Never to meet again

Chapter 1

My water broke eight months into my pregnancy.

I struggled in the delivery room all night.

Finally, I gave birth.

But they told me the baby was stillborn.

Devastated, I almost wanted to go with my child.

Mark, my husband, held me with tears in his eyes.

He kept saying, “It’s okay, we’re young, we’ll have more children.”

The doctor also looked at me with pity and shook his head.

“I’m so sorry for your loss.”

But then, I suddenly heard their inner voices.

“I can’t believe she was carrying a girl. A girl wouldn’t secure Sarah’s position in the Smith family. I have to find a way for Nina to have a son.”

“Poor Mrs. Ford, she didn’t even get to see her baby before Mr. Ford gave her to Mrs. Smith, who can’t have children. Now he has to lie to her and say the baby is dead.”

At that moment, I realized my baby wasn’t dead.

Mark had given her away to his first love.

If that’s the case, Mark, I don’t want you either.

1

“I know this is unfair to Nina, but I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to her. When she finds out, she won’t be too mad at me.”

Mark’s lost and distraught eyes showed the extreme grief in his heart.

He looked like a heartbroken father who had lost his precious daughter.

Before I heard his inner voice, I thought he was truly mourning our daughter who had passed away before she could even see the world.

But now, I’m not so sure.

Was the sorrow in his eyes for the loss of our daughter or the regret that I didn’t give birth to a son?

I looked up at the familiar yet strange face before me.

The heartache felt like shards of glass piercing my chest.

Every breath was a sharp pain, making it hard to breathe.

“Mark, I haven’t seen the baby yet. Let me see her.”

I choked back the surging grief and said with a trembling voice.

Mark’s sadness remained.

He glanced at the doctor.

The doctor immediately caught the signal.

He quickly said, “I’ll bring the baby right away, but you can’t stay with her for too long. You’re very weak right now, and your emotions can’t fluctuate too much.”

He spoke seriously, but his inner voice said, “It’s a good thing Mr. Ford was prepared and brought a stillborn baby in advance, otherwise I really wouldn’t know where to get one to show her.”

Hearing this, an invisible force tightened around my heart again.

My breathing became heavier.

Mark saw my pale face and showed concern.

But when he touched my icy hand, his heart skipped a beat.

He said with distress, “Nina, I’ll take care of everything for the baby. You just rest well and don’t worry me anymore, okay?”

I bit my lip tightly, trying not to cry.

But tears still streamed down my cheeks.

His fingertips brushed away the tears as if wiping a precious treasure.

His trembling voice held a hint of heartbreak.

“Nina, don’t cry. It breaks my heart to see you cry.”

If I couldn’t hear his inner voice, I would be moved by these words.

But, unfortunately, I could hear his true thoughts.

Although he showed undisguised heartache, his inner voice said, “It’s just a daughter, what’s there to cry about? It’s not like you can’t have another one.”

I lost control of my emotions.

I opened my mouth, about to question him.

Just then, the doctor walked in, holding a baby.

Mark was afraid that I would break down again, so he wouldn’t let me hold the baby.

He only let me look at the purple baby from a distance.

What they didn’t know was that after giving birth, I had opened my eyes in a daze.

I clearly saw a distinct birthmark on my baby’s hand.

This baby… didn’t have one.

It occurred to me that from the moment our daughter was born, he hadn’t looked at her closely.

He didn’t even bother to make the deception convincing.

Mark, they say you have to swallow a thousand needles for betraying someone’s true heart. What about you?

2

Mark and I met during a game of truth or dare.

I lost.

My roommate dared me to get Mark Ford’s, the student body president, WeChat contact.

I was encouraged to go up to him.

I thought someone as aloof as him wouldn’t easily agree to add me as a friend.

So I was prepared to be rejected.

Unexpectedly, he agreed as soon as I finished speaking.

The streets were bustling with people.

The breeze blew.

But my eyes only saw him.

He saw me stunned, his eyes sparkling like stars.

He chuckled, “What’s wrong? Not adding me anymore?”

I snapped back to reality and blushed, taking out my phone.

Since then, whether he was genuinely interested or just bored, he would always send me messages.

Like, have you had breakfast? Have you gone to bed? Or, do you want to go for a walk?

He would be there for me whenever I needed help.

He would comfort me when I was crying uncontrollably after arguing with my parents.

He would say, “Don’t be afraid, I’m here for you.”

No one dislikes being cared for.

I was no exception.

I fell deeply in love with the tenderness he showed.

So when he confessed, I agreed without hesitation.

During our two years of marriage, he showered me with endless tenderness and care.

He was a homebody, spending most of his time at home besides work.

Even when he was on business trips, he would clingily call me, expressing his longing without reservation.

When he found out I was pregnant, he was as happy as a child getting candy.

He spun me around excitedly, exclaiming, “Nina, we’re finally having a baby! Our little family is complete!”

During my pregnancy, I didn’t have much morning sickness, but he did.

Everyone around us said it was because he loved me so much that he could share my pain.

I used to think so too.

But it wasn’t until today that I realized.

