My Husband Traded Our Baby for a Dare

When I was eighteen, Leo and I had our first time in a shabby motel room.

Back then, he was driven by a wild, untamed passion, leaving me so swept away that I lost all sense of direction in the rush of first love.

But when I was twenty-five, he sent me into the abortion clinic himself, all because of a Truth or Dare game with his female friend, Eve.

Im sorry, Rachel. I was playing Truth or Dare with Eve last night, and I lost the baby as a forfeit.

A baby can be conceived again, but a bet between guys cant be reneged on. Just bear with it for a bit, okay?

His words made me tremble with horror:

Youd actually kill our baby for another woman? What kind of spell has she cast on you?

Leos face darkened, angered by my outburst.

You have the nerve to bring up Eve? Do you have any shame? Who in this world is more despicable than you?

Youre like a slut, climbing into my bed willingly. You frequented that cheap motel more often than anyone else. What right do you, a woman of insatiable desire, have to criticize her!

That sentence shattered the last bit of my dignity.

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

Twenty-five-year-old Leo, I don't love you anymore...

Rachel.

Just as I was about to enter the operating room, Leo suddenly called out to me.

He hung his head, his voice a little hoarse:

I didnt mean to hit a nerve. I just couldnt stand you targeting Eve. My words just slipped out.

As he draped a coat over me, Leo earnestly promised:

Im a big businessman. If I lose my word, who will dare to work with me in the future? I dont want to lose this baby either, but I cant help it.

I promise you, well have another baby very soon.

Another baby?

This was already my third child with Leo.

To get pregnant with it, Id had countless fertility shots; the dense needle marks on my waist hadnt faded yet.

The doctor had warned me many times that this baby might be the last one I could ever conceive.

How could there be another?

I opened my mouth, but my throat felt like it was blocked by a razor blade. It hurt too much to utter a single word.

Leos phone rang.

On the other end, Eve impatiently urged:

Getting an abortion is taking forever. Youre not trying to back out, are you?

Rachels not a newbie, whys she being so dramatic? Hurry up and finish the dare, all of us guys are waiting for you to drink!

Eager to keep his appointment, Leos last shred of patience with me vanished.

He perfunctorily kissed the back of my hand:

I have a business dinner, so I cant stay for your surgery.

Anyway, its not your first time, you know the drill. You got this, Im sure youll be fine on your own.

Leo practically flew out the door, quickly slipping away.

I clutched my stomach, swaying as I walked into the abortion room.

The doctor pushed up her glasses, her gaze a mix of pity and contempt.

Your uterine wall is paper-thin. If you have another abortion, you really wont be able to get pregnant again.

If you dont respect yourself, why should anyone else respect you?

My face flushed, too ashamed to meet the doctors eyes.

Digging my nails into my palms, I forced myself to calmly tell the doctor:

Go ahead, Ill take full responsibility for all consequences.

After signing the waiver, I stripped naked and was pushed into the operating room, utterly stripped of my dignity.

A thick, long needle pierced my body without warning. The pain made me break out in a cold sweat, and I couldn't help but let out a soft whimper.

Faintly, I heard the nurses dissatisfied grumbling:

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

My consciousness began to fade.

Along with the nurse's voice, I seemed to see three adorable babies, holding hands, vanishing completely from my life

When I woke up, the surgery was over.

No surprises, no miracles. This time, I had completely lost my ability to conceive.

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

This heart, which had beaten countless times for Leo, and ached countless times, was finally dead.

Leo, we

Back home, I pushed open the door.

Before I could even suggest divorce, I was choked by a strong smell of smoke.

I coughed violently, tears streaming down my face.

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

Leo had promised me hed never bring his drinking parties home.

Oh, your bellys flat! Leo, youre a real man, you honored the bet and actually got rid of your own child!

Eve excitedly touched my stomach, dramatically giving Leo a thumbs-up.

Leo glanced at Eve triumphantly:

A bets a bet. When have I ever cheated you?

To ease the awkward atmosphere, one of Leos friends pulled me down to sit, trying to smooth things over:

Rachel, youre such a good sport!

Rachel, its rare for us to get together with you. Why dont you join us today?

Leo frowned, instinctively moving to decline the invitation for me, but I cut him off coldly:

Sure, Ill play.

I really wanted to see what kind of thrilling game would make Leo abandon his own flesh and blood.

My luck was terrible; Eve and I played rock-paper-scissors multiple times, and I lost every round.

