Shane tapped his lips and said in a calm voice, "I taught you before—how should you beg?"