His love was so blurry that I couldn’t see it clearly.

Like shards of broken glass in water, every sip left my mouth full of wounds.

After that day, I didn’t ask to see the baby again.

Mark thought I had really let go.

There was relief in his eyes.

He said, “Take good care of yourself. I’ll take you out for a change of scenery after a while. Don’t think about anything else.”

I glanced at him coldly and hummed softly.

He visited me at the hospital every day, but he would always leave after half an hour with various excuses.

Today was no different.

Mark apologized, “The company recently took on a big project, and I can’t leave. I have to go back to work now. You stay here and recover, and I’ll come see you tomorrow.”

He gently caressed my face, leaned down, and kissed my forehead.

In the past, I always felt a warmth in his gentle kisses, as if I were being cherished in his hands.

Now, I just felt disgusted.

After he left, I no longer hid the disgust in my eyes.

I grabbed the tissue on the bedside table and vigorously wiped the spot where he had touched me.

After doing this, I put on my slippers and followed him out.

I followed him, step by step, and watched him leave my ward and go to Sarah’s room.

Only then did I know that Sarah’s room was only two doors away from mine.

3

Sarah’s pretty face was rosy.

Her figure was as slender as before her pregnancy.

There was no sign that she had just given birth.

“Mark, you finally came to see me! Josh is on a business trip, and I’m so bored being here alone.”

Sarah pouted and clung to his arm, acting coquettishly.

Mark frowned and snorted softly.

“Don’t talk nonsense! What ‘dying’?”

Although he sounded reproachful, his voice carried a hint of helplessness.

She wasn’t scared, instead she stuck out her tongue playfully and snuggled in his arms, laughing mischievously.

“Okay, okay, I won’t talk nonsense. But you weren’t very good today. You came and didn’t see me first, but went to that woman’s room instead. I’m going to punish you!”

As she said this, she stood on tiptoe and kissed his lips.

Mark froze for a moment, but he still couldn’t resist his desire for her and wrapped his arms around her waist, deepening the kiss.

I had suspected that Mark and Sarah were having an affair, which was why he so readily gave our child to her.

But seeing them embracing and kissing passionately, tears welled up in my eyes.

My heart clenched, as if a merciless blade was stabbing it, making it hard to breathe.

Trembling, I took out my phone and recorded a video of them.

Mark, you owe me, and you will pay.

After recording the video, I couldn’t bear to watch anymore.

I fled back to my ward.

I didn’t sleep well that night.

In my dreams, I kept hearing a baby crying.

She seemed to be crying, “Mommy… why don’t you want me?”

Tears soaked my pillow, and I woke up crying.

I couldn’t take it anymore.

I had to get my baby back.

I hurriedly put on my shoes and ran to Sarah’s room.

She was sitting on the sofa, watching a show and laughing.

The baby in the crib was crying loudly.

But she seemed oblivious, not even glancing at the baby.

The baby’s cries overlapped with the cries in my dream, and my heart trembled.

Ignoring everything else, I rushed over to hold her.

But Sarah reacted and stopped me.

“Nina, what are you doing! Don’t touch my baby!”

“Is this really your baby?” I looked directly into her eyes without flinching.

Sarah froze for a moment, then burst into laughter.

But her laughter wasn’t pure; it carried undisguised malice.

“So you knew Mark gave your baby to me?”

“Sarah! What you’re doing is illegal! Give me back my baby!” I yelled, wanting her to return my child.

I strode forward, trying to push her away and take the baby.

Unexpectedly, as soon as I reached out, she fell against the edge of the bed and collapsed onto the floor in pain.

“You…”

I froze, not knowing what to do.

Someone strode in and pushed me away.

Caught off guard, I stumbled and almost fell.

“Nina, what are you trying to do?”

Mark carefully helped her up and glared at me.

Before I could speak, Sarah’s eyes reddened, and with a pitiful look, she said tearfully, “Nina, I know you’re in pain after losing your baby, but you shouldn’t try to steal mine.”

“If you really like my baby, I can give her to you. It’s just that my mother-in-law will look down on me…”

“Enough!” Mark interrupted her angrily, his eyes cold as he looked at me. “Nina, stop making a scene. I told you, when you’re recovered, we can have another one. Stop acting crazy!”

When he said we could have another one, Sarah’s expression faltered for a moment, showing a hint of displeasure.

But I just found it funny.

That was clearly my child.

Why couldn’t I take her?

“Mark, are you sure our baby is dead?”

I didn’t answer his question, staring at him intently, hoping to hear the answer I wanted.

However, I overestimated him.

Mark’s eyes filled with helplessness.

“Didn’t the doctor already tell you? Our baby is dead.”

The emotions in his eyes were complex, helplessness, impatience, but no guilt.

I clenched my jaw.

“Then let me see that baby.”

Mark opened his mouth, about to say something, when Sarah said softly, “Let her see if she wants. As long as she stops misunderstanding me and causing trouble for Mark.”

She stepped aside, making way for me.

Without thinking, I strode forward and picked up the baby.

