Pregnant and Abandoned, My Ex-Begs Me Back

Chapter 2: He Came Home Early

But he didn't bother to press the matter further.

Evelyn spoke up immediately after. "Tomorrow is Monday. Are you free in the afternoon? We might as well go to the Civil Affairs Bureau early. I don't think it matters if we do it two months ahead of schedule."

Even after signing, there would be a thirty-day cooling-off period. By the time that passed, it wouldn't be long before she was due to give birth.

Dominic looked at her. Her calm, composed demeanor drew a trace of scrutiny into his gaze. He eventually looked away. "I decide the time."

Evelyn lowered her eyes and said nothing more.

The car eventually pulled into the driveway of the Sterling family mansion.

The Matriarch had requested their presence specifically because of the child in Evelyn's womb.

The Sterling lineage had long been heavy with sons and light on daughters.

The Matriarch had two sons of her own: Arthur, the eldest, and Marcus, the younger.

Arthur Sterling had two sons. The elder, Silas, had married a few years prior and had twin boys who were now five years old. The younger son, Julian, was twenty-four and still single.

Marcus Sterling, on the other hand, had only one son: Dominic.

Consequently, the news that Evelyn was carrying a girl had brought immense joy to both the Matriarch and the Old Master.

"This truly is a blessing. Now that our little girl is coming, the old man's health seems to have improved overnight."

Seeing how much her mother-in-law valued the child, Julia Sterling followed suit with forced agreement, even offering a few kind words to Evelyn.

Evelyn sat to the side, responding politely and obediently.

Watching Evelyn's swollen figure and her submissive, downcast eyes, Julia found herself increasingly irritated. She couldn't stand the sight of her, but for the sake of the Matriarch's face, she kept her disdain hidden.

In her good mood, the Matriarch presented Evelyn with a priceless jadeite bracelet.

Evelyn was overwhelmed, attempting to refuse the gift out of a sense of unworthiness.

Julia spoke up then. "If Grandmother gives it to you, just take it."

She internally scoffed at the girl's small-mindedness; such a common upbringing really couldn't be hidden, no matter the circumstances.

Evelyn relented and accepted the bracelet. "Thank you, Grandmother."

"Take good care of yourself and the baby. Let's have a healthy, chubby little one."

Evelyn nodded with a gentle smile. She knew well enough that the Matriarch's kindness wasn't directed at her, but at the life she carried.

They had originally intended to stay at the mansion for dinner, but that changed when Dominic received a phone call.

A look of tenderness and indulgence spread across his face as he answered. His voice softened, sounding uncharacteristically warm.

It seemed they were keeping a pet together.

Dominic addressed the pet by name, calling it Sweetie.

Evelyn thought to herself that if he had married the woman he truly loved, he would likely have been a wonderful father.

"Mm, I'll be right there."

He hung up the phone.

When Dominic turned to leave the balcony, he found Evelyn standing there. She startled, caught off guard, and looked up at him only to meet his icy, indifferent mask.

Her heart tightened. She quickly spoke. "Grandmother wants to see you in the study."

Dominic said nothing and brushed past her.

Evelyn stood frozen, a sharp, uncontrollable pain lancing through her chest. It took a long moment for her to regain her composure.

In the study, Dominic found both the Matriarch and the Old Master waiting.

"Dominic, I know you aren't fond of Evelyn," the Matriarch began. "But the child is almost here. Evelyn herself is quite accomplished—a top student from a prestigious university and a gentle soul. Your marriage needs stability, and she is the perfect choice for a wife and mother."

Dominic remained silent.

However, his furrowed brow and the displeasure in his eyes betrayed his true feelings.

The Matriarch could see it clearly. Evelyn's appearance was indeed plain, and she looked entirely mismatched standing beside her grandson.

The Old Master finally spoke. "For now, your marriage shouldn't face any public upheavals. If you truly dislike her, as long as she doesn't do anything outrageous, keep her around for another year or two."

