ManyWriters

On the day I was seven months pregnant, Alaric proposed to his pure love.
That woman took off the ring Alaric had placed on her finger himself and tossed it into the sea.
"Alaric, I heard Miss Langdon used to be a state swim team champion. Why don't you have her jump in and fetch my ring for me?"
Her finger traced Alaric's pecs as she breathed into his ear, "I'll play any game you want tonight."
Alaric's heated gaze roamed over her legs, then he turned to me with a smirk.
I understood his meaning and frantically clutched my belly, pleading, "Alaric, I'm seven months pregnant, and it's winter..."
But Alaric just swallowed hard and scoffed, "You don't actually think I care about that bastard in your belly, do you? It's not like you haven't miscarried before. Why act all precious now? Jump in and find that ring, or you're never coming back up!"
He had someone forcibly lift me and throw me into the sea.
I bobbed up and down in the frigid water, searching back and forth for hours.
Until I felt something draining from my belly, until the azure sea water was stained with a streak of crimson...
I looked up at the scene on the cruise ship, where Alaric was marrying his pure love amid the cheers of the crowd, and my heart finally shattered.
Seven years of marriage, nine miscarriages, this was the last time.

Seven Months Pregnant into the Sea to Retrieve a Ring

When he finally rushed home, all that awaited him was an empty living room.


And a bedroom with only his belongings left packed.


He felt dazed for a moment, as if he could see the scene from before when he'd come home drunk, and I'd be there with hot water and a hangover remedy, asking him how he felt with concern.


But when he came to his senses again, he found himself face to face with the housekeeper instead.


"Didn't Miss Stratton notify you that you'd be staying out overnight?"


Alaric frowned, his tone becoming urgent: "Where's Vivienne!"


The housekeeper, frightened into silence, could only stammer out a reply: "Miss Langdon... she left several hours ago."


Alaric staggered backward, never imagining he'd be a step too late, and could only lash out in angry humiliation—


"Who told you to let her leave? Didn't I say that without my orders, Vivienne wasn't to step foot outside the house?"


Chapter 8