Part 2Beneath the Love Fool, The Career Supporter’s Script

Adrian came to the hospital every day. And every day, he’d get a phone call and rush out.

I knew he was going to see Seraphina.

But he was a master of deception. No matter how late it was, he always came back to my room, curling up on the small cot beside my bed, his arm draped over me as we slept.

Once, as he was about to leave, he paused, his hand gently resting on my stomach. "Daddy will be right back," he whispered.

Suddenly, the sight of him was repulsive. I was done being polite.

"Why don't you take the fruit basket in my room to Miss Rowe?" I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "Since you clearly can't bear to be away from her."

The expression on his face shattered. He just stared at me, speechless.

"Let's not fight," he finally managed. "The baby can hear us."

I slapped him. The sound was sharp in the quiet room.

"Does our baby know his father almost got him killed for his old flame?"

Adrian’s fists clenched at his sides. He looked at me, his eyes pleading.

Just then, his phone rang. It was Seraphina.

"Adrian," she cooed, her voice a seductive purr. "My stitches tore open again. It hurts so much..."

He could never resist her. He stood up and left without another word.

I turned my face away, refusing to watch him go.

A moment later, a text came in from Mr. Sterling, one of the company’s biggest clients. He wanted to discuss a new contract. Sterling was generous, but he had one flaw: he loved to seal deals over copious amounts of alcohol.

The System warned me: if I went, I would get dangerously drunk. And I was pregnant. I couldn't drink.

My face was a cold mask. I knew the risks. Adrian had lectured me endlessly about them.

But I didn't care.

"I'm leaving this world soon anyway," I told the System. "This baby was never meant to be born."

It wasn't a product of love; it was a byproduct of lust. It didn't need my protection. Besides, landing Sterling's contract would be a massive boost for the company. It would push Adrian’s career progress to 99%.

I went to the dinner. I drank until everyone was satisfied, and I walked away with a signed contract.

I threw up three times on the way home, my stomach burning like it was on fire.

When I opened the front door, I heard Adrian's voice, happier than I'd heard it in a long time.

"I bought so many little outfits for the baby today, and a stroller! We need to start setting up the nursery..."

Then he smelled the alcohol on me.

His voice died in his throat. The pressure in the room dropped ten degrees. His face was grim as he carefully helped me to a chair. He took off my makeup, wiped my face with a warm cloth, forced a glass of hangover soup down my throat, and called the family doctor.

"You know you can't drink while you're pregnant!" he finally roared, his hands gripping my jaw, forcing me to look at him. His eyes burned with fury, but underneath, they shimmered with a thin layer of tears.

I patted his cheek and laughed.

"I was out there securing your kingdom for you and Seraphina," I slurred. "Why pretend to be so concerned? Deep down, you're probably hoping I drink myself to death so you can finally give your precious old flame her rightful place, right?"

He lunged forward and kissed me, trying to silence my vicious words.

I shoved him away with all my strength.

"Don't touch me," I spat. "You're filthy. While I was entertaining clients for you, where were you?"

His face went white.

I pulled out my phone and opened a message Seraphina had sent me earlier that day. It was a photo of the two of them. She was in a hospital bed with an IV in her arm, and Adrian was asleep in the chair beside her.

On his forehead was the clear imprint of a lipstick kiss.

"It's not what it looks like!" he said, his voice frantic. "I just... I hate her for what she did. I just wanted to see her brought low!"

I closed my eyes and unleashed a torrent of insults, calling him pathetic, a fool, a dog returning to its own vomit—all the things I knew would cut him the deepest. After seven years, we knew each other's weaknesses perfectly.

He stormed out of the house. Less than thirty minutes later, Seraphina posted a new photo on social media.

Two hands, intertwined. The caption read: "He's back where he belongs."