She Loved Him More Than Our Child

My wife, eight months pregnant, ignored my pleas and insisted on going bungee jumping with her first love. Under the immense shock, her pregnancy abruptly terminated on the spot. As the surgeon, I painfully delivered the fully formed fetus with my own hands. On the hospital bed, still groggy from anesthesia, my wife kept whispering her first love’s name. “I jumped from three hundred feet with you. My love for you is witnessed by heaven and earth.” This time, I didn't erupt in hysterical accusations. I simply laid a signed divorce agreement on the table, granting her freedom with a calm resolve. But then, she panicked. 1 The nurse, adjusting my IV drip, froze. Catching the pity in her eyes, I grew more irritable, retreating to the stairwell to light a cigarette. From my pocket, I pulled out a silver bracelet. I’d gone to the temple that weekend specifically to pray for our baby’s safe arrival. My sincere prayers hadn’t brought safety; instead, I was forced to kill my own child with my own hands. Like seven years of marriage, carving out a heart for a wife I loved, only for her heart to remain untouched. Equally ironic. As the cigarette burned down, my unwavering love for Serena, which had lasted seven years, turned to ashes. The nurse came running, flustered. “Dr. Thorne, you need to see Serena, she woke up crying nonstop.” Crying? This was all her own doing. What was there to cry about now? I stamped out the cigarette, my expression impassive, and walked into the hospital room. Serena’s face was ashen. She gripped my sleeve, tears streaming down her face. “How dare you abort my baby without my consent?” “He… was he a boy or a girl? Did he hurt? My poor baby…” Receiving no response or comfort, she choked out, her voice laced with incredulity. “The baby’s gone, and you don’t feel heartbroken? Do you even deserve to be a father?” I expressionlessly pried open her fingers, white from gripping my sleeve so tightly. She had no right to ask that question. From the moment she got pregnant, I’d meticulously cared for her every need, strictly followed nutritional meal plans, and even accompanied her to the bathroom at night to prevent any accidental slips. Yet, a casual comment from her first love was enough to make her disregard both her own life and our child’s to go bungee jumping. It seemed she realized this, as she guiltily avoided my icy gaze. “It’s okay, Quentin. Once I recover, we… we can have more children later.” “Go home and make some pigeon soup, and bring a few thick sets of pajamas.” She gradually calmed down, resuming her usual demanding tone with me. Normally, even if she just had a fever or a cold, I’d be on high alert, preparing everything in advance, without her needing to ask. But now, I didn't even lift an eyelid, continuing to fill out medical records, responding flatly. “I’m busy. Order takeout, or ask Aiden to take care of you.” Serena stared at me in disbelief, as if trying to ascertain if she’d misheard. After a long moment of stunned silence, she suddenly scoffed. “It’s just jealousy, isn’t it, that I went bungee jumping with Aiden? That was a promise I made before I was pregnant. I’ve never been someone to break my word.” “I just had a miscarriage, I’m so weak, and you’re telling me to order takeout? Do you have any conscience?” Her voice grew sharper, drawing accusatory, disdainful glances from those around us. “Men these days, not a single one you can count on.” The passersby’s agreement made her expression even more triumphant. She lifted her chin, confidently waiting for me to back down. I snorted. “You have the nerve to play the victim, but you don’t have the nerve to admit why you miscarried?” With that, ignoring her face, which had turned beet red, I turned and left without looking back. Her furious, resentful shouts followed me. “Quentin Thorne, if you dare walk out of this room today, don’t even think about me having another child with you.” The only reply was my resolute back and the resounding slam of the door. I walked directly into the director’s office. “Director, is there still a spot for the innovative drug research and development program in the States?” The director, his face beaming, closed his files and stood up, pulling me to a seat. “Of course! That spot was always reserved for you, but you kept deferring it for Serena, almost letting another hospital snatch it up.” The innovative drug research was a confidential commercial project. Once committed, I wouldn't be allowed any outside contact for three years. Serena was extremely dependent on me in her daily life, and with a baby on the way, I’d chosen family over career. The outcome, however, had slapped me hard in the face. Now, I had no ties. After discussing the details with the director, I took a few days off, wanting no further contact with Serena. She didn't contact me either. This was her usual cold shoulder approach; I was happy for the quiet. However, she, who rarely posted on social media, suddenly updated her feed dozens of times. In the photos, Aiden affectionately linked arms with her, strolling through the hospital. The two of them were like a couple deeply in love, feeding each other strawberry cake. He made the cake himself, sweet to the core. Late at night, Aiden added a small bed next to hers. True feelings are revealed in times of trouble. So glad you’re always with me, unlike some scumbags. She hoped to provoke my insecurity, forcing me to apologize. But she didn’t know, these tricks only worked when I loved her. Turning off the screen, I unpinned her chat on my messenger app. The project required a lot of preparation, and I had no time for such trivialities. Walking out of the director’s office with my visa documents, I ran straight into Serena and Aiden, who were staring at me with amusement. She raised an eyebrow triumphantly, her tone dismissive. “I thought you’d show more backbone this time.” “You came to pick me up from the hospital, but didn’t bring a warm coat? Not as thoughtful as Aiden at all.” I responded flatly. “He certainly takes good care of you.” There were still many medical cases to digitize; I didn’t want to get into a pointless argument with her. I pulled