The Matriarch nodded in agreement. "Yes, so many eyes are on you right now, waiting for a chance to make a scandal. It's best to wait until she's finished raising the child before you consider a divorce."

"..."

Dominic fell into a deep silence. It was impossible to tell what was going on behind his handsome, somber face. Finally, he spoke. "I understand, Grandfather, Grandmother."

When Evelyn saw the Matriarch again, the elderly woman looked at her and said, "Dominic had an urgent matter at the office and had to leave. I'll have the driver take you home in a bit."

Evelyn nodded. "Alright."

Before she left that day, the Matriarch offered a final piece of advice.

"Even though you're pregnant, you must stay active and take care of your appearance. When your mother-in-law and the others were pregnant, they still accompanied their husbands to events and managed the household. Some positions are easy to attain, but holding onto them is another matter entirely."

Evelyn understood the subtext immediately.

Being a daughter-in-law of the Sterling family was no easy feat. If she wanted to secure her place, she had to change. In her current state, she would do nothing but embarrass Dominic.

She had tried to pull herself together before—tried exercising, yoga, and dieting. But her spirit was broken, and she lacked the willpower to persist. Exhausted in both mind and body, she had only continued to gain weight.

However, the Matriarch was right. She couldn't stay in this state of stagnation and decay. Not to secure her position, but for the sake of her own future.

"I understand, Grandmother."

That night, Evelyn was surprised to find that the man who had demanded a divorce that morning had actually come home.

"You..."

"Make me a bowl of hangover soup and bring it to the study."

With those cold instructions, Dominic headed upstairs.

Evelyn snapped out of her daze, went to the kitchen to prepare the soup, and brought it to him. He was already poring over documents, his expression stern and unapproachable. He radiated a sense of cold detachment that seemed to push the world away.

She didn't disturb him. She simply left the room.

Even when he was home, they slept in separate bedrooms. He took the master suite on the second floor; she stayed in the guest room on the first.

The next morning, because Dominic was home, the nanny prepared a lavish breakfast.

Dominic sat at the head of the table, but Evelyn was nowhere to be seen.

Usually, when he was home, Evelyn would not only have his clothes for the day ironed and ready but would also prepare his breakfast personally. She had always been a dutiful, beyond-reproach wife.

But this morning, there were no ironed clothes, and the breakfast had been made by the help.

"Where is she?" Dominic asked impatiently.

Liu Lihua immediately launched into a complaint. "I went to call her ages ago, but she's just idling in bed, refusing to get up. She expects her meals brought to her room every day and barely acknowledges us. When we ask what she wants to eat, she doesn't say a word. We aren't mind readers. It's just a pregnancy, after all. When the Mistress was pregnant with you, Master Dominic, she still took care of the Chairman with total devotion. But this one? She thinks she's here just to be served."

Dominic frowned. "Go and get her up."

"Yes, sir."

Evelyn had actually been awake for some time. She was simply waiting for Dominic to leave.

When Liu Lihua pushed the door open and saw Evelyn sitting on the sofa, she didn't hide her disgust. "Well, look at the Young Mistress, waiting for a formal invitation, are we?"

Evelyn looked up, her voice cold. "If I'm not the Young Mistress, are you?"

For months, Evelyn had been soft-spoken and submissive. Liu Lihua never expected her to bite back.

"If you keep forgetting your place and treating me with this level of disrespect, don't blame me if I go to the Matriarch and tell her exactly how you've been behaving lately."

Since they were getting a divorce anyway, Evelyn saw no reason to hold back. Why should she spend her final two months here being bullied by the help?

Liu Lihua's eyes widened. "You..."

Julia Sterling had called her only yesterday, telling her to look after the girl properly. Even if it was just a daughter, it was the only girl in three generations of the Sterling family. The woman was lucky; carrying a girl was the only reason the Matriarch cared about her at all.

Liu Lihua swallowed her anger. "The Master is waiting for you in the dining room."

Evelyn was surprised.

