Snowstorm of Our Past

In the third year of Ariel Slater's remarriage with Remi Callahan, she realizes that she's pregnant with his baby. As his wife, she does her utmost best to avoid getting into fights with him. Whenever Remi comes home late, Ariel no longer welcomes him home at the door. When Remi gets absolutely wasted at his business meetings, all Ariel does is command the household staff to prepare a hangover tonic for him. Remi is very busy with work, so it's rare for him to come home. Even so, Ariel doesn't use the landline in the family compound to call him. When she's eight months pregnant, Ariel discovers a tube of ointment in Remi's coat that's not hers. But she merely puts it back in his pocket without saying a word. One day, when Ariel visits the maternity hospital next to the family compound for a prenatal check-up, she comes across an incident that humiliates her to no end. Two nurses happen to walk out of a ward at that time. As they walk down the corridor, they chat among themselves. "Mr. Callahan cares about Ms. Reed a lot. The moment she gives birth to a son, he's quick to book her the best single-person ward in this hospital." "I heard that Ms. Reed is the widow of Mr. Callahan's dead mentor. He takes good care of Ms. Reed, that's for sure. Not only does he keep her company in the day, but he also refuses to go home at night. He really is a caring man." "But I heard that Mr. Callahan's wife is about to give birth. I wonder what will happen if she finds out about Mr. Callahan's antics…" Even though the nurses keep their voices low, Ariel still hears every word as clear as day. As she stares at Remi, who's speaking with his colleague, Ella Reed, while cradling her newborn, she feels her eyes reddening against her will. She decides to file for a divorce from him right there and then. This time, she will never remarry him, no matter what. Chapter 1 "Mr. Callahan, congratulations! You've got a big, healthy baby boy!" "If Ariel's having a daughter, you'd have the perfect pair!" "Ariel probably doesn't know about this child's existence, does she?" Several men stood in the hospital room, all close friends of Remi Callahan's. Hearing this, Remi's expression grew more serious. "Of course she doesn't know. And none of you are allowed to say a word to her. She's in her third trimester. She can't handle any emotional distress right now." "So when are you planning to tell her? You can't keep this hidden forever." Remi stayed silent for a moment before speaking with quiet certainty. "After she gives birth. Once she has the baby, she won't leave." "Will this make things difficult for you?" The woman lying in the hospital bed spoke softly. "Remi, I never expected anything in the first place. After losing Franklin, just being able to stay by your side and give you a child is more than enough. I don't want anything else." Remi reached out and pulled her into his arms. "Ella, I promised I'd take care of you, and I will. I just hate that you've spent the past three years hiding like this." Through the crack in the door, Ariel Slater watched him. The face that was usually so cold had gone completely soft. A bitter smile touched her lips. Three years ago, she caught Remi tangled up with Ella Reed, the widow of his fallen comrade, and demanded a divorce. She wanted a divorce. Ella threatened suicide. Between the two of them, Remi chose Ella. Three years after filing for divorce, Remi dropped everything and went south to find Ariel. When he tracked her down, he got on his knees and swore the only person he ever loved was her. He said the divorce wasn't his choice, that he was terrified Ella would actually kill herself, and he was terrified of failing his dead friend. To prove himself, he even sent Ella to another city. They had known each other for ten years and loved each other for five. Ariel couldn't let go either, so she gave in and agreed to remarry him. After they got back together, Remi threw himself into making it up to her with an intensity that bordered on obsessive. She loved butterscotch candies, so no matter how hard they were to find, he'd track someone down to bring them from out of state. She was always cold, so he pulled the lining out of his own coat to make her a thicker one. Even when he was away on assignment, he found a way to call and let her know he was safe. But she never imagined that during the past three years, he had never sent Ella away at all. He kept her close by, stayed involved, and even got her pregnant. Only now did Ariel realize how badly she had