out my car keys and headed towards the parking lot, leaving a bewildered Serena frozen in place. She hurried over, her face indignant, and stopped my hand as I reached for the car door. “Is it fun to always throw tantrums like this?” “You abandoned me at the hospital, and now you’re upset that Aiden came to take care of me?” Aiden walked over, arms crossed, an amused smirk on his face. “Quentin, I’m not trying to lecture you, but your wife went through so much after that miscarriage. How can you be so irresponsible as a husband? I had to run around for her at the hospital.” He emphasized the word ‘miscarriage,’ his tone arrogant, as if specifically reminding me that his casual joke could make Serena disregard her eight-month pregnancy to go bungee jumping with him. But now, those words couldn’t even stir a flicker of anger in me. I nodded expressionlessly. “Thank you for your trouble these past few days, Aiden.” Before I finished speaking, Serena rushed forward, enraged, and slapped me hard across the face. “Quentin, you’re so ungrateful! Aiden has done so much for me, and not only do you not thank him, your tone is so sarcastic, it disgusts me.” Not appeased, she shoved me forcefully. I hadn’t rested well after archiving medical files all night, so my steps were a bit unsteady. I stumbled back a few steps and fell to the ground, the back of my head hitting the sharp corner of the wall with a sickening thud. A searing pain shot through me. I instinctively touched it, and my palm came away bloody. Her expression shifted to alarm. She started to come over to help me. Aiden scoffed. “Tsk, even if Quentin left you alone these past few days, you shouldn’t resort to violence. Serena, that was out of line.” Serena’s face, which had just softened, instantly hardened again, her voice glacial. “Compared to what I went through with the miscarriage, a scraped knee for him is nothing. Leave him. Let’s go.” My chest ached with a bitter churning. Aiden always managed to inflame Serena’s anger towards me with just a few words. Even when I did nothing, I was always the bad guy. To Serena, blind and deluded, my very existence was the biggest mistake. If I hadn’t appeared, she could have openly rekindled her romance with Aiden. Such a simple truth, and it took me years of agony in this twisted relationship to understand. I struggled to my feet, clutching my wound, and walked back into the hospital. The emergency room doctor frowned, holding a tray of medical supplies, preparing to stitch me up. “This isn’t a good spot for anesthetic. Try to bear it.” The sharp needle pierced my skin. I gripped my palms tightly, a cold sweat breaking out from the pain. Back home, Serena was busy in the kitchen. The warm overhead light spilled over her, creating a soft glow around her. Aiden sat on the sofa, legs crossed, triumph almost oozing from his eyes. “Serena insisted on cooking for me herself to thank me. She said she was going to make sure I was well-fed tonight.” I twitched my lips, a bitter self-mockery. Two years of dating, seven years of marriage. Only now did I realize Serena wasn't incapable of cooking; it was just that I wasn't worthy of her cooking for me. Serena walked out with a bowl of hot soup. Seeing the bandage on my head, she paused slightly, a flicker of concern in her eyes. “Just a scrape, you said? Why does it need bandaging?” She put down the soup bowl and started to check my wound. But I pushed her hand away and walked straight into my study. Just a few more documents to organize, and I could fly to the States next week. She followed me, relentless. “Aiden took care of me for a few days, and you’re going to give me attitude just because I’m making him dinner?” I didn’t even lift an eyelid, continuing to read the documents in my hand. “You’re overthinking. I’m very busy right now. Go eat with him.” She was startled and angry, pointing at me, her voice suddenly rising, her eyes holding a hint of challenge. “Fine, playing the magnanimous one, huh? Then Aiden can stay the night. You don’t mind anything, do you?” I calmly replied, “Alright.” Serena’s mouth opened, her throat seeming to be clogged with something. Her scrutinizing gaze lingered on my face. Seeing my indifferent expression, not caring in the least, she couldn’t help but ask, “I’m letting Aiden stay over so late. Are you really not angry?” Angry? Why would I be angry? If it were the old Quentin, the moment he saw Aiden brazenly in our home late at night, he would have thrown a punch, let alone let him stay. But now, my heart was completely calm. I pushed up my glasses and replied, “I’ll sleep in the guest room tonight. You two can have the master bedroom.” That sentence instantly infuriated Serena. She slammed the door shut and left. I suddenly felt a little confused. Wasn’t this exactly what she’d always wanted? Now that I was openly allowing it, why was she still angry? After organizing the documents, I tiredly lay down on the bed. Half-asleep, Serena gently pushed the door open, climbed into bed, and wrapped her arms around my waist. “Quentin, you’ve become so strange these past few days.” “I know you’re still angry about the bungee jumping. I’m also heartbroken about the baby. Can we just stop fighting, please?” Seven years of marriage, and she had never once actively shown vulnerability to me. But this time, it was too late. I tried to push her away, but my hand brushed against a raised, uneven scar on her arm. When we were dating, she often came to the hospital to keep me company when I worked late. One time, there was a disgruntled patient. An emotionally unstable patient lunged at me with a knife. She bravely raised her arm to shield me. She, who would usually cry over a mere scrape, covered her bleeding arm and, in turn, comforted me. “It’s okay, it doesn’t hurt. You’re a doctor; your hands are precious.” Back then, she truly cared for me. But true feelings, they change in an instant. I let her hold me, leaving the last shred of dignity for this relationship. “I’m not angry. You just had a miscarriage. Get some rest.” Her arms tightened around me, her voice trembling slightly. “I knew you always cared about me. You’re just being stubborn, but your heart is soft.”