Chapter 233

Human life comes first—everything else can wait.

Anastasia rode with Mrs. Dalton in the ambulance while Vincent breathed a sigh of relief back at the office.

“That bastard Vincent! I’ll never forgive him!” Mrs. Dalton seethed through gritted teeth.

“Ma’am, please try to calm down. Getting this worked up isn’t good for your baby,” the paramedic told her.

Mrs. Dalton knew that was true, but she was so hurt and angry that holding it in felt like it would kill her.

Suddenly, a warm hand reached over and took hers.

Mrs. Dalton turned to see Anastasia beside her. She looked at Anastasia with gratitude, momentarily speechless.

“Stop thinking about that piece of shit. If he really cared about you, he would’ve followed us here,” Anastasia said gently.

The words hit Mrs. Dalton like a knife to the heart. She’d always known deep down, but had been pretending otherwise.

“I’ve known him since freshman year. We went through so much to be together. We’re right at the seven-year mark where everything falls apart, and I just… I can’t accept it. I can’t…”

She had PCOS and struggled to get pregnant. She’d gone through hell trying to conceive his child, sacrificing so much. She really couldn’t accept this.

“Why do men change so easily? Do they just forget all their promises?”

Anastasia felt something stir inside her chest. “Who knows?” she said quietly.

“They say men and women see relationships totally differently. Men start with high expectations and keep finding flaws, subtracting points until there’s nothing left. But women are different—they keep adding points for every little thing, every connection, until it’s perfect in their minds.”

“Men and women handle emotions differently, so what they want from relationships is different too.”

Anastasia’s voice was so soft and soothing, like a professional therapist. Gradually, Mrs. Dalton began to calm down.

The paramedic gave Anastasia a thumbs up, impressed that someone so young could be so wise.

After a series of tests at the hospital, the doctors determined that Mrs. Dalton was okay—just severe contractions from emotional stress.

The doctor warned her: “You fought so hard to get pregnant. You know your situation better than anyone. Please don’t waste this precious opportunity.”

Mrs. Dalton looked down like a scolded child, not daring to speak.

After finishing up at the hospital, Anastasia walked with Mrs. Dalton down the corridor, planning to see her home safely.

“I don’t want to go home right now. I think I’ll stay at a hotel,” Mrs. Dalton said.

“That’s probably for the best.”

“Ever since I got married, my whole world has revolved around my husband and our little home. I don’t think I have any real friends anymore." Meeting Anastasia felt like a rare gift—she seemed so genuine that Mrs. Dalton couldn’t help wanting to get closer.

When Anastasia didn’t respond, Mrs. Dalton gave an awkward smile. “Ms. Kingsley, when you were talking about betrayal earlier, you seemed to really understand it. Have you… been through something like this too?”

Anastasia’s smile was strained. “It’s all in the past now.”

“Do you still hate that person?” Mrs. Dalton pressed.

“If you don’t love someone anymore, there’s no point in hating them either,” Anastasia said.

“I’m so jealous that you’ve moved on,” Mrs. Dalton said wistfully.

Neither Anastasia nor Mrs. Dalton realized they were being followed.