misjudged everything. Even with all the trust she gave him, even with all the love he gave back, their relationship was shattered beyond repair. A few days ago, Remi said he was going on a training exercise and wouldn't be back for a month. She believed him. If she hadn't come in for her checkup and walked right in on this scene, she would have stayed in the dark forever. The baby in her belly suddenly kicked hard twice, as if sensing her distress. She clutched her stomach and doubled over. "God, it hurts." The pain wasn't just in her stomach but in her heart too. A nurse passing by noticed something was wrong and rushed to steady her. "Ma'am, are you okay? What's wrong?" "Who's out there?" At the noise, everyone in the room turned sharply toward the door. Chapter 2 When Remi saw Ariel, he froze. He quickly put the baby back in the crib and strode toward the door. "Ariel, what are you doing here?" The other men saw her too. Their faces went pale. "Ariel?" "Ariel, let us explain! We heard Ella had a baby and came to visit. We just ran into Remi on the way and dragged him along." "That's right, Ariel. Please don't misunderstand." Even now, Remi's closest friends were covering for him. Hearing them say her name like that made Ariel feel sick. She slowly lifted her gaze to Remi. Her voice came out flat. "What about you, Remi? How do you explain this?" "Ariel, don't get upset. It's just like they said. We ran into each other by chance." "You're still lying." Her heart felt frozen, like it should have gone numb by now. But his lie still crushed her. She raised her hand and slapped him hard across the face. "You told me you were leading a month-long training exercise at the border. So what happened? Did the training get moved to the maternity ward? That was fast work, Commander." Remi's face went white. "I… Plans changed. I'm sorry, Ariel. Please calm down. You're pregnant." "It's my fault! Ms. Slater, please don't hit him anymore." Ella clutched the baby and dropped to her knees. "Remi only stayed with me because he felt sorry for me! Ms. Slater, I'm not asking for anything else. "I'm a widow. I just wanted someone to take care of me and a child to hold onto. I would never try to take your husband!" "Shut up! You already have a child with him, and you're telling me you won't take him?" Ariel raised her hand to strike Ella, but Remi caught her wrist. "Ariel, you can hit me, but don't touch Ella. She just gave birth. She's weak." Watching him defend another woman made Ariel laugh bitterly. "So this is why you said you'd be gone for a month? So you could be here with her? How can you be this shameless?" Ariel wrenched her arm free and raised her hand again. Ella scrambled up from the floor with the baby and rushed toward Remi. Ariel couldn't stop. Her hand struck the child. "Waaaah!" The baby tumbled from Ella's arms. Everyone in the room went into a panic. "My baby!" Ella sobbed as she lunged for the child. "Why would you do this? He's only four days old! You're going to be a mother yourself! How can you be so cruel?" The others rounded on Ariel. "Ariel, how could you? The baby's so small! No matter how angry you are, you can't hurt a child!" "A fall like that could cause serious damage. Mr. Callahan, we need to get a medic in here right now!" Remi turned on Ariel, furious. "I know what I did was wrong! But that's my son! My own son!" "Is he?" Tears streamed down Ariel's face as she pressed a hand to her stomach. "Then what's this?" "Sweetie, why did you stop crying? Baby! Remi, he's not breathing!" Ella's scream cut through the room. Remi panicked. "Someone get a medic! Now!" Ariel stood in the doorway, her expression blank. "Let them go. Remi, I'm giving you one last chance. It's me or Ella. My baby or hers. You can only choose one. Who do you choose?" Chapter 3 Remi frowned, looking torn. "Ariel…" "Mr. Callahan, I'll disappear with the baby! You won't have to worry about us ever again! You won't have to care even if we die! "We're not married anyway. When the baby grows up, people will mock him for being illegitimate! I might as well just take him with me and end it all!" Ella clutched the baby and moved toward the window. Remi grabbed her and held on tight. "Ella, I won't let you die. I promised Franklin I'd take care of you!" He turned to look at Ariel. "You're bringing this up now? You're out of your mind! Ella gave me a son! I'm not going to stand here and watch something happen to him! You want a divorce? Fine! I've had enough of this for the past three years anyway!" Remi rushed out with