Wordless Love

Five years after I broke up with the crown prince of New Yorks elite, we accidentally slept together.

When I woke up, his face was cold.

It was just an accident. Don't overthink it.

Later, I found out I was pregnant.

At the hospital, he came rushing in, grabbing my wrist, his voice hoarse and full of hurt.

"I said it was an accident, and you actually believed it was just an accident?"

"Since when were you so obedient?"

"That year, I begged you not to break up with me. Didn't you dump me anyway?"

1

In the hallway during a class reunion.

I didn't notice him until he was standing right in front of me.

By the time I registered his presence, my first instinct was to run.

But a hand shot out and grabbed my wrist.

Jim was just as I remembered him, handsome but distant.

He looked down at me, his voice calm.

"About that night..."

I met his gaze directly. "That night was my fault. I was impulsive."

"I'm sorry."

Jim's handsome face tensed for a moment before returning to its usual cool composure. He adjusted his glasses, his voice light and breezy.

"It's fine."

"It was just an accident."

2

I never thought I'd see Jim again.

Five years ago, my family suddenly went bankrupt.

I was in the middle of preparing to study abroad with my boyfriend when the world came crashing down. Faced with overwhelming debt and my mother's hospitalization, I made a quick decision.

"I don't like you anymore."

"Let's break up."

On the athletic field at night, Jim, holding his acceptance letter to Oxford, froze.

He frowned at me, his voice low. "Aurora, what are you talking about?"

"Are you playing with me?"

I couldn't blame him for being angry.

Everyone knew how hard I had chased him.

Jim was aloof and hard to get close to.

So I brought him snacks one day, "accidentally" ran into him the next, and at a party the day after, I shouted my confession for all to hear: "Jim Sterling, I will always like you, and I will never stop chasing you."

And now, looking at the untouchable prize I had finally won, my pride and my love waged a war in my head.

In the end, I chose my pride.

"You can think of it as me playing with you, if you want."

"Either way, I'm not going abroad with you."

I had to earn money, pay for my own education, and pay off my family's debts.

I didn't say the rest.

Jim had already turned and walked away.

He had a powerful family, striking good looks, and stellar grades. He was quickly accepted into a top-tier university.

Meanwhile, I was juggling part-time jobs, my studies, and taking care of my sick mother.

I thought I would never see him again.

Until a month ago, at that class reunion.

He suddenly appeared.

His expression was more serious, his every move exuding a new, mature confidence that made him even more captivating than before.

I couldn't resist. I drank too much.

And we slept together.

Alcohol really is a good excuse for things you can't admit you want.

And once again, I thought I would never see him again.

3

But then another classmate organized a middle school reunion.

And he showed up.

Damn it!

Why were my classmates so obsessed with reunions lately?

In my best friend Stella's car, on the way home, she poked my forehead in exasperation. "You're ridiculous. You know you don't have to go to these things."

"Stop lying to yourself, okay?"

"First the alcohol, now the reunions. Seriously, are you still in love with Jim?"

My heart skipped a beat.

"What if I am?"

"What if I'm not?"

We were adults. It was just one night.

Jim's family business was thriving, and he himself was incredibly successful. His net worth was beyond anything I could imagine.

And me? My father's debts weren't paid off, and my mother still needed surgery.

I was a mess.

I had no time for romantic daydreams of the past.

"But you two still..."

I forced a smile. "We're just human. It was a physical thing."

"Once and only once. It won't happen again."

I looked at the moon, thinking that this time, I really, truly would have nothing more to do with Jim.

Until a few days later.

I stared at the two lines on the test.

My brain short-circuited.

So... do I see him? Or do I not see him?

4

I was still debating, but fate had already made the decision for me.

After taking care of my mother, I snuck off to the OB-GYN for a confirmation.

I was waiting for my number to be called when a beautiful young doctor walked by, smiling and chatting with someone.

And that someone... was none other than Jim.

Our eyes met, and we both froze.

The doctor called Jim's name a few times before it dawned on her. "Jim, do you two know each other?"

Jim looked at me, his voice flat. "Classmates."

The doctor looped her arm through Jim's, an intimate gesture.

An undeniable sourness churned in my stomach, but I kept my expression neutral. "Yes, we were classmates."

The doctor was open and friendly, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Classmates, huh?"

"Hi, I'm Jim's fiance, Valerie. Valerie Bell."

She extended her hand with a bright, confident smile.

The appointment slip in my hand suddenly felt incredibly heavy.

I managed a friendly smile, shook her hand, and just wanted to get away as fast as possible.

But Jim suddenly called out to me, his eyes dark, his thoughts unreadable. "Old classmate, aren't you going to wish us well?"

He put a strange emphasis on the words "old classmate."

I nodded stiffly. "I wish you a long and happy life together..."

"And may you have a child soon."

A few minutes later.

In the exam room, Valerie looked at my test results, her face beaming. "Congratulations, old classmate."

"You're pregnant!"

I wanted to die of embarrassment.

This was really... not the time for congratulations.

5

Valerie was still chattering away, giving me instructions. "You need to be very careful now. Avoid cold foods and alcohol, be careful with exercise, the first three months are the most critical..."

I gave a weak smile and cut her off. "Um, old classmate's fiance."

"I have a lot of cravings. I can't give up alcohol."

"I want an abortion."

6

Between adults, some things don't need to be spelled out.

A flash of understanding crossed Valerie's face.

She nodded, her expression still kind. "Okay."

"I'll arrange it for you."

She typed away at her computer, then glanced at me with a casual, knowing smile. "You know, the way our Jim looks at you is... pretty intense."

"This abortion... it wouldn't have anything to do with him, would it?"

In that moment, my heart stopped beating.

