The doctor handed me the consent form for the procedure. My hands trembled as I signed, each stroke of the pen feeling like it drained all the strength from my body.

Two hours later, the procedure was over. By the time I opened the ward's door, there would be no sign of Sean left in my womb. I cried quietly as my heart ached while lying numb from the anesthesia on the hospital bed.

Sean got the news from somewhere, rushed into the ward like crazy and hugged me. "Nicki! Why didn't you tell me you were pregnant? Why did you have an abortion without telling me? It was our child!"

I struggled free from his embrace. "Sean, you have no right to talk about the baby. Do you even realize what you've done?"

Panic flashed across Sean's face for the first time. "Nicki, are you listening to rumors? I've never done anything to hurt you!"

Even now, he was still lying. I pulled out my phone and showed him the provocative message Yelena had sent me.

Sean's eyes widened in shock. His face turned ashen as he saw the damning "evidence" from his mistress.

Fury burned in my eyes as I hurled the phone at him. "Sean, I trusted you! I gave up my career for you, treating you as my only family. And this ... this is how you repay me? With betrayal?"

He collapsed to his knees with a thud, sweat dripping from his forehead. "Nicki. I was blinded by lust, I made a terrible mistake. Please, give me another chance."

I shook my head firmly. "Impossible. I'm done with your lies."

Sean had just undergone surgery and was weak but insisted on kneeling. After three hours, he fainted.

Yelena showed up shortly after, having caught wind of what happened. She gritted her teeth, glaring at me with resentment. She glanced at the unconscious Sean. Her eyes sparkled with smug triumph.

"Nicole Sawyer, you're finally getting it. The one he doesn't love is just a side chick. If your child were born, it would just be an illegitimate child. At least you've got the sense to hit him."

Before I could say anything, she dropped to her knees and started slapping herself.

"Ma'am, it's all my fault. I was delusional and I foolishly tried to get involved with Mr. Cadwell. If you need to hit or punish someone, let it be me. Just ... don't make me abort my child!"

Her twisted words enraged me. I raised my hand to slap her, but the sober Sean grabbed my wrist.

"Nicki, she's pregnant. Don't do anything rash!"