Ella in his arms. He knocked into Ariel on his way past and didn't even notice. Heavy with pregnancy, Ariel lost her balance. She stumbled backward and hit the ground hard. The pain made her vision go dark. She tried to get up but couldn't find the strength. He'd had enough? She'd had enough too. The other men saw her fall but didn't move to help. Instead, they blamed her. "Women and their jealousy." "The Commander never should have begged her to come back three years ago if it was going to end up like this." "Do you think he regrets it now? Not that he can do anything about it. She's eight months along. What's he supposed to do, make her get rid of it?" Everyone followed Ella to the clinic, leaving Ariel alone in the suddenly quiet room. Her stomach throbbed. She flagged down someone passing by and asked them to find a medic. At the clinic, Ariel's doctor, Taylor Hayes, examined her and frowned. "Ma'am, you're eight months pregnant. You need to be more careful. How did you end up falling like that?" Ariel stared at the ceiling without answering. She hadn't been careless. Remi knocked her down. "Where's Mr. Callahan? Didn't he come with you? He's always been with you for your checkups before." Taylor spoke gently. "Do you want me to call him for you?" Ariel didn't stop her. Taylor dialed quickly. "Hello, Mr. Callahan. Mrs. Callahan just came to the clinic. She fell and the baby—" "Did she tell you to call me? Ella's baby is being treated right now, and she's still using her pregnancy to make me jealous? Tell her to stop this. If something happens to that child, she'll owe Ella a baby!" The line went dead. Taylor stood there, confused. Ariel still said nothing. She slowly climbed off the examination table. "If I wanted to induce labor now…" "Mrs. Callahan, I don't know what happened between you and Mr. Callahan, but the baby is eight months along. He'll be born soon. If you induce labor now, it won't just harm your body. You'll be ending an innocent life." Ariel nodded. "I understand. Thank you." Taylor was right. The baby was innocent. This child was hers. From now on, she would have nothing to do with Remi Callahan. She would file for divorce. She would raise the child on her own. Chapter 4 Ariel left the clinic and walked slowly through the snow back to the family housing compound. When she reached the entrance, she found Remi standing there, his brow furrowed. "Where were you?" His tone softened slightly. "Are you really not feeling well?" He wanted to be angry, but her face was so pale that she really did look sick. Ariel's voice came out flat. "Yes. You pushed me to the ground yourself just now. Don't you remember?" Only then did Remi recall bumping into her earlier. "I'm sorry. I was in too much of a rush. Are you hurt?" Ariel didn't answer. Instead, she asked, "How's Ella's baby?" "He's fine, thank heavens. That could have been a life lost." Remi took a deep breath and stepped closer, his tone turning gentle. "Don't be so impulsive anymore, okay? The baby's so small. How could you bring yourself to hurt him?" Ariel looked up at the man in front of her. He suddenly felt like a stranger. "Is that who you think I am? What if I told you Ella deliberately held the baby out for me to hit? Would you believe me?" "Ariel!" Remi's expression darkened instantly. "Stop slandering Ella. It's been three years. Why are you still like this?" Just as she had expected, he didn't believe her. She remembered when Ella first came to the house three years ago. Ella deliberately poured boiling water on herself and claimed Ariel did it. Later, at the supply cooperative, Ella fell down the stairs and said Ariel tripped her. Once, Ella even stabbed herself with scissors and sobbed that Ariel tried to kill her. It went on and on, accusation after accusation, and every time, Remi took Ella's side. Ariel thought things would be different after they remarried, but nothing had changed. She was exhausted. "Remi, you said you'd agree to a divorce. Does that still stand?" Hearing her mention divorce again, Remi hurried to placate her. "Ariel, you're eight months pregnant. Why are you talking about divorce? What I said earlier was just talk. Don't take it to heart. I'm not divorcing you." Ariel shot back, "Aren't you afraid your son will be called illegitimate?" Remi stiffened. "I just don't want to divorce you. You're the only person I've ever loved. With Ella, it's only responsibility. Franklin and I served together. We were brothers. Before he died, he asked me to take care of her. I can't abandon her. She