Love Without Proof

Chapter 1

Jake called me his most obedient dog.

From personal assistant to Mrs. Jake Thompson, after ten years of marriage, his only praise was how useful I was.

Until I got pregnant, and he openly brought his white moonlight and their son home.

In front of everyone, he calmly asked me to accept his illegitimate son.

“This child will be the heir to the Thompson family, you must take good care of him.”

“And Lily, she’s not well, she needs my constant care. You go abroad for your pregnancy, don’t bother us.”

I didn’t speak, but in front of Jake, I produced the property division agreement for him to sign.

With my packed bags, I left.

Someone tried to stop me, but the man rebuked them.

“Let her go. She’s just a dog by my side. As long as I’m here, she’ll always come back.”

Amidst the laughter, Jake promised the woman that he would transfer all his assets to her name after I begged to return.

He was certain I couldn’t leave him, so he didn’t even arrange a bodyguard.

But Jake didn’t know that the man who had guarded me for ten years was coming back.

This time, I agreed to leave with him…

1.

I said I was leaving, and Jake reached out to me.

“Give me the keys. You’re so defiant this time, I’m afraid you’ll sneak back in.”

Silently, I handed him the keys.

Over the years, the mansion had servants to take care of Jake, but I was different. I did everything myself, not like a mistress, but more like his assistant.

Seeing my hand on my belly, Jake’s face showed some mockery.

“Sarah, you got pregnant with my child for the money, now you have the child, you got what you wanted.”

“Do you remember how you got pregnant?”

My eyes widened, I looked up at Jake. He knew…

After ten years of marriage, my body wasn’t suitable for having children. When I knew about Jake’s illegitimate son, I felt more disappointment and resentment.

I thought ten years of marriage could eventually soften Jake. The only thing missing between us was a child, so after he fell asleep, I secretly found the used condoms in the trash.

I suffered a lot for this child.

When I confronted them in front of everyone and turned to leave, Jake stopped me again.

“Wait!”

“I still have something to tell you.”

With a hint of inexplicable expectation, my eyes reddened as I looked at him, and the next second, I froze.

“Lily and my child will inherit all the Thompson family’s property.”

“As for the child you’re carrying, do what you want with it.”

Hearing this, the little boy beside Lily jumped and ran into Jake’s arms, laughing.

“Dad’s right, I don’t want a brother or sister! Mom and Dad only need me.”

“Bad woman, get lost!”

He aimed his toy at my belly. Before I could react, a dull pain made me bend over.

The smiles on the three of them twisted in my eyes. The servants in the mansion were all watching the show, Lily covered her mouth, pretending to be surprised, telling me not to fight with a child.

It’s funny.

Before Jake openly brought Lily and his son home, little Timmy had been to the mansion countless times. From the torn wedding photos to the missing wedding ring, and that set of million-dollar jewelry my parents gave me.

I tried to report it to get these things back, but all I got was Jake’s slap across my face.

I never won a single time against anything related to Lily and her son.

Until our anniversary a few days ago, Jake was shopping abroad with Lily and his son. I saw the missing diamond necklace in the photo, and the glaring hickey on her neck.

I questioned Jake, but I heard the laughter of the mother and son on the other end of the phone, the man just coldly told me to shut up.

“I’m back in three days. I’ll have someone move your things out. It’s dirty, don’t leave it in the mansion.”

“And the necklace, I’ll transfer the money to you.”

He knew I cried my eyes out over this jewelry left to me by my parents before they passed away, yet he casually mentioned transferring the money, never mentioning Timmy’s theft.

I chuckled bitterly, picked up the property division agreement, and turned to walk out the door.

Seeing my submissive look, Jake took a deep breath and frowned heavily.

“Sarah, think it through. If you don’t go abroad for your pregnancy, if you dare to leave…”

“Next time you want to come back, you’ll have to kneel and beg me and Lily.”

Lily suddenly kissed him on the cheek, and while they were playfully laughing and joking, I walked out of the villa without hesitation.

The moment I stepped out of the villa gate, my phone vibrated.

Seeing the words on the screen, my eyes involuntarily reddened.

“Go straight to the hotel, I’ll pick you up tomorrow, Sarah.”

As long as I waited until tomorrow, I could finally leave him…

2.

