Chapter 18

Vivian Dempsey's Porsche 911 gleamed a blinding red under the sun.

As the only daughter of the Dempsey Group, she had been pampered since childhood. Except for that dark period during senior year, her life had been smooth sailing.

"Don't go back to that dingy apartment," Vivian turned the steering wheel. "Stay at my place for a few days."

Evelyn Carter stared at the scenery rushing past the window. "Take me to the hospital."

"Are you insane?" Vivian slammed the brakes. "Drowning your heartbreak in work?"

"No."

"Then why? How about Bali? I heard there's a new diving club—"

"An abortion."

......

From medical student to OB-GYN, Evelyn had seen countless girls coming in for abortions.

She never imagined she'd one day lie on the examination table in her own clinic.

"Dr. Carter, are you sure?" Olivia Lightfoot's pen clattered to the floor. "Your husband is so—"

"Perfect?"

"All the female staff envy you for marrying the ideal man. Remember that pregnant car crash victim? He was the one who brought her in."

The ideal man?

Evelyn thought of the typhoon two years ago.

Winds howled, trees toppled, roofs collapsed. When she got the emergency call, Alexander Hamilton had only said one word: "Go."

The car swayed violently in the storm. His knuckles whitened on the wheel, jawline sharp as a blade.

"Don't be afraid," he'd said.

In that moment, she truly wasn't.

At the hospital, he ruffled her hair. "I'll wait for you at home."

Falling in love takes an instant.

So does heartbreak.

"Prescribe the pills," Evelyn said.

......

The medication abortion felt like torture.

Four hours later, Evelyn staggered out of the restroom, leaning against the wall, her face ghostly pale.

Vivian rushed to support her. "Can you walk?"

"Vi..." Evelyn weakly rested her head on Vivian's shoulder.

The childhood nickname made Vivian's eyes redden. She carefully avoided the bloodied tissue in Evelyn's hand. "Let me throw it away."

"I'll do it."

Understanding flashed in Vivian's eyes. She gently patted Evelyn's back. "Okay."

When Olivia brought hot water, Evelyn was already standing.

"Where are you going?"

"The medical waste center."

"At least rest first—"

"Now." Evelyn clenched the tissue. "It ends today."

They walked slowly toward the hospital entrance.

A figure stood at the foot of the steps.

Alexander held the prenatal report, his fingers bone-white. "You left your wallet at the hotel."

Evelyn smiled bitterly. "How careless of me."

His gaze locked onto her hand. "What's that?"

She slowly uncurled her fingers.

The blood-soaked tissue revealed a small, indistinct mass of flesh.

"A birthday gift," she said with a smile. "Do you like it?"