Chapter 1
My husband, Eric, was on a business trip abroad when he got caught in a terrorist attack.
Everyone started calling me.
The embassy reached out, asking me to come in for discussions.
Even Eric’s family and colleagues bombarded me with calls, inquiring about the situation–some even offered to help bring him back, free of charge.
I had just come out of the delivery room, yet I calmly hung up on call after call.
After all, when Eric saw the news of his ex–girlfriend, Aria, a war correspondent, caught in the crossfire of a terror attack, he left me–his pregnant wife–to fly over and make sure she was safe.
Back then, I was leaking amniotic fluid, clutching my swollen belly, and I asked him:
“Are you really going to abandon your wife and unborn daughter to go into a war zone? Eric, if you go, I will not be responsible for the consequences.
Eric had taken all our bank books and passports and shouted at me, “You and the baby aren’t going to die anytime soon–she, on the other hand, could be dead the next second!”
“You’re just giving birth. Haven’t you always been
strong?” With that, he slammed the door and left.
So, if he’s the one throwing his life away, why should I save him?
Eric loved watching international news. I never understood why–until two days ago when a news report aired.
A female war correspondent had been captured by terrorists during an interview.
The footage lasted only a second, but I recognized her immediately–Aria, the most famous anchor on the international channel.
At that moment, I was nine months pregnant, about to go into labor. Sitting in a rocking chair in the living room, I rested my hand on my belly and felt a pang of sympathy for the journalist.
The next second, Eric knocked over the fruit bowl in a panic.
He stood up so quickly that his knee slammed into the corner of the coffee table.
The impact looked so painful that even I winced, but Eric didn’t seem to feel a thing.
He staggered into the kitchen for a glass of water but accidentally hit the hot water button, scalding himself so badly he dropped the glass, shattering
- it.
Ignoring his reddened, burned skin, he rushed into the bedroom and slammed the door shut behind him.
An hour later, Eric finally emerged.
“I… I have to go on a business trip.”
I slowly stood up, hand still resting on my belly.
“Eric, my due date is in the next couple of days. I could go into labor at any time. It’s not a good time for a trip. What if the contractions start suddenly?”
“You know my mother died in childbirth with my younger brother. I’m genuinely terrified of giving birth.”
“Didn’t you say the thing you were most looking forward to was being the first person our daughter saw when she opened her eyes?”
Eric’s face paled, but after a moment, he said, “This trip is really important to me–I have to go. But don’t worry, I’ll definitely be back before you give birth.”
I gave him a broken smile.
11 and His Wife Owe Me 400K
Chapter 1
Even though the pain in my belly was already sharp and spasmodic, and fluid was trickling down my legs like a faucet had been turned on.
“Ill agree. But Eric, I want you to know–whatever consequences come from this trip, you’ll face them alone. I won’t bear any of it for you.
Maybe my expression was too solemn, because Eric’s body trembled slightly.
Then, as if swearing an oath, he said, “Don’t worry, I’ll come back safely.”
With that, he rushed into the room, hastily packed a few items of clothing, and shoved on his shoes, ready to leave.
Just as he was about to walk out the door, I couldn’t stop myself. I softened and called out to him.
“Eric, wait a second.”
He turned back, visibly irritated.
“Didn’t you already say I could go? Why are you calling me back now?”
Clutching my hand tightly into a fist, the pain in my belly intensifying, I remained calm.
“You forgot your passport.”
I dragged my body, still leaking amniotic fluid, back into the bedroom.
I brought him his passport, and then handed him a bank card.
That card held every paycheck Eric had transferred to me over the seven years of our marriage.
His hand trembled slightly as he took the passport and the card, and even his eyes began to redden.