My mind went blank. I just stared at her.

She held my gaze, and just as the air in the room was about to solidify, she tapped my forehead playfully.

"Just kidding!"

"I scared you, didn't I?" She stuck out her tongue.

I forced my lips into a stiff smile. "No, no, you didn't scare me."

"I have a clear conscience."

We... we had nothing to do with each other.

7

That night, on the way to the Sterling family estate.

Valerie was pouting. "Can't you just call off the engagement?"

"You don't even like me! Why are you listening to your parents?"

Jim glanced at her, his cool eyes seemingly untouched by worldly concerns.

He was concise. "It's a hassle."

Defying his family was something Jim was perfectly capable of. But it would take effort, and it was too much of a hassle.

He turned the steering wheel, speaking as if it wasn't his own marriage. "In three years, when the business partnership between our families is over, we can get a divorce."

"You don't have to fulfill any marital duties. You'll be free."

"You can be with whoever you want."

As he spoke, he casually adjusted the charm hanging from his rearview mirror. His younger brother, Jasper's, wild and handsome face was now turned toward Valerie.

Valerie's face instantly turned bright red.

She muttered under her breath, "Well, what's that supposed to mean?"

"Ugh, this is so annoying."

She slumped back in her seat, then suddenly remembered something. Her tone changed, becoming meaningful.

"Your old classmate came in for a check-up today."

In the darkness, Valerie clearly saw Jim's hand tighten on the steering wheel, the veins standing out.

His voice, however, remained calm. "And?"

"She wished us a son soon," Valerie said cheerfully.

Suddenly, the car accelerated.

Valerie's grin widened.

Jim shot her a look, knowing she was making fun of him. He suppressed the rising anger and retorted smoothly, "If we had a son, someone else would go crazy."

Valerie pouted, not to be outdone. "Someone else might not go crazy, but the little life in her belly certainly will."

"Getting terminated at such a young age."

Screech!

The car slammed to a halt. Jim turned to Valerie, who was scared out of her wits, with an expression she had never seen before. It was dead serious.

"What did you say?"

"What little life?"

Valerie had heard that ever since his high school breakup, Jim had been unpredictable. She didn't dare provoke him further.

She meekly confessed. "Your old classmate."

"She's pregnant. Six weeks."

8

That evening, I had just finished feeding my mother when I received a friend request.

The username was "Speechless," and the profile picture was completely black.

For some reason, my heart lurched.

I looked at the simple introduction below.

Just two words: Jim Sterling.

My heart was pounding.

I resisted the urge to accept and instead typed in the request box:

Do you need something?

After a while, just when I thought he wouldn't reply, a message popped up.

Speechless: Aurora, what do you think of my username?

The night was quiet, the moonlight slanting in, casting a silver frost across the room.

His strange question made it feel like... we were just chatting.

I didn't reply. I figured I would just let it go.

A few moments later, another message came through:

Why aren't you talking?

Me: ...

It's nice.

Speechless: Aren't you going to ask what it means?

Me: What does it mean?

Silence from his end for a moment.

Speechless: Nothing. People say I'm like a mute.

People? Who were these "people"?

I stared at the word, a sudden, inexplicable wave of sadness washing over me.

There was a time when I knew all of Jim's friends. We grew up together, inseparable.

And now, I knew nothing about his life.

Oh.

No, that's not right.

My fingers paused.

The image of a smiling, cheerful girl flashed in my mind.

I knew Valerie.

His fiance.

Instantly, a wave of guilt and shame flooded my brain.

I felt more and more that this conversation was wrong.

That it shouldn't be happening.

My fingers moved, and I began to end the chat.

Do you need anything else? I'm going to bed.

The subtext was clear: I wasn't going to add him.

Speechless: Is there nothing you need to tell me?

Almost subconsciously, my eyes drifted down to my stomach.

A moment later, I came back to my senses.

I replied: Valerie is beautiful. I wish you both a long and happy life together, and a son soon.

Speechless went completely silent.

A true mute.

And I stared out at the moon, unable to sleep for a long, long time.

9

The conversation that night was like a lit fuse.

I felt an urgent need to get the abortion.

Especially after running into Valerie that morning.

Valerie was surprised. "You want to jump the queue?"

"Why are you in such a hurry?"

"He can't come until this afternoon."

My eye twitched. "Who?"

Valerie stuck out her tongue and muttered something under her breath.

She turned back, looking completely innocent. "Oh, nothing."

"I meant the doctor who's doing your procedure. He, uh, he's off this morning."

"He'll be in this afternoon."

I frowned. I felt more and more guilty standing in front of this sweet, innocent girl. After all, I was carrying her fianc's child.

"Are there no other doctors?"

"I'm really in a hurry."

Valerie pouted and thought for a moment. "Okay, wait here. I'll see what I can arrange."

I relaxed as Valerie went into her office.

On a whim, I stood outside her door.

Quietly, I strained my ears.

I could hear Valerie's slightly anxious voice. "I don't have time for your games! Put your brother on the phone!"

"I'm telling you, you're messing up something important, and I won't be responsible."

"What business is it of yours? What are we, little brother? You need to have some boundaries!"

It didn't sound like she was talking to Jim.

But if you listened closely, underneath her annoyed tone, there was a hint of sweetness.

"So what if I'm older than you? Hah, I'm higher up in the family tree."

"Don't you dare try to take advantage of me!"

I couldn't hear what the person on the other end was saying.

Valerie's voice was now a mix of anger and annoyance, almost a pout. "Don't you talk nonsense!"

"That night was an accident!"

"I'm your sister-in-law now!"

Accident? Sister-in-law?

Oh. My. God.

My brain exploded.

It was like...

I had just discovered some dark, forbidden secret.