She made her way to the dining room where Dominic was eating. He looked up at her, taking in her white knit tunic, the fabric stretched and distorted over her bloated frame. Her gait was heavy and lumbering, her large belly making it look as though she were carrying multiples.

Aware of his gaze, Evelyn consciously chose a seat far away from him. Dominic's voice drifted over, indifferent and flat. "Nanny Liu and the others are veterans from the main mansion. You can't expect them to cater to your every whim. You're just pregnant, not incapacitated."

Just pregnant?

Indeed. To him, this unexpected child was likely a triviality.

This sudden, nonsensical lecture was clearly the result of Liu Lihua whispering in his ear. It wasn't the first time.

"If they find it so difficult to accommodate me, perhaps they should return to the main mansion. I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself."

Evelyn stirred her porridge, her tone remarkably calm.

In reality, she already cooked her own meals, washed her own clothes, and cleaned her own room. The staff only put on a show of working when Dominic was around.

Dominic's brow knit together—a clear sign of his rising irritation.

Dominic was a powerful man, both in his professional and private life, and he did not tolerate being challenged.

"I am giving you a reminder, not asking for your opinion."

Evelyn lowered her head and fell silent.

Seeing her listless, dead-eyed expression, Dominic's face darkened further. He turned to Liu Lihua and the others, instructing them that from now on, Evelyn should handle her own affairs and they were not to wait on her.

Evelyn's grip on her chopsticks tightened.

After breakfast, Dominic left.

Evelyn headed to University A.

She eventually arrived at Alistair Vance's office.

The young man sitting behind the desk wore a formal suit and rimless glasses over the bridge of his high nose. He possessed an aura of maturity and steady confidence.

Alistair Vance was only twenty-nine years old, yet he was already the youngest full professor in the Finance Department of University A—a legendary figure whose name commanded respect throughout the financial industry.

She raised her hand and knocked on the door.

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Chapter 3 Ill-Suited Indeed

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When Alistair Vance looked up and saw the woman standing in his doorway, he froze for a moment, unable to recognize her immediately. It wasn’t until she spoke that the realization hit him.

"Professor Vance," Evelyn said.

Alistair masked his surprise with practiced ease. "You’ve arrived."

Evelyn removed her mask as she stepped into the office.

"It has been a long time, Professor."

Alistair offered a gentle smile. "A long time indeed. I almost didn't recognize you."

Evelyn’s lips curled into a self-deprecating smile. "I was almost too embarrassed to come see you looking like this."

Alistair stood up and walked around his desk. "Weight gain and physical changes are perfectly normal during pregnancy. Everything will return to how it was after the baby is born."

"Please, have a seat."

Evelyn sat on the sofa.

Alistair poured her a glass of warm water. "Drink this to warm yourself up."

"Thank you," she said, taking the glass.

Alistair’s gaze swept over her prominent abdomen. "How many months?"

"Twenty-five weeks," Evelyn replied.

"Then your due date will be right around the time the semester starts next January," Alistair noted.

Evelyn looked at him with a silent plea. "Professor, I wanted to ask for your help. Is it possible for me to defer my enrollment?"

Having the baby was an unavoidable reality, but she truly did not want to lose this opportunity.

Alistair’s expression turned serious. "Why are you so determined to go?"

Evelyn lowered her eyes. "Once the child is born, Dominic Sterling plans to divorce me. This toxic entanglement... I have no desire to let it continue. I want to start my life over."

Six months might not seem long, but to her, it felt as though she had lived an entire lifetime during that span.

Alistair couldn't help but frown. The once bright, cheerful girl had changed so drastically in such a short time. He could only imagine the physical and mental toll she had endured.

"I’m relieved that you’ve decided to pick yourself up and start anew," he said. "You and Dominic Sterling were never a good match. I'm certain you will find someone who truly loves you in the future."

Evelyn nodded, her eyes still cast downward.

Back then, Alistair had been against her becoming Dominic’s assistant, but she had been stubborn. In the end, she had only succeeded in getting herself badly hurt.

