"Jade, a child that nobody wants will never be happy, even if it's born."

"You of all people should know that."

My hand trembled. A wave of cold grief washed through me.

My father never loved my mother, but she insisted on having me, convinced a baby would save the marriage. It didn't. He walked out on us without looking back.

Growing up, my mother poured every drop of her resentment onto me. She blamed me for not being a boy. She blamed me for not being charming enough to win my father's affection.

When Ferdinand and I first got together, he'd held me close, his voice aching with tenderness.

"Jade, from now on, I'm the family who loves you most."

What I didn't know was that he'd taken every wound I'd ever shared with him and handed it to his parents like ammunition.

Now they were the ones ripping open the scars, one by one.

Their voices rose and fell around me, distant and distorted.

"I know the head of OB-GYN at a private hospital. She'll handle it personally. You'll recover in no time."

I wrapped both arms around my stomach and held on.

"This is my child and Ferdinand's child. You have no right to make this call. Unless Ferdinand tells me himself that he doesn't want it."

Doris let out a cold laugh and dialed Ferdinand's number.

The wait stretched on forever.

I thought of all those late nights, tangled in the sheets, Ferdinand's breath warm against my ear.

"Jade, let's have two kids someday. One with your last name, one with mine."

He must have meant it once. He must have believed in our future, at least for a moment.

I didn't know how long I sat there before the front door opened and Ferdinand walked in.

Vera was right behind him.

I looked at Ferdinand, perfectly still, waiting for the verdict.

"Ferdinand, I'm pregnant. Your parents want me to terminate. What do you think?"

Ferdinand froze. Something unreadable moved behind his eyes as he stared at me.

Vera tugged at his sleeve.

"I spoke with the station director last night. The new program is going to be co-anchored by you and me."

"If word gets out that you have a child, it could create problems with the network."

I stared straight at Ferdinand until my eyes burned, refusing to show weakness in front of them.

Ferdinand turned away and pulled me back into the bedroom, shutting the door behind us.

He crouched in front of me and gently placed his hand on my stomach.