Chapter 2

Even when talking to me, Ashton's eyes never left his phone.

His fingers kept typing, and his eyes occasionally flashed with laughter.

Some fragments flashed through my mind.

On our first anniversary, Ashton had bought a mango cake.

Not wanting to waste his thoughtfulness, I tried a small bite.

But I still had an allergic reaction and passed out.

When I woke up, he was crying like a child, holding my hand and trembling.

"Elena, I'll never let you touch a mango again, and I'll never let you suffer even a little bit!"

My thoughts returned to the present. I opened my bag to find the medical report.

"I had a miscarriage."

Only then did he spare me a glance.

His tone was displeased.

"I just asked you to drink one glass of alcohol. There's a limit to jealousy—don't joke about the child."

So last night, when I was in so much pain I wanted to die, feeling helpless and desperate, in his eyes I was just being jealous and putting on an act.

I lowered my eyes and handed him the miscarriage report I'd just found.

"The baby's really gone."

"And our relationship ends here too."

I didn't even dare say "break up."

Five years ago, when my parents' company went bankrupt, I accepted Ashton's credit card to pay off debts.

From then on, I became his plaything.

Living together for five years, even having a child, but never having a title.

Ashton looked at the miscarriage report, his eyes full of disbelief.

After a moment, his gaze swept over my flat abdomen, and he pulled me into his arms.

His voice carried guilt.

"Don't be sad. Get your body healthy, and I'll get you pregnant again."

His eyes were full of sympathy as he gently patted my back.

We seemed to have returned to our former intimacy.

But only if you ignored the gardenia scent that belonged uniquely to Serena on his body.

My chest felt uncomfortable. I pushed him away, fighting nausea.

"Mr. Ashton, I'm serious."

When Ashton heard me use such a formal way of addressing him, his expression quickly turned cold.

"Making a scene again! Do you still think you're the pampered heiress you used to be? Who else can take care of you if you leave me?"

Yes, I was no longer the little princess everyone cherished.

But I clearly remembered.

In intimate moments, he would kiss my neck tenderly, his eyes overflowing with deep affection.

He would promise over and over again.

"Elena, even if your family has fallen on hard times, you're still the noblest little princess in my heart."

I clenched my fingers tightly, my lips trembling, but I couldn't say a word.

Ashton finally realized his words were too harsh. A flash of panic crossed his face.

"Don't misunderstand. Serena and I are just putting on a show. I won't abandon you."

He quickly pulled out his phone.

"What happened at the banquet was my fault. I'll unblock you right now, and I'll never block you again."

Then he pulled out an exquisite gift box from his suit pocket.

Inside was a sparkling diamond ring.

I froze.

Countless times when shopping, I couldn't help but look at rings whenever we passed a jewelry counter.

And he would pull me away without mercy.

His voice mocking.

"Elena, I'm good enough to you. People should know when to be satisfied."

The implication was that I was just his plaything.

He could pamper me, but we would never have a future together.

But now...

Looking at the ring, my body stiffened.

I let him forcefully grab my hand and slide the ring onto my middle finger.

Ashton suddenly smiled, with a victor's attitude.

"See, Elena? I told you that you can't leave me."

Before I could speak, my phone rang.

It was Serena calling me.

"Elena, Ashton's taste is really terrible!"

"He had a fifty-million-dollar diamond ring custom-made for me, but that huge rock on it is so tacky..."

"Your five-thousand-dollar freebie looks better!"