Leo, fearing Eve would propose an overly extreme dare, volunteered to drink three penalty shots in my place.

He gulped down shot after shot, stiffening his neck as he swallowed:

Rachel just had a miscarriage, Ill drink for her.

Amidst chants of Leo really cares for Rachel, Eves face grew increasingly sour.

Finally, after I lost another round of rock-paper-scissors, Eve impatiently cursed:

Whats the damn point if you keep drinking for her? Women are just so slow. How many times have I said no women at our guys gatherings!

Leo, tipsy, tried to appease Eve with a smile, but I spoke first:

I choose truth.

Eves eyes lit up, her complaints vanishing instantly, replaced by a glint of excitement.

She sneered, raising an eyebrow at me, both contemptuous and playfully venomous:

Alright, then Ill start asking.

Rachels had three abortions, so she must have been examined by plenty of male doctors. Why dont you tell us guys which male doctor had the best bedside manner and made you most comfortable? Hahahaha!

I clutched the wine glass tightly, my heart seizing up.

Those two previous children were a lifelong pain, a secret between Leo and me.

How did Eve know?

Tsk, no wonder Leo doesnt want to sleep with you. Youve been inspected down there by a bunch of men. What normal man wouldnt find that dirty? Even I, a woman, find it disgusting.

Eves grating laughter was like a sharp knife, stabbing my heart over and over.

I could no longer suppress my anger and grief. I picked up the wine glass and splashed it on Eves face.

It wasnt enough to vent my fury, so I added a slap:

It definitely feels best when Im slapping you.

Eve, mortified and furious, covered her face, her eyes wide as she glared at me.

The sudden outburst stunned everyone in the room.

Realizing what had happened, Leo furiously grabbed the back of my neck.

*Smack! Smack! Smack!* He slapped me repeatedly, left and right.

Rachel, are you f**king crazy? Its just a game, what right do you have to lay a hand on Eve!

If you cant take a joke, then dont play! Besides, Eve was just telling the truth

Leos eyes were bloodshot, and he reeked of alcohol.

He went over to Eve, carefully blowing on her swollen half-face, his eyes filled with undisguised tenderness.

As if to spite me, Leo hooked an arm around Eves shoulders and said, loud enough for everyone to hear:

Eve, you wanted to know which doctor Rachel enjoyed the most, right?

Ill tell you. The answer is the one today.

Because C Rachel has only had one proper abortion. The first two children she aborted herself!

The room erupted in a collective gasp.

Eve gasped, covering her mouth, her grin so wide it almost reached her ears:

Youre not kidding me, are you? Rachel is crazy, she actually aborted herself!

Youre so rich, why would she abort herself? Is she a psychopath, or just seeking thrills? She really knows how to play!

Eyes fell on me, some with shock, some with contempt.

Shes had three abortions, her uterus must be completely ruined. Do you think Rachel can still have kids?

If she cant, theres always our Eve! Leo can have kids with Eve. Eves probably still a virgin. What can that slut compare to?

Eve bounced over to the man who spoke, playfully punching him twice:

Oh, stop it! Leo and I are just buddies, okay? No kids!

But youre right about one thing, I am pure

Eve rarely showed such shyness.

Leo ruffled her hair, smiling dotingly, and everyone else burst into laughter.

Looking at their disgusting, laughing faces, I nearly threw up.

Tears touched my swollen skin, sending waves of sharp, stinging pain through me. I shook my head frantically, trying to dislodge those painful memories.

But memories, like a tidal wave, engulfed me.

When I was eighteen, I got into college.

The orphanage couldnt pay my tuition, so I had to work at a auto repair shop.

But the meager wages couldnt cover my tuition and living expenses, and I started thinking about dropping out.

Leo, who was also an apprentice at the repair shop, cornered me against a wall, his eyes red as he promised:

Keep studying, Ill support you.

From then on, Leo repaired cars during the day, hauled bricks at night, and did manual labor late into the night.

In the prime of his youth, he almost burned himself out for me.

Every time we met, besides giving me money, he only told me to study hard, never once complaining.

When he heard I was being bullied by classmates, Leo rushed into the school with a knife and stabbed himself three times in front of everyone, blood splattering everywhere.

He said:

Anyone who dares to bully Rachel again, this is what happens. Id even stab myself, what else wouldnt I dare to do?

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

I grew up in an orphanage, starved for love since childhood.

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

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

In that thirty-dollar rundown motel, I confessed my feelings to Leo, clinging to him and trying again and again.

Later, that became our regular spot.