has depression. You know that." Ariel laughed suddenly. "She has depression, so she sleeps with you? Has a baby with you? Remi, is there any line you won't cross for her?" Of course Ariel knew Ella had depression. Three years ago, Ella's depression was the reason things had escalated to divorce. After Ella's husband, Franklin Shepherd, died, Remi brought her into their home. During that time, Ella wouldn't allow Remi to have any physical contact with Ariel. She forbade them from holding hands, hugging, or kissing. They couldn't even sleep in the same bed. Whenever Remi ignored her, Ella would threaten suicide or hurt herself. Eventually, Remi spent more and more time with her. He even started spending nights in her room. Ariel became jealous. She fought with him. But he brushed it off with a casual, "Franklin was my best friend. She's the person he cared about the most. I don't have a choice. Can't you understand?" She kept enduring it until she walked in on them having sex in her own bed. That was when she finally couldn't take it anymore and demanded a divorce. Three years later, he still thought he could use the same excuse to justify cheating. The thought made her sick. "After the baby's born, I won't touch her again. If you don't like it, I can keep him away from here. We don't have to raise him together…" The moment Remi finished speaking, the woman standing not far away burst into tears. "Remi, do you really mean that? You're going to abandon me and our son, aren't you?" Ella stood there in thin clothing, looking frail, as if she might collapse at any moment. "I understand. I'll take the baby and disappear. We won't show up in front of you ever again." Ella ran off crying. Remi frowned and started to follow her, but Ariel grabbed his arm. Her voice shook as she begged him one last time. "Remi, don't go." "Ariel, I'm sorry. I'm afraid something will happen to her." Remi hesitated for a moment before pulling his arm free and chasing after Ella without looking back. Ariel stared at her empty hand. Her heart died completely. If he truly couldn't let Ella go, then she'd keep the child and get rid of him. Chapter 5 Ariel went home alone. After packing most of her things, she went to see the legal advisor who lived near the family housing compound. "Mrs. Callahan, didn't Mr. Callahan already pick up the divorce papers?" Ariel froze. She didn't understand what he meant. "What are you talking about?" "Mr. Callahan came this morning and asked me to draft divorce papers as quickly as possible. He said he wanted to divorce you. He just picked up the documents a little while ago. "I thought it was strange, actually. Three years ago, Mr. Callahan swore he'd never divorce you again…" Ariel laughed. Earlier today, he said he wouldn't divorce her. Then he turned around and had the lawyer draft divorce papers. The irony was almost funny. After a long silence, Ariel finally spoke. "I see." When she got home, Ariel broke down. She looked at the photo album by the bed. In the photograph, Remi wore his dress uniform, looking proud and handsome. She wore a floral blouse, her face lit up with happiness. That smile broke her heart now. She grabbed scissors and shredded their wedding photo, tearing it to pieces before hurling the scraps toward the door. At that moment, the door swung open and Remi appeared in the doorway. The frame hit him square in the chest, and the wedding photo fell to the floor. He looked down at the destroyed image and silently bent to pick it up. "Ariel." He stepped inside, and only then did Ariel see the woman behind him. Just like three years ago, Remi had brought Ella back into their home. She held the baby, speaking carefully. "Remi, talk to Ariel properly. Don't fight because of me." She followed the housekeeper to the room she used to occupy. "I was planning to let Ella stay at the clinic, but since you already know, I don't want to leave her there alone anymore." Remi set the photo down and walked over to Ariel, his tone gentle. "Thankfully, the baby's okay. Ella knows you didn't mean to hurt him, and she's willing to forgive you. Ariel, promise me you won't do anything to hurt the child again, okay?" Ariel looked at him without saying a word. He fell silent for a moment before pulling out the divorce papers. "Ariel, Ella doesn't have any ulterior motives. She just wants the baby to have a proper celebration for his first month, so can we divorce temporarily? "We'll remarry right after the celebration. One month at most, and once our baby is born, I'll remarry you