Chapter 2: Child, Abort
The next day.
Parking lot outside the Marriage Registry Office.
William sat in his Maybach, lightly tapping the steering wheel with his left hand.
"William, you and Amelia have been married for a year now. You should hurry up and have a baby." An elderly voice came through the phone.
William's face relaxed, showing some helplessness, yet he remained patient.
He said, "Grandma, we're still young, there's no rush. Grandma, what you need to do now is take good care of yourself, and Grandpa, he..."
"How can you not rush?" His grandmother Cleo interrupted, "Your grandpa is doing much better now, but we're both getting old. Who knows when we'll close our eyes for good."
"Grandma..."
Cleo said seriously, "Don't try to change the subject. I've heard the rumors too. You can't bully Amelia."
William fell silent for three seconds.
Until Cleo pressed, "Did you hear me?"
Only then did he rub his temples and respond, "I know, Grandma."
After a few more pleasantries, William hung up.
His fingers still unconsciously tapping the steering wheel, William looked toward the Marriage Registry Office in the distance.
His lips pressed tight.
He opened his phone's message list.
His finger lightly brushed past the florist's avatar labeled "Love" and scrolled down, clicking into the chat with "Amelia."
The last message was him telling her the time and meeting place for their divorce appointment at the Marriage Registry Office this morning.
She hadn't arrived yet.
Frowning slightly, he sent her a message.
William: [Where are you?]
The next moment, someone knocked on the car window. William saw Amelia's slightly pale face outside.
Amelia opened the door and got into the passenger seat.
She glanced at him.
He was still wearing yesterday's outfit, the one she had put together for him.
Over all these years, she had prepared everything for him, from small things like cologne and ties to custom-made shirts and suits—she handled it all.
"Why so late?" he asked.
Amelia looked away.
"I'm not late," she answered.
Just not as early as before, when she would wait foolishly for ages because of something he said.
William's unconsciously tapping hand paused slightly, his brow furrowing as he looked at her.
She looked paler. Probably didn't sleep well last night after he brought up the divorce.
But it wasn't anything serious.
"Grandma just called me," William looked away and said, "Don't tell the elderly about our divorce. They're getting old and can't handle this kind of shock."
Amelia didn't agree right away, only asking, "What did Grandma say on the phone?"
"She's pushing us to have kids." William's eyes narrowed, a flash of impatience crossing them.
Then came a long silence.
After a few minutes, Amelia finally let out a soft laugh.
William clenched his left hand into a fist, eyes fixed on the window, saying nothing.
He had thought about what his child would look like, when they would be born.
When being intimate with Amelia, he had even gently stroked her belly, whispering in her ear, "Amelia, when will you give me a child?"
But...
She wasn't pregnant anyway.
They'd remarry in six months, and it wouldn't be too late then.
Isabella only had six months left.
People came and went outside the car. After about three more seconds.
Amelia spoke, "One last time, William. Are you going to divorce me?"
"Want to back out?" This time he was truly angry.
Isabella was still waiting for him at home.
Getting his confirmation once again, Amelia said nothing more, just took out a document and handed it to William.
William frowned as he took it. It was a property division agreement.
"Since we're getting divorced, let's make things clear."
She said, "From the Brown family's assets, I'll only take what I'm entitled to."
"During the divorce cooling-off period, whatever money we each earn belongs to ourselves."
As she spoke, Amelia took out a pen and placed it beside him.
"If there are no problems, sign it," she said.
The more William read, the deeper his frown became.
The standard contract was simple and clear. She really wasn't taking much. Her column already had her signature.
He didn't understand what she meant.
It was just a fake divorce—why was this contract necessary?
Isabella only had six months left.
After spending Isabella's final time with her, he would still be with Amelia as before, under his family's watchful eyes.
In William's mind, Amelia couldn't live without him.
Her bottom line was very low.
He had been annoyed with her before, deliberately making her do things that meant giving up herself.
She never refused.
She would even come to him with the results, smiling as she said, "William, look, I did it. Aren't I great?"
She was a very compliant marriage partner. Over seven years, he had verified this countless times.
If it weren't for Isabella, his marriage might have continued this calmly forever.
But...
Isabella's miserable yet stubborn face when coughing up blood appeared before his eyes, and he ached so much he could barely breathe.
William glanced at the car window beside him.
Reflected in the window was Amelia's face, showing neither joy nor sorrow.
Was she trying to threaten him?
After all, she had once used some fabricated records to frame Isabella.
She hated Isabella.
He picked up the pen.
William signed his name in his column with a flourish.
No one could threaten him!
Two copies.
Amelia took her copy.
Then.
Got out of the car.
Took a number.
Submitted the documents.
Filled out the "Divorce Application."
Each collected their "Receipt," and after the cooling-off period, they would come back again to get the divorce certificate.
After going through the whole process, the two walked out of the Marriage Registry Office.
The sun was already high in the sky.
Sunlight shone warmly on Amelia.
William watched the crowds coming and going.
Those coming to marry and those divorcing were easy to tell apart.
A couple came out holding hands.
The woman's face wore a sweet smile.
He vaguely remembered that a year ago, when they came to register their marriage, Amelia had worn that same smile.
William glanced at Amelia.
Her face still showed neither joy nor sorrow.
"During these days of divorce, I'll still transfer money to your account," he said. "Don't tell Grandpa and Grandma about our divorce."
Having said that, without waiting for her response, he left.
She watched his car turn the corner and disappear.
Then her taxi arrived.
The two cars drove off in completely opposite directions.
One drove to Floral Haven flower studio.
One drove to Shadow City Hospital.
William opened the door to Floral Haven. Isabella saw him and smiled in greeting.
He took out the receipt and said to Isabella, "It's done. She didn't make much fuss."
At the same time, Amelia, holding her pre-booked appointment number, walked into the gynecology department.
She sat across from the doctor.
The doctor drew the curtain.
"Amelia, do you really want to abort this baby?"
Her friend and doctor Mia Wilson asked with concern, "Didn't you always want to get pregnant? You even came to me before to help regulate your body."
Amelia placed the receipt on the table beside her.
"Yes," Amelia said calmly. "Let's do it. I don't want it anymore."