He was like a wild wolf, always fiercely breaking through the cheap condoms.

Because of that, I got pregnant twice.

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

I blindly swallowed expired abortion pills, then deliberately tumbled down the stairs.

Once wasn't enough, so twice, then three times.

This method was incredibly cruel to both me and the baby.

Leo hated himself for it. To avoid harming me again, he even underwent a vasectomy at a black market clinic, almost losing his ability to conceive altogether.

He said he owed me for life.

He would work twice as hard, pushing himself to the limit.

He would make me happier than anyone else, ensuring Id never live through such hardship again.

Life did get better, but Leos heart changed.

The lifelong pain I dared not touch had now become his talking point.

As long as it made Eve smile, he didnt mind stabbing me again and again in my most vulnerable spot.

I furiously grabbed a wine bottle and smashed it over Leos head:

Game over.

Get out, all of you, get out!

Leos friends tactfully dispersed, and Eve was reluctantly pulled away.

Leo was knocked unconscious by my blow and didn't wake up until noon the next day.

He clutched his head in pain, dimly recalling what happened yesterday.

Leo took my hand and hit his own face with it:

Honey, drunks dont know what theyre doing.

Slap me back, I promise I wont fight back. As for the abortion thing Ill go clarify it for you right away. With me around, lets see whose dead mouth dares to spread rumors.

Looking at Leos shameless demeanor, I calmly said:

Lets get a divorce.

Leo smiled helplessly, his pinky finger lightly hooking my strands of hair.

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

His phone rang.

Leo glanced at the caller ID, quickly pulled his hand away, and answered.

Eve, whats wrong?

What else? I lost a dare. I tell you, Im pretty unlucky this time, the punishment is to get a room with one of the guys, and we have to go all the way!

Theyre all laughing, saying I wouldnt dare, but you know me, I always honor a bet! I choose you to get the room with.

Leos breathing hitched. He looked up, observing my expression, then quickly refused:

Dont be reckless, you idiot. Just forfeit.

You dont want to? Humph, then Ill find someone else~

Leo panicked, immediately agreeing without thinking:

Eve, I dare you! Send me the hotel location, Ill be right there.

Leo anxiously slipped on his shoes, not even bothering to look at me:

Eve is naive and overly competitive. If I dont go, shell definitely be taken advantage of by some other guy.

Dont worry, honey, Ill go talk some sense into her, Ill definitely convince her not to do it!

I followed Leos car, tailing him all the way to the hotel.

Posing as his wife, I got a room key, then burst in, phone in hand.

*Click! Click!* I captured both of them, faces flushed and stark naked.

When she saw me taking pictures, Eve shrieked:

Rachel, delete those photos right now! Leo and I were just doing a Truth or Dare punishment. Cant you be less petty?!

Leo, his face red, pulled the blanket to cover his lower body, stammering an explanation to me:

Eve is too stubborn, she insisted on completing the dare. I couldnt help it

But dont worry, I only see her as a buddy. This is a one-time thing, absolutely no next time.

Listen, Rachel, delete the photos. Eve is still a girl, how will she ever get married if these get out?

I couldn't help but laugh.

Caught red-handed in bed, and he's still calling them good buddies.

I calmly tucked my phone into my pocket.

Seeing I was unmoved, Leos face gradually darkened.

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

It was the video of me falling down the stairs to abort myself when I was eighteen.

Leo had secretly kept this video on his phone, captioned Lifelong Regret.

Whenever he got too tired from working hard, he'd watch it once to motivate himself.

Watching it always gave him the drive to keep going.

Now, that former regret had become a bargaining chip to threaten me.

Rachel, if you dare to spread those photos, Ill post this video online! Everyone will see your ugly state of secretly getting an abortion, how you killed your own flesh and blood!

Through my tears, I smiled calmly:

Dont worry, I wont spread it.

Im not here to fight the other woman, nor am I here to break up you two loving besties.

I just want to keep some evidence. In court, it might help with our asset division.

With that, I turned and walked away without a trace of hesitation.

In the empty, themed suite, Eve pouted, rolling her eyes as she asked:

Hey, is she really serious this time?

Leo instinctively shook his head:

No way! Shes an orphan, no family, no home. Where could she go without me?

Ill contact the hospital right away to arrange the next IVF. Rachel loves children so much, shell calm down immediately.

Leo called the hospital, but the nurse on the other end responded with confusion:

Dont you know? After the last abortion surgery, Rachel completely lost her ability to conceive.