Suddenly, she spoke up again. "Professor, in your eyes, what kind of person is Dominic Sterling?"

Alistair was silent for a moment before answering slowly. "He is a man who will stop at nothing to achieve his goals. To him, profit is the ultimate priority. I doubt such a person is capable of love."

"Is that so?"

And yet, the tenderness he showed that other girl seemed so real. Perhaps a man like him only lowered his guard when he was truly, deeply in love.

Only a beautiful, perfect woman was worthy of him.

Evelyn didn't ask anything else.

"Since you’ve made up your mind, I can help you apply for the deferment when the time comes."

"Thank you, Professor."

Alistair had her fill out an application form.

Once she finished, he asked, "Will the child stay with the Sterlings after the birth?"

Evelyn’s smile was one of helpless resignation. Even if she wanted to take the child with her, it would be impossible. She could only feel a sense of profound apology toward the baby. "The Sterlings will likely take very good care of her."

Alistair didn't press further. "As it happens, I need an assistant for a month. Would you like to give it a try?"

Evelyn agreed without hesitation.

"Yes."

Ever since her pregnancy began, Dominic had sidelined her into a meaningless role in the secretarial pool. Overnight, she had plummeted from being the President's personal assistant to a complete non-entity. All her hard work had vanished like a shadow.

She desperately needed a new job to distract herself and get the gears of her life turning again.

It would also serve as perfect preparation for her upcoming studies.

Since she had taken the day off anyway, Evelyn stayed to begin her duties as the professor’s assistant. She had been Alistair’s student once, and combined with the high-intensity experience she’d gained working under Dominic, she found her rhythm immediately.

Even after months of stagnation, she handled the workload with effortless grace.

In that moment, Evelyn felt a flicker of her old self returning. She was finding her true sense of worth again.

Just as Alistair had said, she belonged in the professional world where she could shine. Love shouldn't be the only thing in a person's life.

That night, Dominic did not return home. It was no different from any other night; he only came home on rare occasions.

The difference was that she no longer cared.

The next day, she arrived with her resignation letter prepared.

Dominic had taken over the Sterling Group’s financial interests, including banks and investment firms. In a blood-soaked arena of vanity and corporate maneuvering, his ability to inherit the core of the Sterling empire and continuously expand it was proof of his intellect and his cold, ruthless heart.

As Evelyn reached the company, she happened to run into Dominic as he was getting out of his car.

He looked imposing in his sharp suit, a man of striking authority. The weight of his wealth and status gave him an aura of immense, mature charisma.

"Good morning, Mr. Sterling."

The employees bowed respectfully as he passed.

Evelyn snapped out of her thoughts and quickly lowered her head, stepping back to give him a wide berth.

The man walked past her as if she didn't exist.

Evelyn handed her resignation letter to Sharon.

Sharon was now Dominic’s secretary. She had once been Evelyn's subordinate.

How the tables had turned. Now, Evelyn was the one reporting to her.

When Evelyn had been abruptly demoted, everyone in the department had been stunned. She had been the President’s assistant since the day she graduated. That role required more than just skill; appearance was usually key as well. Though Evelyn’s looks were quite plain, her appointment had been a testament to the fact that her competence was so great that her appearance could be overlooked.

Even the notoriously harsh President had once praised her.

But Sharon knew the supposed truth.

In Sharon's eyes, Evelyn was just a social climber who had tried to get ahead by sleeping her way to the top. No matter how capable she was, Sharon considered her trash.

And that was why Mr. Sterling loathed her.

Sharon glanced at the resignation letter, her eyes lingering on Evelyn’s pregnant belly. A mocking sneer touched her lips.

"It’s important to have some self-awareness," Sharon said. "You should look in the mirror more often. Don't think that just because you have a child, you can climb into high society. Take a look at where you are and what the Sterling family represents. Know your place."

As far as the company was concerned, no one knew that Evelyn and Dominic were actually married.

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