immediately." Ariel glanced at the signature line. Remi had already signed. In that instant, she didn't feel sad or lost. She only felt relieved. "Fine." She picked up a pen and signed her name. This was the second time she signed divorce papers with Remi Callahan. She swore there would never be a third. He wanted her to remarry him? In his dreams. "Ariel, you're so wonderful." Remi clutched the signed papers excitedly, moving to embrace her. She stepped back quietly. "Go show it to Ella. She must be thrilled." "That's my Ariel. Always so generous and kind! I'll go show her right now." Remi hurried out of the room. As Ariel watched his retreating back, a mocking smile played on her lips. "Remi Callahan, don't you know? When a woman stops caring about you, it means she doesn't love you anymore." Chapter 6 That night, Remi didn't come back to their room. Around midnight, Ariel woke up with a violent cramp in her thigh. She dragged herself out of bed and struggled down the hall to Ella's room, hoping to find Remi. She raised her hand to knock. "Remi, my leg's cramping. Can you…" Before she could finish, she heard a woman's breathless voice from inside. "Remi…" "Shh, Ella. Keep it down. You'll wake the baby." Ariel froze. The cramp spread through her thigh in waves. But the pain in her chest hurt worse than anything physical. Through the wooden door, she could hear everything. Each sound hit her like a hammer blow straight to her heart. She stared at the ceiling. Her mind drifted back to the early stages of her pregnancy. Her body had been weak back then. She threw up constantly during those first months and barely slept at night, always running outside to throw up. Every time she got sick, Remi would get up immediately and follow her out. He'd rub her back gently, his eyes full of concern. "Ariel, if I'd known pregnancy would be this hard on you, I'd rather we never had children at all." Later, in the third trimester, she started getting cramps. When she couldn't move in the middle of the night, he'd patiently massage her legs for her. For eight months, he'd done this day and night without complaint. But now, he wasn't by her side. He was with another woman, making love to her. "Remi, I'm so happy! I can finally marry you. Even if it's only for a month, I'm completely satisfied." "I'm sorry for putting you through this. I promise I'll take good care of you and the baby from now on." "Remi, I love you. I love you!" The sounds continued. The pain in Ariel's leg gradually eased. She slumped to the floor as if all the strength had been drained from her body. She admitted she was completely defeated. But she was also grateful she could still walk away. In the days that followed, Remi and Ella grew bolder. At meals, Remi would serve her food. During breaks, they'd sit together in the courtyard, laughing and talking under the sun. At night, intimate sounds always drifted from Ella's room. Ariel ignored all of it. She quietly packed her things, contacted her parents down south, and bought a train ticket to leave. She thought she could get through this peacefully until the divorce was final. But Ella clearly wasn't satisfied with that. One evening, Ariel sat by the pond in a small chair, knitting a sweater for the baby. She was in good spirits. Tomorrow was the day she'd get her divorce papers, so today was her last day in the Callahan residence. Though apparently, even the last day couldn't pass in peace. Ella suddenly appeared in front of her with the baby. "You're in such a good mood, Ms. Slater! You're about to divorce the Commander and you can still sit here looking so content? "Actually, I knew you were outside the door that night. I wanted you to know just how good things are between me and Remi now. I love him, and he loves me! He said he wants to devour me in bed. As for you, he said you're boring and rigid. He doesn't like you at all. "Oh, and tomorrow is my son's one-month celebration. You'll be there to congratulate us, won't you? After all, you're the child's stepmother!" Chapter 7 No matter how much Ella provoked her, Ariel ignored her and kept knitting. When Ariel didn't respond, Ella lost her temper. She snatched the sweater from Ariel's hands and threw it into the pond. "Are you deaf? Can't you hear me talking to you?" Ariel finally snapped. She looked at the sweater floating on the water. "Get in there and pick it up for me." "I won't. What are you going to do about it?" "You won't? Then don't blame me for what happens next." Ariel moved forward, backing Ella toward the edge of the pond. Just