He Gambled Away Our Baby

When Liam accompanied me to my prenatal checkup, he suddenly pushed me into the abortion operating room.

Sorry, I lost a game of Truth or Dare last night. The stakes were the baby.

We can always have another child after the abortion, but I can't back out of a game. Just bear with it for now.

I stared at him in disbelief, my whole body turning cold.

"That female friend of yours put you up to this again, didn't she? Now she even wants to harm the baby. Does she have no shame?"

Trembling, I turned to run, but he pinned me down with one hand.

Liam's face darkened, a contemptuous sneer curling his lips.

"You have the nerve to talk about Lily? Do you have any shame yourself?"

"You climbed into my bed when you were eighteen, moaning like a whore in that thirty-dollar-a-night fleabag motel."

"Melody, who in this world could be more shameless than you?"

That one sentence shattered the last shred of my dignity.

I gave up all resistance and walked into the operating room on my own.

"Melody."

Just before I entered the operating room, Liam suddenly called out to me.

He lowered his head, his voice somewhat hoarse.

"I didn't mean to hit you where it hurts. I just can't stand you targeting Lily. I spoke without thinking."

Draping his coat over my shoulders, Liam looked at me earnestly and made a promise.

"I'm a businessman. If I welch on a bet, people will look down on me. Who would want to do business with me after that? I can't bear to lose this child either, but there's no choice."

"I promise you, we'll have another child very soon."

Another child?

This was already my third pregnancy with Liam.

To conceive, I'd taken countless ovulation injections. The needle marks around my waist still hadn't faded.

The doctor had warned me repeatedly that this child might be the last one I could ever carry.

How could there be another?

I opened my mouth, but my throat felt like it had a blade stuck in it. The pain made it impossible to utter a single word.

Liam's phone rang.

On the other end, Lily urged impatiently, "Why is getting an abortion taking so long? Don't tell me you can't bear to go through with it?"

"It's not like this is Melody's first time. Why is she being so dramatic? Hurry up and get it done. The guys are all waiting for you to come drink!"

Eager to keep his appointment, Liam's last bit of patience with me evaporated.

He perfunctorily kissed the back of my hand.

"I have a drinking engagement. I can't stay with you for the procedure."

"Besides, it's not your first abortion. You know the drill. You've got this. I believe you can handle it on your own."

Liam practically flew out the door.

I clutched my stomach and stumbled into the abortion room.

The doctor pushed up her glasses, looking at me with an expression that was three parts sympathy, three parts contempt.

"Your uterine wall is as thin as paper. One more abortion and you really won't be able to conceive again."

"If you don't love yourself, why should anyone else love you?"

Heat flooded my face. I was too ashamed to meet the doctor's eyes.

Pinching my palm, I forced myself to sound calm.

"Let's proceed. I'll take full responsibility for any consequences."

After signing the waiver, I stripped naked and was wheeled into the operating room with zero dignity.

The thick, long needle pierced my body without warning. I broke out in cold sweat from the pain and couldn't help letting out a whimper.

In my ear, I could faintly hear a young nurse complaining.

"This is her third time. Why is she acting so fragile? Where was this act when she was having her fun?"

My consciousness began to fade.

Accompanied by the nurse's voice, I seemed to see three adorable babies holding hands, leaving my life forever...

When I woke up, the procedure was over.

No miracles, no lucky breaks. This time, I had permanently lost the ability to have children.

Numbly, I stuffed the surgical report into my bag, my face showing not a trace of sadness.

This heart that had beaten for Liam countless times and ached for him countless times had finally died completely.

"Liam, let's get div"

When I got home and pushed open the door, before I could bring up divorce, I was choked by a thick cloud of cigarette smoke.

I coughed violently, tears streaming from my eyes.

Inside, a group of people were playing Truth or Dare.

Liam had clearly promised me he would never bring his drinking parties home.

"Oh wow, your belly's flat! You really went through with ityou actually aborted her baby!"

Lily excitedly touched my stomach, exaggeratedly giving Liam a thumbs up.

Liam glanced at Lily smugly.

"A bet's a bet. When have I ever lied to you?"

To ease the awkward atmosphere, one of Liam's buddies pulled me down to sit, playing peacemaker.

"We're businessmen, right? Integrity matters."

"We rarely get to hang out with you. Why don't you join us today?"

Liam frowned, instinctively about to decline on my behalf, but I cut him off coldly.

"Sure. I'll play."

I really wanted to see what kind of game was so thrilling that Liam could sacrifice even his own flesh and blood for it.

My luck was terrible. Lily and I played rock-paper-scissors several rounds in a row, and I lost every single one.

