Love's Bitter Price

I could tell Leilani was deliberately trying to torment me. Alan looked at my pale face and, for once, spoke up for me. "Leilani, how about I order something from a hotel restaurant?"

Leilani glanced at Alan, then at me, and suddenly burst into tears. "But I want to eat this. I can't control myself. The baby wants it too! Alan, do you think I'm being too demanding? This is all my fault. I shouldn't have asked Summer to cook for me!"

Seeing her tears, Alan looked distressed and pulled Leilani into his arms, comforting her repeatedly. "Summer, go make a lighter version of the stew."

The entire afternoon, I went back and forth, making the stew three times without complaint. I stood for five full hours straight. My entire body felt like it had been dragged out of water.

I had just returned to the maid's room and had not even had time to unpack my belongings, which had been packed up like garbage, when I collapsed onto the bed. Clutching my stomach, I curled into a ball as bone-piercing pain radiated through my abdomen.

It felt like countless needles were stabbing into it, yet my heart hurt even more.

Before I could fall asleep, Alan suddenly kicked my door open. His face was twisted with unconcealed rage. He grabbed me from the bed and slammed me against the wall.

"Summer, didn't I tell you not to play your little games?"

I trembled from the pain, looking at him in confusion. "What games did I play?"

Alan patted my face mockingly. "Still pretending? Who told you Leilani was allergic to mango? Summer, I never realized how scheming you were. Then again, when you shamelessly crawled into my bed back then, I should've known your ambitions were sky-high!

"You think if you kill my and Leilani's baby, I'll let you have a child? Dream on, Summer. Any child that comes from your belly will always be worthless trash!"

Without listening to my explanation, he dragged me across the floor to Leilani. He completely disregarded how my body had been battered and bruised from hitting corners and edges.

Alan threw me in front of Leilani's bed and kicked my knees hard, forcing me to kneel on the ground. His voice carried undisguised disgust. "Get on your knees and apologize to Leilani and the baby!"

Leilani lay on the bed, her face flushed red as if she could not breathe, yet her speech was completely unaffected. "Summer, I know you're heartbroken about losing your baby, but you can't hurt mine. My baby's innocent!"

She threw herself into Alan's arms, her face full of anguish. "Alan, our baby will be okay, right? Save our baby!"

Alan held her. "Leilani, it'll be fine. I already called an ambulance. It'll be here in five minutes."

I forced myself upright and spoke word by word. "Alan Rivers, I didn't add anything to the stew! I swear on my life, I'm telling the truth."

Alan sneered and kicked me in the stomach. The full force of a grown man's kick sent me flying. My back slammed against the wall, and I coughed up a large mouthful of blood.

Seeing me vomit blood, Alan just watched coldly. "Still being stubborn when death is at your door. Summer, when did you become so vicious? I truly regret saving you back then! If anything happens to Leilani and the baby, I'll make you understand what regret truly feels like!"

I lay crumpled on the ground, blood continuously pouring from my mouth. Actually, it was not just Alan who had regrets. I regretted it too. I regretted meeting him, and even more, I regretted falling in love with him.

I had wasted the best seven years of my life nurturing a love that was never mine to keep.

Watching his back as he carried Leilani away without hesitation, so resolute in his choice, I remembered how Alan had once led me toward a new life in the same way. Now, he was personally delivering me to hell.

From now on, I never wanted to see Alan Rivers again.