But that night, the hotel door was kicked open, my hair was grabbed, and I was roughly shoved into a van.

Less than a night after leaving Jake’s house, I was brought back.

Tied to a chair, Lily poured ice water directly onto my head, her shrill voice close to my ear.

“Sarah, how dare you!”

Jake revealed his son’s back, his eyes bloodshot as he roared at me.

“Are you crazy?! You hate me and Lily’s child that much?!”

“You actually hid needles in Timmy’s bed, how could you do that, he’s only six!”

“If you hate me, why don’t you take it out on me!”

His roar scared Timmy into crying, I struggled to open my eyes, looking at the almost healed needle holes on his back.

Those little wounds made Jake heartbroken.

I coughed, shivering with cold, a dull ache in my lower abdomen.

“Jake, thankfully we found it in time.”

“Sarah, I know you’re angry, take it out on me, hit me, scold me, even stab me with a knife, just don’t hurt the child!”

Lily, red-eyed, rushed towards me, about to pounce on my belly, I instinctively closed my eyes.

“Lily, the baby’s fine.”

At the critical moment, Jake stopped her, holding the crying woman in his arms, handing the child to the nanny.

“It’s alright, I’ll protect you and the baby.”

My heart was pounding, I was a little scared, I couldn’t imagine what would have happened if Lily had hit my belly.

Hearing Jake’s words, my expression was cold.

He gave all his tenderness to Lily and his son. I’ve been with him for twelve years, working as his personal secretary during the day and taking care of the mansion at night. Jake had never said such words to me.

Not even a hug…

After comforting the child, Jake kissed the woman in front of me, hugged her and turned to leave, comforting her to go to rest.

“Don’t worry, I’ll give you and the child an explanation.”

“My little princess, if you don’t go to bed early, you won’t be pretty. If you have dark circles tomorrow, don’t cry.”

Their intimate backs fell into my eyes, I slowly turned my head away, suppressing the trembling of my fingers.

There was heating in the mansion, but this storage room was freezing cold, and to make things worse, Lily’s ice water had soaked most of my top.

I don’t know how long it took, but a pair of leather shoes appeared before me.

“Why don’t you explain.”

“Is it because I brought Lily and the child back, you’re unhappy, you’re taking your anger out on me?”

For the first time, Jake took the initiative to talk about these things, his tone changed from the previous harshness.

I looked at him and then turned my head away.

“Does it matter?”

“You won’t believe me anyway, Jake, I don’t want anything, just let me and the baby go.”

Silence above my head, Jake didn’t agree, only stepped back, making way for the person behind him to step forward.

“Sarah, I know you’re not happy.”

“But that’s one thing, I still have to give Lily an explanation.”

A cold needle was aimed at the gap between my nail and flesh. The next second, the thin needle was pressed in without hesitation.

“Ah!”

Three needles were inserted in total, the pain contorted my face, before Jake finally told them to stop.

Watching me grit my teeth and sweat, he turned away.

“I have to… give them an explanation.”

My vision went black, my lower abdomen ached, throbbing painfully. Thinking of the baby in my belly, the tears in my eyes wouldn’t stop.

“Jake, don’t go!”

“Please, take me to the hospital first, my stomach hurts.”

My whole body was sweating, I stared at Jake, the moment I finished this sentence, a pair of hands went around the man’s neck.

Lily, who had returned, was wearing a thin nightgown, and she snuggled into the man’s arms. She just glanced at me, and burst out laughing.

“Jake, it’s okay, I’ve had a baby before, she just has morning sickness.”

“No need to go to the hospital.”

Hearing this, I could no longer hold on, my face pale, I lost consciousness.

The last thing I saw before I passed out was Jake kissing Lily’s lips.

3.

When I opened my eyes again, I heard Timmy’s noisy screams.

The ceiling made me realize I was still in the villa. I glanced at the guest room, I didn’t say anything.

Jake had forcibly given the master bedroom to Lily, and my things had been cleared out, so how could I possibly step foot in there?

After waking up, I subconsciously put my hand on my abdomen. After feeling the bulge, my heart was relieved.

“What, afraid I’ll have someone get rid of the baby while you’re unconscious?”

A voice came from the doorway, Jake had been watching for a while, his gaze on me.

