He Gave Our Baby Away

At our engagement party, everything spiraled out of control because Rayne Russell, Axl Lane's childhood friend, and I wore the same Victorian-style dress. Axl publicly tore my dress to shreds and pushed me into the fountain.

"You've got a heart of stone. I've agreed to marry you, yet you still want to humiliate Rayne," he said.

Climbing out of the fountain, drenched, I watched Axl signal to the group of hooligans outside the door.

"They're yours now. Have fun, do whatever you want."

Surrounded by the thugs, I begged Axl for mercy, but he only shielded Rayne's eyes, saying, "Don't look, it's not worth it."

A week later, he finally remembered me and came with chocolates in hand: "As long as you stop causing trouble, we can still have our wedding."

I looked at him, expressionless: "But Axl, I don't want to marry you anymore."

He seemed surprised by my words, and seeing that I had no intention of taking the chocolates, he thrust them into my arms.

"Still upset? I only meant to scare you that day. Those guys wouldn't dare touch anyone associated with me."

"Besides, this whole mess is your fault. Why do you always have to challenge Rayne? Learn from this and don't do it again."

I said nothing, just stared at the chocolates now in my lap. Their intense sweetness overwhelmed me, irritating my sensitive airways. Quickly, I placed the chocolates on the coffee table and sat as far from them as possible.

Axl's anger flared instantly: "Keira Franklin, what does that mean? Don't make me regret showing kindness! It's just a few harmless touches; I don't mind, so why so dramatic? Let me tell you, many women would kill for the chance to be Mrs. Lane. You better learn to appreciate what's being offered."

Listening to his cold words, it felt like an invisible hand squeezed the life out of my heart. I bit my lip, trying to calm the storm inside, and spoke lightly.

"I'm allergic to nuts."

Axl hesitated, a flicker of guilt crossing his face. Seeing him avoid my gaze, I couldn't help but smirk at the irony.

Maybe out of guilt, his tone softened a little: "Keira, I..."

But I cut him off: "Rayne helped me pick the dress. I didn't know she'd also bought one."

Hearing that, Axl's expression changed quickly. He jumped up from the sofa, pointing a finger at me in anger: "You're truly despicable, still lying even now."

"Rayne already told me she mentioned liking that dress to you beforehand, hoping to wear it to witness our engagement."

"I only consider Rayne a sister. If I truly had feelings for her, would you still matter?"

At that moment, I couldn't hold back the tears any longer. They flowed freely down my cheeks. Watching me tremble silently on the sofa, Axl's eyes were full of annoyance.

"Stop pretending. I'll be staying at the office these days, you should think about things carefully."

With that, he picked up