Chapter 1
At the James family's villa.
"Hackett, when are you coming back? I have something to tell you." Valeria Sharp's face lit up with a sweet smile as she looked down at the pregnancy test stick in her hand. On the other end of the phone, a man's voice replied in a deep tone, "I'm already back. I'm in the living room."
"Really? Then I'm coming down," she said and hung up the phone, rushing out of the bedroom with the pregnancy test stick, eager to share the good news with the man.
Valeria hurriedly ran down the stairs but suddenly remembered that she was pregnant, which caused her to slow down her pace. She tightly held the pregnancy test stick in her hand, wondering Hackett James's expression when he found out. Valeria was halfway up the stairs when she saw two figures standing in the living room downstairs. It was Hackett with a voluptuous woman.
Valeria slowly stopped in her tracks, gripping the staircase railing with her right hand, her heart sinking.NôvelDrama.Org content.
Hackett and that woman acted very intimately, like a couple in love.
Valeria's smile froze instantly, her mind in chaos, and her feet felt as heavy as stones as she descended the steps.
"Hackett..."
Valeria reached the living room with great difficulty, but the man coldly interrupted her before she could say anything. "She's pregnant. Let's get a divorce." "What?"
This was so straightforward, so impatient, just like how Valeria was impatient to share the news of her pregnancy.
The woman affectionately held Hackett's arm and smiled, saying softly, "Mrs. James, sorry about that, but I guess you need to step aside now."
Valeria stared fixedly at the woman's hand, her gaze dimmed, her eyes filled with mist, her heart being torn apart bit by bit.
Valeria clenched the pregnancy test stick and handed it to him. Then, she asked, "What about our child? Why are you so heartless?"
Hackett glanced coldly at the two lines on the pregnancy test stick and sneered. "That's impossible. I've never even touched you. Don't try to deceive me with that."
If it weren't for Barron James being critically ill at the time and threatening Hackett to marry Valeria, Hackett would never have married her.
Who would have known that after he married Valeria, Barron would miraculously recover?
Sometimes, Hackett even suspected that Valeria and Barron had conspired and staged a play to force him into marriage.
His words widened Valeria's eyes. Shock was written all over her face as she loudly retorted, "You did touch me! You got drunk at the company celebration last time..."
"The company celebration was held out of town. You weren't even with me! How could I sleep with you, Valeria? Be civilized, will you? You know I can't stand clingy women." Hackett was heartless to the extreme, his eyes revealing impatience.
"I..."
Valeria wanted to say something, but seeing his attitude, she didn't want to explain anything anymore.
"Well..." she murmured inwardly. "There's no point in saying anything to this kind of scum who abandons his wife and child."
"Mrs. James, you should get a divorce. Hackett doesn't love you, and dragging this on is pointless."
The woman coquettishly leaned on Hackett's shoulder, her triumphant smile like a declaration of victory.
Valeria took a deep breath, suppressing the pain in her chest, and looked at the man before her. "Then let's get a divorce. You can decide when to proceed with the formalities, and I'll be ready anytime." After saying that, she left the villa without looking back.
As Valeria turned around, tears welled up in her eyes. She never wanted to see this man again.
A faint surprise flashed across Hackett's handsome face. He didn't expect her to agree so quickly. Was she unable to handle the excitement?
He thought Valeria would be greedy for wealth and fame and never let go of her position as his wife.
After all, Valeria came from a poor family before marrying into the James family.
"Wow! Hackett, your wife agreed to a divorce! So when are you going to marry me and bring me home?" The woman looked expectant.
Hackett pushed the woman away, his eyes filled with disgust. "That's impossible. Even if all the women in the world died, I would never marry you."
The woman froze, clearly unable to accept his change in attitude.
"Hackett, why are you saying this? I'm carrying your child, I..." she started to say.
"Shut up! Do you think I don't know whose child you're carrying? Get the hell out of here!" Hackett shouted at the woman, then turned and walked upstairs.
How could he let this kind of woman bear his child? That was ridiculous.
After leaving the villa, Valeria headed straight to the hospital and underwent a series of examinations, preparing to schedule an abortion.
"Ms. Sharp, you are already seven weeks pregnant with an intrauterine pregnancy. There is already a fetal heartbeat and embryo. Are you sure you want to proceed with the abortion?" the doctor asked. Valeria looked down at her abdomen and gently touched it.
"Baby, I'm sorry," she apologized inwardly. "I can't bring you into this world."
Valeria nodded firmly and said, "Yes, please help me arrange the surgery as soon as possible."
The doctor coldly filled out the surgical form. This kind of thing was common. With women coming in for abortions every day, nothing was surprising.
"Come in for the surgery tomorrow, and remember to fast," the doctor said.
"Sure, thank you," Valeria replied.
Valeria left the doctor's office with the form in her hand.
Just as she left the hospital, she received a call from Hackett's grandfather, Barron. After hesitating for a while, she decided to answer the call. "Hello, Mr. Barron."
"Valeria, come to my house for dinner tonight. I had the kitchen prepare your favorite dishes, and Hackett will also be coming back," Barron said. Knowing that Valeria and Hackett's relationship as a couple had always been cold, Barron deliberately created this opportunity for them.
Valeria wanted to make an excuse. "Mr. James, I have something to do tonight..."
"Ah, I see. Both of you have been fooling me. I don't care. You both have to come back and have dinner with me. That's final," Barron said and then hung up the phone without allowing her to argue. Valeria stared at the ended call on her phone, lost in thought.
If it weren't for Barron's insistence, she and Hackett would never have gotten married. She still didn't understand why Barron had insisted on their marriage.
In the evening, as night fell, the entire city was enveloped in a bustling night scene.
Valeria took a taxi back to the old mansion to pay one last visit, knowing that there might not be another chance.
The butler immediately spotted her and approached with joy. "Madam, you've finally returned. Mr. James has been waiting for you."
"Ernest, I'm sorry for coming back late." She smiled weakly.
"It's alright, as long as you're back. Mr. James was worried you wouldn't come back," Ernest replied.
Valeria made her way to the dining room and found that Hackett was already seated there, not even looking at her.
Only Barron stood to greet her. "Valeria, come sit here quickly. The food is getting cold."
Valeria walked over, intending to sit next to Barron, but Barron forcefully sat her next to Hackett.
"You two should sit together. Now, let's eat," Barron said, looking satisfied as he watched them sit together.
Hackett still couldn't be bothered to look at Valeria beside him and began to eat his meal.