But when I saw her hand, it was like a bucket of cold water being poured over me, extinguishing all my hopes.

There was no birthmark on this baby’s hand.

How could this be…

My face paled, and I took a step back, holding the baby.

Mark was impatient, his tone unfriendly.

“See? This isn’t our child!”

At the same time, I heard Sarah’s inner voice.

She chuckled inwardly, “Nina, did you really think I wanted your child? The second Mark gave her to me, I threw her into the sewer. She’s probably dead by now.”

4

“As for the baby you’re holding, I just adopted her from an orphanage.”

Hearing this, all the color drained from my face.

I looked at her in disbelief.

How could she… be so cruel!

Grief, hatred, and sadness filled my chest.

But I knew I had no proof.

I couldn’t do anything to her.

Suppressing my anger, I put the baby down and said calmly, “Sorry to bother you.”

I didn’t look at Mark and walked out.

He quickly followed and grabbed my wrist, saying stiffly, “You pushed someone and just want to leave? Apologize!”

Now, his eyes held no fake love or tenderness, only the indifference of a stranger.

My eyes reddened, and I took a deep breath, saying shakily, “I’m sorry, okay?”

As I said these words, my heart felt like it was being cut by a knife.

Seeing me apologize so easily, Mark’s eyes flickered with surprise.

He hurriedly explained, “Nina, you were in the wrong. It’s not that I’m not on your side…”

“I know. I’m tired and want to go back to rest.”

I forced a smile, pushed his hand away, and turned back to my ward.

The moment I turned around, Mark’s heart tightened, as if something was quietly leaving him.

He thought that I was just in a bad mood, and he would buy me gifts and coax me tomorrow.

But he didn’t know that I couldn’t be coaxed anymore.

Shortly after returning to my ward, I received a message from Sarah.

“Nina, do you think Mark really loves you? He’s just using you as a substitute for me. You’re just like your child, dispensable to him.”

Trembling, I asked her, “What did you do to my baby?”

Sarah didn’t reply immediately.

Just when I thought she wouldn’t reply, she sent another message.

“Threw her away. Oh no, she should be dead by now. That little girl was cute, just unlucky to have you as a mother.”

The emotions I had suppressed surged again.

Tears fell onto my phone screen, blurring my vision.

Sarah, I will make you pay!

Atonement for my child!

I continued to ask, “Aren’t you afraid Mark will find out?”

This time, she replied quickly, “Nina, don’t be naive. You think Mark doesn’t know what I’m doing? He doesn’t love you at all, so why would he care about your feelings? Even if you die now, he wouldn’t shed a tear for you!”

“Because the only person in his heart is me. Even though I’m married to someone else now, he still chooses me first. Nina, you’ve lost.”

“Oh right, do you know why you went into premature labor? It’s because I told Mark that this month was my due date, and I needed a baby now, so he paid a high price for labor inducing drugs to make you give birth early…”

Looking at this piercing message, I didn’t feel any sadness.

It was as if my heart had already accepted the fact that Mark didn’t love me.

So I wouldn’t be surprised by anything he did.

I didn’t reply to her anymore, just silently took screenshots of her messages.

Unexpectedly, as soon as I finished, she retracted them one by one.

I couldn’t help but sneer.

Sarah, you’re still scared.

Don’t worry, I’ll make you terrified.

I spent the next few days recovering in the hospital.

Mark visited me as usual after work.

But unlike before, he could no longer get any response from me.

Mark noticed it and, worried that I had postpartum depression, called a doctor to examine me.

The results showed I was healthy.

He thought I didn’t want to stay in the hospital anymore, so he discharged me and took me home.

That was good too.

Back home, I could pack my things and prepare to leave this place at any time.

“Nina, Sarah and her husband’s wedding anniversary is in a few days. We’ll go to the party together. You two had a very unpleasant argument last time. Will you apologize to her when you see her?”

Mark spoke in a tone of consultation, but there was still an undeniable command in his words.

I tugged at the corner of my mouth and said yes.

“Tell me the location of the hotel and the time. My memory hasn’t been good lately, and I want to write it down.”

Getting my response, Mark, completely oblivious, told me the details.

I didn’t miss his inner thoughts either.

He was thinking, “The doctor said it takes more than six months after giving birth to get pregnant again. Nina’s health is poor, so it might take even longer. Sarah can’t wait, I have to find a way to help her recuperate.”

How ridiculous.

From the beginning to the end, in his eyes, I was just a tool for Sarah to have children.

Time flew by, and Sarah and her husband’s third anniversary arrived.

Her husband had business dealings with Josh, Mark’s brother, and since he and Sarah were childhood sweethearts, he was invited to the party.

As the party approached, I said I wasn’t feeling well and asked him to go first.

“Okay, I’ll wait for you there. Be careful on your way.”

With that, he hurried out.

If he had paid any attention to me, he would have noticed that I hadn’t prepared a dress at all.

Watching him leave, I also picked up my suitcase and walked out.

Mark waited for me in the banquet hall for a long time, but I never showed up.

Unease started to creep into his heart.