Worried that Lily's dares would go too far, Liam volunteered to drink three shots as penalty instead.

Glass after glass of liquor, he downed them one after another, his neck straining.

"She just had an abortion. I'll drink for her."

With each round of jeering, Lily's expression grew darker.

Finally, after I lost yet another round, Lily exploded with a curse.

"What's the point of playing if you keep drinking for her? Women are so damn annoying. I've said it a million timesno women at our gatherings!"

Liam was drunk, trying to placate Lily with a smile, but I spoke first.

"I choose Truth."

Lily's eyes lit up. The complaint on her face vanished instantly, replaced by an excited gleam in her eyes.

She raised her eyebrow at me maliciously, her tone both contemptuous and playful.

"Well then, I'm going to ask."

"You've had three abortions, so you must have been examined by plenty of male doctors. Why don't you tell the guys which male doctor had the best technique? Which one felt the best when he touched you? Hahahaha!"

I gripped my glass tightly, my heart trembling.

Those first two children were my life's deepest pain, a secret between Liam and me.

How did Lily know about them?

"Tsk, no wonder Liam doesn't want to sleep with you. A bunch of men have touched you down therewhat normal guy wouldn't find that disgusting? Even I'm grossed out, and I'm a woman."

Lily's shrill laughter was like a sharp blade, stabbing into my heart again and again.

I couldn't suppress the anger and grievance in my heart any longer. I picked up my glass and threw the contents in Lily's face.

Still not satisfied, I added a slap.

"That felt the best."

Lily covered her face in humiliated fury, eyes wide as she glared at me.

The sudden turn of events left everyone present stunned.

Once he realized what had happened, Liam grabbed me by the back of my neck in rage.

Slap.

He hit me once, then again.

"Melody, have you lost your fucking mind? It's just a game! What gives you the right to hit Lily?"

"If you can't take a joke, don't join the game. Besides, Lily was just stating facts..."

Liam's eyes were bloodshot, reeking of alcohol.

He walked over to Lily, carefully blowing on her swollen cheek again and again, his eyes filled with undisguised heartache.

As if trying to spite me, Liam hooked his arm around Lily's shoulder and said loudly enough for everyone to hear, "Lily, you wanted to know which doctor made Melody feel the best?"

"I'll tell youit was the one today."

"Because Melody only had one proper abortion procedure. She aborted the first two children with her own hands!"

The room erupted.

Lily covered her mouth in shock, her smile stretching practically to her neck.

"You're not kidding, are you? Damn, Melody, you actually gave yourself abortions!"

"You're so richwhy would she do that herself? Is she psychologically twisted, or was she chasing some kind of thrill? That's pretty kinky~"

Eyes fell on me from all directionsshocked, contemptuous.

"Three abortionsher uterus must be wrecked. Think she can still have kids?"

"If she can't, there's always our Lily. Liam can have kids with Lily. Lily's probably still a virgin. How could that damaged goods compare?"

Lily jumped in front of the man who'd spoken, playfully punching him twice.

"Stop it! He and I are just friends!"

"But you're right about one thingI am clean..."

Lily showed a rare hint of shyness.

Liam ruffled her hair with an indulgent smile. The others roared with laughter.

Looking at those disgusting, laughing faces, I almost vomited.

Tears stung my swollen skin, sending waves of piercing pain. I shook my head desperately, trying to shake off those painful memories.

But the memories flooded over me like a tide.

When I was eighteen, I got into Columbia University.

The orphanage couldn't pay my tuition, so I had to work at an auto repair shop.

But my meager wages couldn't cover tuition and living expenses. I considered dropping out.

Liam, a fellow apprentice at the shop, cornered me against a wall, eyes red as he made me a promise.

"Keep studying. I'll support you."

From then on, Liam worked at the shop during the day, did construction at night, and took on handicraft work in the dead of night.

At the prime of his youth, he nearly burned himself out for my sake.

Every time we met, he'd give me money and tell me to study hard. He never complained once.

When he learned I was being bullied by classmates, Liam charged into the school with a fruit knife and stabbed himself three times in front of everyone. Blood splattered everywhere.

He said, "If anyone dares bully Melody again, this is what they'll get. I dare to stab myselfwhat wouldn't I dare to do?"

From then on, even the flies at school avoided me.

I grew up in an orphanage. I'd always lacked love.

Meeting a man like that, it was really hard not to fall in love.

To hold onto that bit of warmth, I was willing to give everything.

In that thirty-dollar fleabag motel, I confessed to Liam and begged him to try again and again.

Later, that place became our regular haunt.