as Ella was about to shove Ariel into the water, she spotted Remi approaching in the distance. A strange smile curved her lips. Ella grabbed something and threw it into the pond. "Ms. Slater, no!" Ella suddenly screamed. "That's my son's christening medal! Remi just got it for him a few days ago! He's been sick ever since you hurt him, and this medal was protecting him! How can you be so cruel?" "What are you talking about? You're the one who…" Ariel frowned. She knew nothing good would come from being near Ella. The woman was too good at acting. "Ariel!" Before she could defend herself, Remi stormed over and grabbed her wrist hard. "What did you do?" "Remi, I really can't stay in this house anymore! Ms. Slater wants my son dead! I was just trying to say hello and told her you went to the church to get our son a christening medal for protection. "She threw it in the pond and said my son didn't deserve to wear it, that he should be dead! She said even after you divorce her and her baby is born, my son will still just be a bastard." "Did you really say that? Ariel, I thought you were willing to do this for Ella. Was the divorce all a lie?" "I never said any of that!" He gripped her wrist so hard that it hurt. Ariel shook her head. "She threw the medal in herself! It has nothing to do with me!" "The priest said that medal can't touch water or something will happen to the child! Why would Ella use her own child's life to lie to me?" Remi stared at her, his eyes full of disgust. "Ariel, how did you become like this? You're pregnant too. Aren't you afraid our child will be cursed for what you've done?" A metallic taste rose in Ariel's mouth. She looked up at him in disbelief. "Remi, you'd curse our own child for the sake of Ella's baby? "You have no idea what kind of person she is! She threw her baby from a height to frame me. What's throwing a medal compared to that?" "Enough! Shut up!" Remi raised his hand and slapped her hard across the face. The blow caught her off guard. She lost her balance and fell into the pond. The moment her body hit the water, the moment the water rose over her ears and nose, Ariel thought she was going to die. Remi didn't move. His voice was cold and hard. "Stop pretending, Ariel. You can swim. Since you threw the medal in, you can dive down and get it." "Someone get over here." Remi called over one of his men, his tone sharp and cold. "Watch her. Don't let her come up until she finds that medal. If she can't find it, she stays in there." The man watched Ariel struggling in the water and hesitated. "But sir, she's pregnant…" Ella put on a show of concern. "Maybe we should forget it. Ms. Slater probably didn't mean to. What if something happens to the baby?" Chapter 8 "Can't pregnant women swim?" Remi laughed coldly. "She's using her pregnancy as an excuse. She thinks that because I love her and spoil her, she can ignore everything I say! Ella, let's go inside. Don't worry about her. If she loses the baby, it's her own doing." Ariel floated in the pond, watching Remi walk away with his arm around Ella. She suddenly laughed. Tears poured from her eyes. She remembered the day she found out she was pregnant. Remi had cried until his eyes were red and held her, saying over and over, "Ariel, we're finally having a baby! You'll never leave me now! I swear, I'll never let you or the baby suffer any hardship for the rest of our lives." But what was he doing now? For the sake of a lying woman, he struck his pregnant wife and threw her into a pond, then made her dive for a medal for another woman's child. The man watching felt bad for her but still urged, "Ma'am, you need to hurry and find it. You're nine months pregnant. You could go into labor any time. I'm worried something will happen to you." Even a stranger worried about her, but Remi was this cruel. She didn't answer, just bit her lip, dove underwater, and searched for that medal again and again. From daylight to dark, the pond water grew colder and colder. She shivered but still couldn't find the medal. At nine months pregnant, her body felt impossibly heavy. Every dive to the bottom felt like it would tear her organs apart. The men on shore couldn't bear to watch anymore. "It's already 10:00 pm. If this keeps up, she's going to collapse." "But we can't go against the Commander's orders!" After four full hours, Ariel's hands and feet had turned white and swollen from the water. Just when she was about to give up, the baby started kicking her, over and over. The force grew stronger before turning into sharp, dragging