Chapter 1 Pregnant but Received a Divorce Agreement
"Congratulations, you're pregnant. You're eight weeks along, and we can already see the fetal heartbeat and embryo."
Emily Johnson looked at the pregnancy test report in her hands, her fingertips trembling slightly.
Her contract marriage with Alex Baker was set to expire in three months. Finding out she was pregnant at this time, she didn't know whether to feel happy or sad.
Her best friend Rachel Smith, who had come with her to the appointment, took the report from her hands and looked at her teasingly. "So, big-shot designer, can you still go abroad now that you're pregnant?"
Last month, she'd received an offer from a famous design company abroad. She'd planned to start a new life after divorcing Alex.
But now, this unexpected baby had thrown all her plans into chaos.
Emily forced a strained smile. "I'll go home and talk it over with Alex."
That's what she said, but deep down she had no confidence at all.
In three years of marriage, Alex had always been distant toward her, never showing even a hint of affection.
Their marriage had been a business transaction from the start.
She'd had a crush on him for years, while he needed a wife to help him deal with his family's pressure to get married.
Rather than husband and wife, they were more like business partners.
Emily clutched the report tightly. She actually wanted this baby—it was the only connection between her and Alex.
So she couldn't help pulling out her phone and calling him.
No one answered.
She tried several more times, but still no answer.
A strong sense of disappointment washed over Emily. She put down her phone and was about to leave when she spotted a familiar figure at the end of the maternity ward corridor.
Alex, in a sharp gray suit, cool and distant, was carefully supporting a delicate-looking woman as they came out of another examination room.
That woman was Grace Miller, Alex's ex-girlfriend whom Emily had seen countless times in photos hidden in his drawer.
Grace looked a bit pale, leaning weakly against Alex, her voice gentle. "Alex, I'm sorry to trouble you again, but the baby's being so difficult..."
"It's fine." Alex gently put his arm around her as they walked forward, showing a careful tenderness Emily had never seen from him.
So he could be this gentle after all.
Emily felt her heart constricting painfully.
Alex seemed to sense something and looked in her direction. Emily quickly ducked around the corner to avoid an awkward encounter.
She didn't even know what she was hiding from—she was Alex's wife, after all.
But seeing Alex being so tender with Grace, her instinct was to run away.
"What's wrong?" Rachel asked, puzzled, seeing her suddenly stop.
Emily shook her head and forced a smile. "Nothing. Let's go."
She looked back in that direction one more time.
Alex was helping Grace slowly toward the elevator, his hand gently resting on her waist. They looked as intimate as a loving couple.
Emily even suspected that the baby in Grace's belly was Alex's.
Three years ago, Baker Corporation was set up by a business partner, causing a cash flow crisis that nearly led to bankruptcy. To avoid an arranged marriage, Alex proposed to Grace in advance.
However, Grace prioritized her studies and rejected his proposal, choosing to go abroad for further education.
Heartbroken, Alex agreed to Old Mrs. Johnson's arrangement and signed a three-year marriage contract with Emily, an unremarkable second daughter of the Johnson family.
Now that Grace had returned from her studies abroad, their agreement was conveniently coming to an end.
Emily knew it was time to make room for Grace.
Emily returned to her place alone.
She hid the pregnancy report deep in a drawer, her mind replaying the image of Alex and Grace together, her thoughts in turmoil.
She didn't know whether to tell Alex about the pregnancy.
If she told him, would he feel even a hint of joy?
Emily let out a bitter laugh—even she thought the idea was too naive.
Just as she was lost in thought, the door opened gently.
Alex was home.
Emily's body stiffened. She instinctively stood up and went to greet him as usual.
Alex paused in the doorway, his narrow eyes sweeping over her before he handed her a document.
Emily looked at it—it was a divorce agreement.
Her heart felt like it had been struck by something heavy, sinking bit by bit.
Though she'd known this day would come, when the agreement actually appeared before her, she realized she was far more fragile than she'd imagined.
"The contract's almost up. Let's get divorced." Alex's voice was low and calm, without a trace of emotion.
Emily's fingertips trembled as she took the agreement, but she couldn't bring herself to open it.
Her gaze fell on the man's handsome but cold face, her throat tightening.
Finally, she managed to speak, "Alex... what if—I mean, what if I were pregnant? Would you want the baby?"
Alex frowned slightly, a flash of confusion in his eyes.
"Pregnant?" His gaze dropped to Emily's stomach. "We always used protection. How could you be pregnant?"
"I said what if." Emily lowered her head, her voice getting smaller.
Alex looked at her steadily, then after a moment, slowly said. "No."
Emily felt her heart completely shatter, all her hopes and struggles collapsing in that instant.
Seeing her face turn pale, Alex asked suspiciously, "Are you really pregnant?"
Emily shook her head, forcing a strained smile. "I was just kidding."
Only then did Alex relax, his tone somewhat annoyed. "How can you joke about something like that? You're getting more and more ridiculous."
With that, he turned and went upstairs to his study.
Emily watched his straight back, her eyes beginning to well up involuntarily.
She returned to the bedroom, pulled out her suitcase, and began packing her clothes one by one.
After finishing, she touched her belly, feeling bitter. "What should we do, baby? Daddy doesn't want us..."
Emily had grown up in a happy, harmonious family.
Her father was kind and easygoing, her mother a traditional homemaker. They rarely fought.
Emily had always thought marriage should be like her parents'—supporting and accepting each other.
So even knowing Alex didn't love her, she'd tried for three years to be a dutiful wife.
It turned out you can never warm the heart of a man who doesn't love you.
Emily didn't even look at the divorce agreement. She just signed it.