He was like a wild wolf, always so intense that he'd break the cheap condoms.

Because of that, I got pregnant twice.

Without money for a proper hospital, I had to find my own way to abort.

I swallowed expired abortion pills at random, then threw myself down the stairs.

If once didn't work, I'd do it twice, three times.

This method was incredibly cruelto me, and to the babies.

Liam hated himself for it. To avoid hurting me again, he went to a back-alley clinic for a vasectomy and nearly lost his fertility permanently.

He said he owed me for the rest of his life.

He said he'd work himself to death.

He said he'd make me happier than anyone, that I'd never have to suffer like that again.

Things really did get better. But Liam's heart changed.

The deepest pain I couldn't bear to touch had become his conversation piece.

As long as it made Lily laugh, he didn't mind stabbing me in my most painful places again and again.

Like a madwoman, I grabbed a bottle and smashed it over Liam's head.

"Game over."

"Get out. All of you, get out!"

Liam's friends wisely scattered. Lily was dragged away as well.

Liam was knocked out by my blow. He didn't wake up until noon the next day.

He clutched his head in pain, groggily remembering yesterday's events.

Liam grabbed my hand and made me slap his face.

"Honey, drunk people don't know what they're doing."

"Slap me back. I promise I won't fight back. As for the abortion... I'll go clarify things for you right now. With me around, I'll see who dares gossip."

Watching Liam's shameless performance, I said calmly, "Let's get divorced."

Liam smiled helplessly, his pinky finger gently hooking a strand of my hair.

He thought I was just throwing a tantrum and wanted to get intimate like before, to coax me into forgiving him.

His phone rang.

Liam glanced at the caller ID, quickly withdrew his hand, and answered.

"Lily, what's wrong?"

"What do you think? I lost Truth or Dare, that's what. And you know what? I'm unlucky enough that my penalty is to sleep with one of the guys for real!"

"They're all laughing, saying I won't dare. But you know meI honor my bets! I'm choosing you."

Liam's breath hitched. He looked up to gauge my expression, then quickly refused.

"Don't push yourself, dummy. Just forfeit."

"You don't want to? Hmph, then I'll find someone else~"

Liam panicked and immediately agreed without thinking.

"Lily, you'd better not! Send me the hotel location. I'm on my way."

Liam frantically pulled on his shoes, not even bothering to look at me.

"Lily's naive and competitive. If I don't go, some outsider will definitely take advantage of her."

"Don't worry, honey. I'll go talk sense into her. I'll definitely convince her not to do it!"

I followed Liam's car all the way to the hotel.

Using my status as his wife, I got a room key and burst through the door, phone in hand.

Click. Click. I perfectly captured the two of them, faces flushed, completely naked.

Realizing I was taking photos, Lily screamed.

"Melody, delete those photos right now! We were just doing a dare penalty. Can't you be less petty?"

Liam covered himself with the sheet, his face red as he stammered an explanation.

"Lily was too stubborn. She insisted on completing the penalty. I had no choice..."

"But don't worry, I only see her as a buddy. Just this once. There absolutely won't be a next time."

"Be good, Melody. Delete the photos. Lily's a girl after all. How will she get married in the future?"

I couldn't help laughing.

I'd caught them red-handed in bed, and they were still calling themselves good friends.

I calmly tucked my phone into my pocket.

Seeing I wouldn't budge, Liam's expression gradually darkened.

He pulled out his phone and started playing a blurry video.

It was footage of me, at eighteen, throwing myself down the stairs to abort.

Liam had secretly kept this video on his phone, labeled "Lifelong Guilt."

Whenever he was too exhausted from work, he'd watch it once to motivate himself.

After watching, he'd have the strength to keep going.

Now, what was once his guilt had become leverage to threaten me.

"Melody, if you dare spread those photos, I'll make everyone in New York see thissee how you secretly aborted, how you killed your own children!"

Through my tears, I smiled calmly.

"Don't worry. I won't spread them."

"I'm not here to fight the mistress."

"I just wanted to keep some evidence. In court, it might help with our property division."

With that, I turned and left without a shred of hesitation.

In the empty themed hotel room, Lily rolled her eyes and asked, "Hey, is Abortion Girl serious this time?"

Liam instinctively shook his head.

"How could she be? She's an orphan with no family, no home. Where would she go if she left me?"

"I'll just contact the hospital to schedule the next IVF cycle. Melody loves kids so muchshe'll definitely calm down right away."

Liam called the hospital.

The response he got nearly destroyed him.

"You didn't know? After the last abortion, Melody permanently lost her ability to conceive."