pains. Cold sweat broke out across her skin as something warm flowed out of her body. One of the men shouted in alarm, "God, there's blood! Pull her out of the water! Call the Commander!" They dialed quickly, but Ella's voice came through the line. "Your Commander is with my son. He's busy. He said if Ariel can't find the medal, she's not allowed to come up." The line went dead. The men looked at Ariel's weakening form and made a decision. "Forget it. We need to get her to the clinic now, or the baby won't make it either." As they carried her out of the estate, Ariel turned to look back at the house. Warm light glowed from the windows. Remi was probably inside with Ella and her son, enjoying their happy family. And her? She and her child were dying. It was past 12:00 am when they got her to the clinic. Pain racked Ariel's abdomen. Her vision went dark. The medic rushed her toward the delivery room in a panic. "Hurry! The patient is bleeding. She's going into labor!" "Save my baby…" "Don't worry. We'll do everything we can." The medic called out urgently, "Where's the family? Someone get the husband in here!" The men didn't hesitate. They called Remi again. But no matter how many times they dialed, he didn't answer. Finally, he rejected the call outright. One of the men looked helpless. "The Commander is busy…" The medic stared at them in disbelief. "She's in this condition and he's too busy? He won't answer and he's rejecting calls? What if something happens to her during delivery?" Chapter 9 "Ah! It hurts so much." Ariel couldn't hold back her screams. She gripped the medic's hand, begging, "Please, save my baby. She's been in my belly for nine months. I need to deliver her! Don't call anymore. Just take me to the delivery room. I'll take responsibility for whatever happens." After those words, Ariel lost consciousness completely. Before everything went dark, she remembered what Remi had said. "Ariel, you're so heartless. Aren't you afraid our child will be cursed for what you've done?" "If the baby dies, it's her own doing." Those two sentences proved he didn't deserve to be her child's father. She didn't know how long she was out, but she regained consciousness briefly to the sound of voices around her. "Hurry! Her water broke and the baby's heartbeat is weak. We need to operate now!" "Isn't this Mrs. Callahan? Where's Mr. Callahan?" "You mean Remi Callahan? I just heard he's throwing a party today for his son's one-month celebration!" "What party? His wife is right here, and their baby's still in her belly!" "It must be the mistress' kid. She had her baby here too!" "What kind of man does that? He came to every checkup with Mrs. Callahan before. I thought he really loved her. Turns out it was all fake." "Mrs. Callahan, hang in there! You can do this! The baby's almost here!" When she woke again, the midwife stood beside her holding a baby. "Mrs. Callahan, congratulations. You have a daughter." Just then, the legal advisor from the base rushed over and handed her a document. "Mrs. Callahan, here's your divorce certificate. All the paperwork has been completed." Ariel took the certificate and looked at the official seal. She felt completely at peace. She looked up at the midwife. "Can you help me contact the train station? I want to leave this place as soon as possible." … At the celebration, Remi left early that morning with Ella. His friends arrived one after another to congratulate him. "Congratulations! Have you picked out a name for the baby yet?" "Commander, it's such a big day. Where's Ariel? Don't tell me she still hasn't accepted you and Ella?" "Right? Why is she being so petty about this?" Remi didn't answer. He felt inexplicably anxious. The banquet was about to start, and there was still no sign of Ariel. Was she still angry? He'd lost his temper yesterday, but he hadn't meant it. Ella held the baby and urged him, "Everyone's waiting for us to go in, Remi. Ms. Slater probably won't come. Let's just forget it." Remi pulled out his phone to make a call. Ella tried to stop him. "Can we go in first? We're already running late." Remi ignored her and dialed. "Why did you keep calling me last night? Where's Ariel? Where is she? Bring her to Ella's baby's celebration right now. I don't want people talking…" One of his men answered, "Commander, Mrs. Callahan was in the pool for four hours last night before she started hemorrhaging. We took her to the clinic. "The medics worked on her all night to save her. And… your baby with her… was already dead when they delivered her."