Pulling back the blanket, I struggled to sit up straight.

“Jake, I want to leave…”

I glanced at the time on my phone, and my breath hitched.

My passport and documents were in the hotel, if I didn’t hurry…

A wave of panic and disgust washed over me, I frowned and looked for my shoes on the floor, but someone pressed me down.

“Don’t go, who’s going to handle the company’s affairs if you leave!”

My eyes widened in disbelief, I looked up at Jake.

“Are you crazy!”

“I’ve been your secretary for over a decade, and you still want me to go to the company? I tell you, I won’t…”

“Slap!”

The burning pain on my face made my unspoken words stuck in my throat. When Jake threw his phone to me, Lily, sleepy-eyed and with marks all over her body, appeared at the doorway.

“Jake, let’s sleep a little longer, you were too rough last night, my back is so sore.”

“Let those people we pay handle the company matters.”

Jake’s phone screen lit up, the photo of him and Lily and their son appeared in front of me, my gaze fell on the wedding ring in her hand.

This photo, he posted it on his social media…

“Not this one, look at the next picture!”

A voice sounded above my head, a hand swiped through the pictures.

Jake wanted me to see a chat screenshot.

“Sarah, I thought you’ve been with me for so long, you’re the most honest one.”

“I didn’t expect that even as a dog, you’re restless, look what you’ve done!”

My collar was grabbed, my chin was pinched, forcefully making me look up at Jake’s angry face. My attention fell on the veins on his forehead, this was the first time I had seen him so angry.

“Sarah, the project you’re on almost caused the Thompson Corporation to lose hundreds of millions. If I hadn’t discovered it in time, were you planning to bankrupt the company?!”

“I knew it, why would you easily say you want to leave me.”

“If it weren’t for Lily reminding me…”

Jake frowned, his face full of displeasure.

“Now you know you’re in a hurry!”

“Go to the company now, go handle the mess you left behind.”

Thinking back to the project I’d been following for three years, I slowly closed my eyes, then looked up at Jake with a calm, cold expression.

“Jake, do you know what happened the day you gave me the project?”

The man’s face showed impatience, he raised his hand and knocked the water cup off the bedside table.

“I’m talking about the project, what are you talking about!”

I was pushed, I didn’t stand firm, and my hands landed on the broken glass, letting out a muffled groan.

He really forgot…

Three years ago, he gave me the project and work, and spent time with Lily celebrating their son’s third birthday. That same day, my parents were in a car accident. When I finished my work and received the call, it was too late.

Jake didn’t like me answering personal calls while I was working, so when I finally stopped working, I didn’t even get to see my parents one last time.

Is this the life I chose?

My face was numb, the moment I was put into the car, I just felt absurd.

Jake was determined to take me to the company. I was pressed into the passenger seat, and Lily sat in the back, insisting on coming along.

“Jake, I’ve been abroad, I want to see your company.”

Thinking of the “official announcement” photo on social media, I remembered the ridicule in my circle.

“What Mrs. Thompson? She’s just Jake’s assistant, working during the day and sleeping with him at night. Jake still has time to find true love.”

“This is the way a man should live! Hahaha!”

“Thud!”

The string in my head snapped, I suddenly lunged at the driver beside me.

“Stop the car, I’m not going to the company, take me back to the hotel!”

“I’m not going!”

The sharp sound of brakes echoed, the driver was dodging me and avoiding other cars, Lily screamed from behind.

“Jake, she’s crazy!”

My struggle made the driver sweat profusely, but soon, his face turned pale, and he ignored me.

“The car is out of control.”

What?

Before I could react, a sharp screeching of brakes, the car, amidst the screams from behind, collided with the cars on the road.

With the tremendous inertia, I instinctively protected my belly.

4.

The pain of glass piercing my flesh brought me back to consciousness.

In a daze, I smelled a pungent smell.

Jake’s voice and Lily’s voice were far and near, making my ears hurt.

“Jake, I’m scared…”

“Don’t be afraid, I’ll find someone to save you, you wait…”

“Help, help, save her first, save the person in the back seat…”

My eyeballs frantically rolled beneath my eyelids, blood from my forehead ran down my cheek. When I opened my eyes, in the shattered rearview mirror, a pair of eyes watched me struggle.