Chapter 2

Asher hadn't returned to the room for the whole night. Bettina couldn't be bothered to care.

As dawn broke, Bettina asked the servants to pack up her things in her room.

Her wardrobe was spacious, filled with the gifts Asher had given her over the years.

Now that she was leaving, she decided to give up those things and donate them all.

As Asher came back with Betsy, Bettina was picking up a diamond bracelet from a box.

Asher had handcrafted it for their first wedding anniversary, engraved with their names.

She hesitated about whether to take it with her when a hand snatched it away.

"Wow, this bracelet is so beautiful! Asher..."

"If you like it, keep it." Asher didn't ask Bettina and put the bracelet around Betsy's wrist.

Bettina frowned and said, "Asher, have you forgotten that bracelet is..."

Before she could remind Asher that it was an anniversary gift, he interrupted her. "It's just a bracelet. If Betsy wants it, she can have it. I'll buy you a new one."

So was it just a bracelet?

Bettina gave a bitter smile.

Anyway, Asher had forgotten about it, so it didn't matter that he gave it to Betsy.

Asher looked at the jewelry in the room and asked curiously, "Why have you suddenly started packing all these things?"

"Nothing. There's too much, so I thought I would donate it." As Bettina replied, she took out a jade pendant from a sandalwood box on the table.

It was the only thing her mother had left her before passing away. She intended to take it with her.

"Bettina, this pendant is so good-looking. Can I borrow it?"

Bettina instinctively tightened her grip on the pendant. "Sorry, but it is my mother's keepsake."

"Really? But I just really like it so much. People say jade brings good luck and protection, and I just want to ensure my and Asher's baby can be born safely."

"It is just an old thing. Why can't you lend it?" Asher's tone grew impatient, and he directly reached out to snatch the pendant from Bettina's hand. "Let Betsy wear it. It's no big deal."

His words shocked her.

"Asher, do you know what you're saying? This is the only keepsake my mother left me."

She refused to lend it, but Bettina insisted on wearing it. As they struggled, the pendant fell to the floor and shattered into pieces.

Asher frowned and attempted to explain. "Betty..."

Bettina looked at the broken pendant on the floor and crouched down while trembling. She picked up the pieces one by one.

The sharp fragments cut her fingers.

As the crimson blood flowed, tears welled up in Bettina's eyes.

"Mom..." She suppressed the pain in her heart, looked up, and glared fiercely at Asher. "Get out!"

"Bettina, don't be mad. It's all my fault. I won't wear it. Okay? I didn't recognize my position. I'm just a surrogate mother. I was not entitled to these things. Forgive me, please. Don't be angry with Asher. I'll compensate you with another one if you want."

Betsy walked up to Bettina and pitifully held Bettina's hand, only to be pushed away forcefully by Bettina.

"Can you compensate? How will you compensate? Didn't you understand my words? It was a keepsake. Don't you know what it means?

"Ah!" Betsy stepped back, and her lower back hit the cabinet. She cried out in pain. "It hurts. My belly..."

"Betsy!" Asher's face turned extremely grim.

He grabbed Bettina's arm and forcefully pushed her against the wall. "Bettina, are you insane? Betsy is pregnant, and how dare you push her?"

He glared at her and pointed at the jade pendant, which Bettina carefully held, and roared, "It's just a pendant. What's the big deal? Do you want me to send it to your mom in another world? So she can wear it there. Right?"

His words completely broke Bettina's heart.

Looking at the man before her, she felt for the first time that her marriage had been nothing but a joke, although they had been married for years.

"Asher! Get out!" In a fit of anger and desperation, she grabbed a vase from the table and hurled it at Asher with all her strength. "Get out! Both of you, get out!"

Before the vase hit Asher, Betsy quickly shielded him.

The vase struck her shoulder, and she cried out in pain, "Ah! Asher, are you okay?"

"Betsy!" Seeing her rush over, Asher hurriedly embraced her and examined her with concern. "Are you alright?"

Betsy whimpered, "My belly hurts! My whole body hurts!"

"Don't be afraid. I'll take you to the hospital." Asher held Betsy in his arms and rushed out. But before leaving, he glanced back at Bettina. "You're too reckless. You'd better hope the baby is unharmed, or..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but Bettina knew if anything happened to his baby, he might kill her.

She never imagined that after they had been married for five years, it would be reduced to such a tragic end.

Tears fell onto the jade pendant in her palm, and Bettina sobbed. "Mom, I regret marrying Asher. I really regret it."