He was a prominent figure in the New York elite, famously child-free. But I was pregnant. And everyone knew Adrian Sterling hated being trapped by women. When a famous actress announced her pregnancy, he immediately flew to Europe to be by her side. It turned out he wasn't against children; he just wanted them with the woman he actually loved. I asked for a breakup and went back to my hometown to schedule an abortion. Later, he handcuffed me to the headboard and bit down hard on my shoulder. "Don't shake. Crying won't make me stop." His voice was dark, dangerous. "You killed our baby. Now you owe me another one." 1 The room was dim, lit only by a single bedside lamp. The tassels on the lampshade swayed violently. Adrian was unusually aggressive today. It was past midnight, and he still wouldn't let me go. Just as I was drifting off, he bit my neck. "Elara, look at me. We're not done." "Can't we continue tomorrow? I'm so tired," I pleaded, my voice soft and raspy. He gripped my chin, his eyes hiding a storm of displeasure. "Who was that guy who slipped you a note today?" "..." So that was it. Adrian was usually buried in work, but today he had surprisingly shown up at campus to pick me up. I had been at a coffee shop grabbing a pastry. The barista was a junior from my department; he recognized me. When I paid, he slipped a folded note into my hand. I turned around and saw the flashy blue McLaren parked by the curb. The window was down, and Adrian was staring at me with a ghostly calmness. He hadn't exploded then. He held it in all evening. And now he was settling the score? Adrian’s fingers tightened; my jaw ached. "Speak." Meeting his deep, abyss-like eyes, I softened my tone. "I don't know him. He's just a student. I threw the note away immediately." "You'd better have." He lowered his head and kissed me, deep and heavy. As my mind went hazy, he panted against my ear, his warning sharp. "I'm flying out for business tomorrow. Be good while I'm gone. If I find out you've done something you shouldn't... you know the consequences." His tone was icy, his movements predatory like a wolf. I nodded obediently. I wasn't naive enough to think Adrian was jealous. He just liked his possessions clean. If I dared to get close to another man, he would discard me without a second thought. 2 Adrian had been gone for a month. Finally, I had time to do what I wanted. But lately, maybe due to bad food, I felt constantly nauseous. The doctor listened to my symptoms and handed me a pregnancy test. I froze. Thirty minutes later. I walked out of the clinic, staring blankly at the result in my hand. Everyone in the Manhattan elite knew Adrian Sterling was strictly "child-free." He despised the idea of marriage. Every time we were together, he took every precaution. But still... accidents happen. The doctor said no method is 100% effective. I touched my flat stomach, a rising tide of panic drowning me. Adrian hated calculating women. Once, at a gala, an aspiring singer tried to sneak into his suite, hoping to trap him with a baby. He literally threw the girl out into the hallway, wrapped only in a towel. She was never heard from in the industry again. I bit my lip, my hand trembling as I held the paper. It was over. If Adrian thought I tampered with the protection... I might be the next one to disappear from New York. 3 I couldn't sleep, tossing and turning. Late at night, just as I was about to text Adrian to test the waters, a notification popped up. Trending news. Adrian Sterling had been spotted leaving a private clinic in Switzerland with the hottest young actress, Serena. They were standing at the entrance of the OB-GYN department. Even though she was bundled up, you could still see her stunning figure. She was the innocent, angelic type. Exactly Adrian’s type. The tabloids were buzzing that Serena was pregnant, and the baby was likely Adrian’s. After all, they had been photographed at a hotel together before. Suddenly, rumors of a new mistress of the Sterling empire were everywhere. I stared at the photos in silence. I immediately deleted the draft I had typed out to him. Adrian really treated Serena differently. Last time I accompanied him to a banquet, a drunk heir made a crude joke about Serena, saying she had no talent and must have slept her way to the top. Adrian immediately threw his drink in the guy's face. He grabbed him by the collar, ready to beat him to a pulp. The Sterlings were strict about public image; he rarely lost his temper like that. If I hadn't pulled him back, he probably would have broken the guy's legs. Maybe Adrian wasn't strictly child-free after all. He just wanted a baby with the woman he loved. ... I rubbed my belly, forcing down the bitterness in my heart. Anyway, I was only with Adrian for the money. My mother was sick. Adrian happened to pursue me right when I was desperate. He was generous, helping me secure rare experimental drugs for her. I had no reason to refuse. Compared to a life, what was pride? Who Adrian loved, or who he wanted to be with, was his business. As long as the check cleared. 4 The next day. Adrian sent me his flight info. As the obedient girlfriend, I went to JFK to pick him up. It was late autumn. I wore the little dress he liked best with a trench coat over it. I waited in the cold wind for two hours. First, it was a delay. Then, night fell. Finally, I got a text. [Sorry, business isn't wrapped up. Extending the trip.] My frozen fingers typed out a reply. [Okay, get some rest. Miss you~] Adrian liked it when I played the soft, clingy girl. Soon, my bank account received a transfer. Five hundred thousand dollars. I paused. Even for holidays, he never gave this much at once. [Me: Mistake?] [Him: Didn't you say you wanted a graduation trip? Go have fun.] [Me: So generous. Should I fly to London to see you?] I was joking. He shut it down instantly. [Him: Go wherever you want. Just don't come to me.] [Me: When are you coming back?] He didn't reply. Late that night. The paparazzi released photos of Serena entering Adrian's private villa in the Alps. I stared at their intimate body language. It took a long time to sink in. That money was a severance package. Rich guys like Adrian always did this. A lump sum for a clean break. The smart girls took the money and didn't make a scene.
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