Chapter 4 Dr. Clark, I Want to Abort This Child
Gloria was like liquor—strong and fierce.
It burned like a blade cutting through your throat as it went down, yet it left you wanting more.
She had a natural wildness about her that made every man who saw her want to conquer her.
James knew this all too well, which was why he was so eager to grow strong enough to shield her from the storm and keep others from coveting her.
He was finally able to protect her properly, so why was he the one who drove her away in the end?
James stayed in their marital home, his fingertips brushing over each piece of jewelry.
He could almost see Gloria in her beautiful dress, twirling in front of him.
While everyone else thought she was as dazzling yet thorny as a rose, only he knew how gentle and sweet Gloria was with him, how well-behaved she could be.
He lit a cigarette, then quickly put it out.
Even with Gloria not by his side, he didn't want to dirty their bedroom.
He returned to his study, where his assistant John Davis reminded him. "Mrs. Williams checked into the Crystal Peaks Hotel. We just received word that Mrs. Williams has been contacting people in the entertainment industry—she wants to make a comeback."
James tapped his cigarette ash, white smoke obscuring his face and the emotion in his eyes. "Leak some information. Don't let her get any roles."
John was stunned. After following James for so many years, he knew James would practically pull down the moon for Gloria.
"Mr. Williams, Mrs. Williams is angry right now. Instead of trying to win her back, you're blocking her. Aren't you afraid you'll push Mrs. Williams further away?"
"I'm going to force her to come back. She's been away for three years—the entertainment industry has completely changed. All these years I've pampered her; how could she handle the harsh realities out there? Soon she'll realize I'm the one who loves her most in this world, that only I can provide the warmest shelter."
As the smoke cleared, it revealed James's ice-cold face.
John suddenly understood that the James beside him wasn't just a man who doted on his wife—he was a king who wielded power.
What in this world works better than power?
"John, warn that Maria to behave herself. If there's a next time, I won't let her off."
The coldness in his words sent a chill down John's spine. "Understood."
Gloria settled into the hotel, reflecting on how these past few years her world had consisted of nothing but James and trying to get pregnant.
Even though she'd retired at the peak of her career, she had no regrets.
Putting all her hopes in a man was a foolish mistake from the start.
She called several directors, but was turned away by all of them.
Only now did Gloria understand that from the moment James coaxed her into leaving the entertainment industry, he had completely blocked her retreat.
He would never give her a chance to make a comeback. He only wanted to keep her as a pet.
Not long ago, he'd transferred all her money under the pretense of needing cash flow. Now Gloria only had fifty thousand dollars left in her account.
She could afford the presidential suite for three more nights.
James wanted to force her home within three days!
The late autumn wind blew in from the terrace, sending a chill through her body.
Her husband had been using his business tactics on her all along.
That was why he felt so secure having a child with someone else.
Did he think that by cutting off all her escape routes, she'd be unable to struggle and could only let him manipulate her?
Gloria was grateful he didn't know about her pregnancy yet. Otherwise, he'd decide to keep both children, making the divorce even more impossible.
James and Maria's relationship was definitely not just nine months old. From pregnancy to childbirth, Maria would use the child as an excuse to contact James again and again.
Just like when he was photographed on set and Maria's appearance at the office yesterday—none of it was coincidental. Maria was testing the waters.
If Gloria lowered her standards and accepted this once, she'd have to endure this toxic relationship.
Getting involved with Maria was like dealing with a resilient cockroach.
Not fatal, but disgusting enough to make Gloria's skin crawl.
Who could guarantee that James, who loved her today, wouldn't fall in love with his child's mother someday in the future?
Was she supposed to compete with Maria for James's affection? Spend the rest of her life in misery?
Gloria made a difficult decision. If he wouldn't abort Maria's baby, then she would have to abort her own.
She was done giving up everything for a man and ending up as his pet.
This child would become the final chain locking her down, trapping her in that villa for life, obediently waiting for James's favor.
Gloria touched her still-flat belly, sighing. "I'm so sorry, little one. Being in someone like me—you're really getting the short end of the stick."
After learning she was pregnant, she'd practically worn out a dictionary at home.
She'd thought of over a hundred names, each carrying all her beautiful hopes and wishes. But in the end, none of them would be used.
"Little one, I brought you into this world only to take you away with my own hands. In your next life, you must choose carefully—don't pick an irresponsible mother like me again, okay?"
On her first night away from James, Gloria couldn't sleep.
Nights like this made it too easy to forget his faults and remember his good points, reason and emotion battling in her mind.
She saw that James had posted something.
A cat nestled in James's arms, his visible hand gently soothing the meowing tabby cat, a prominent scar on his hand.
Caption: [Missing Mom.]
Gloria watched the few-second video over and over, her heart feeling torn apart by a sharp blade.
James, this man who understood her better than she understood herself.
He knew exactly how to manipulate her.
Mittens was a stray cat she'd found years ago. At the time, wild dogs were attacking a litter of kittens. When Gloria tried to rescue them, a wild dog lunged at her.
In that critical moment, James arrived. The dog bit into his hand, leaving that scar.
Remembering how his blood had flowed freely while he still tried to comfort her with such tenderness.
Gloria's nose stung, and she gripped her phone tightly.
Just then, she saw that Maria had liked his post.
James and Gloria had matching profile pictures—his showed him offering roses, hers showed her holding the bouquet he'd given her.
At some point, Maria had changed her profile picture to match the same composition as Gloria's.
Gloria felt disgusted and immediately changed everything related to him.
James suddenly noticed that his pinned contact "My Beloved Darling Wife" now had a blank profile picture.
He clicked on it. Gloria's nickname had changed to a period.
Her status had changed too.
Early the next morning, Gloria appeared at the hospital, startling Laura.
Gloria's face was deathly pale, with dark circles under her eyes. Her eyes were slightly red at the corners—she must have been crying, which made her voice hoarse. "Dr. Clark, I want to abort this baby."
