---- Chapter 4. Under Karen's surveillance, I went to the hospital for an abortion. Even though I was mentally prepared, I still burst into tears when I got onto the operating table. I thought, 'Sorry, baby. I wasn't the mother you deserved to have.' I woke up alone in the cold ward. I propped up my aching body and stared at my phone, not daring to dial the number for a long time. Finally, I could not help pressing the call button. A familiar voice rang from the other end. "Is this Kiera?" Upon hearing my mother's voice, I finally could not hold back my grief and sobbed, "Mom!" "Darling, why are you crying? Did that b*stard Ian make you angry? I'll ask your brother to find you now!" My mother's tone became even more anxious when she heard my aggrieved tone. "Mom, I miss you so much," I choked out. "Darling, just give me the address. I'll be there ---- soon!" I sniffled, sent her the hospital address, and lay on the hospital bed, emptying my mind and thinking of the past. My family was quite well-off. It was just that my family lived out in the northwestern ranch territories, and our family kept a low profile. When I started school, everyone thought my family was just sheepherders. Jan fell in love with me at first sight in college. After pursuing me for a year, I finally agreed to be his girlfriend. We had a good relationship during the four years of college, but Karen stopped him when he wanted to marry me after graduation. She disliked my family for being herders and thought that I was vulgar and unworthy of her son. However, I was all that Ian wanted. Despite the pressure from his family, he insisted on marrying me! He even went on a hunger strike to threaten his family. Karen loved Ian so much that she eventually agreed to let him marry me. However, we never ---- held a wedding ceremony and only got our marriage license! Over the years of our marriage, I tried to improve myself and keep up with him. I learned flower arrangement, wine tasting, and all kinds of knowledge about luxury items. I went from a girl running free in the prairie to the kind of noble lady I hated the most. I actually hated everything about upper-class society. Every time I socialized, I had to carefully figure out the meaning behind the noble ladies' every word. It was just like those cliche dramas! I hated the lifestyle, but I loved Ian and was willing to endure it for him. I thought I would grow old with him, but I did not expect him to change after Ruby came back from abroad. Although his heart was still with me, his eyes would glance at Ruby from time to time. No matter what Ruby asked of him, he would never refuse her. I once reminded him that their behavior was over the line. That was the first time Ian ever got angry