Walking Away While Pregnant: Dear Ex-Husband, I Don't Love You Anymore

Chapter 123: Chapter 123

The early morning sun shone brightly.

The sky over Rainport was a brilliant azure blue, and seagulls soared freely above the turquoise sea. Boats that had set out in the dead of night for sea fishing were now slowly docking at the shore. Atop a reef on the sandy beach, a tabby cat kept by the guesthouse owner lay sprawled out, squinting lazily.

Rows of self-built houses with vibrant red roofs lined the coast. Most of the buildings on the outermost edge were guesthouses. Among them was one named The Coast’s Promise, and the room facing east on the second floor enjoyed the best natural light. The morning dawn filtered through the fluttering sheer curtains, pooling onto the warm yellow tiled floor beside the bed.

On the large bed, Elise’s eyelashes fluttered before she opened her eyes. The sunlight was a bit too piercing; she squinted for a moment to adjust before propping herself up against the bed to sit up.

This was her third day here.

The guesthouse was run by a friend of Rina’s. The owner was a single woman who had reportedly suffered a devastating heartbreak five years ago.

She had sold her house in North City and brought all her savings here to open this place alone. She was incredibly warm and welcoming; she had made sure to give Elise the absolute best room in the house.

Elise had spent three incredibly peaceful and comfortable days here.

This southern coastal city lacked the distinct four seasons of North City. Even though it was already October, the average temperature remained well above 25°C, and today’s high was expected to top 30°C.

After washing up, Elise changed into a floral camisole maxi dress paired with a light, short-sleeved denim jacket. She then slung on a woven bag she had picked up a couple of days ago while wandering the town’s streets, and headed out.

The guesthouse sat right by the sea, opening directly onto a vast stretch of golden sand. Elise walked along the beach toward the main street. The sea breeze carried a salty tang, sending her hair and the hem of her dress fluttering in the wind. She walked at a leisurely, unhurried pace, occasionally stopping to take photos of the scenery.

It was a wonderful tourist destination. Though it wasn’t peak season right now, there was still a decent crowd visiting.

Elise stopped outside a breakfast diner. It wasn’t a large place, and a few small, square folding tables were set up near the entrance. Because it was still early, most tourists hadn’t woken up yet.

The locals here were all warm-hearted, always wearing cheerful smiles when they spoke. They had loud voices, but their sentences carried a local dialect that was incredibly charming. Elise really loved this place. Seafood was abundant here, and in the words of the locals, pregnant women should eat more seafood because it’s nutritious and packed with calcium.

She thought to herself that this place was indeed a perfect sanctuary for prenatal rest.

After finishing her breakfast, Elise continued further into the main street. With no particular destination in mind, she wandered aimlessly, mostly just to clear her head and pass the time. When she grew tired of walking, she found a quiet coffee shop, picked a peaceful spot by the window, and sat down.

Then, she pulled a sketchbook from her canvas bag, gripped her sketching pencil, and began casually drawing the sudden bursts of inspiration flashing through her mind. Time drifted by unnoticed, much like the sea breeze outside the window.

Suddenly, the phone in her bag began to vibrate.

Elise’s pencil paused, and she laid it down. She fished out her phone, and upon seeing the caller ID, her eyes crinkled slightly into a gentle smile as she pressed answer.

"Zoey!"

On the other end, Zoey laughed before even speaking. "Just hearing your voice, I don’t even need to ask to know you’re in a great mood right now!"

Elise’s lips curved upward. Her voice was soft, but it carried an unmistakable sense of joy. "The environment here is beautiful, and the food is delicious. My sister didn’t lie to me—this place really is perfect for nursing a pregnancy."

"Sigh, hearing you say that makes me want to go so badly!" Zoey sighed. "But I’m being watched by Oliver right now. Though speaking of which, it’s a good thing you were smart this time and didn’t give me a heads-up about your whereabouts. Otherwise, with the efficiency of Oliver’s men, you probably would’ve been intercepted before you even boarded the plane."

"I never intended to hide my tracks in the first place," Elise said, her expression turning neutral. "I came out this time under the guise of a vacation and work. Even if Dylan and I are still legally married, he has no right to restrict my movements."

"That’s true in theory, but given his personality, do you really think he would’ve let you leave if he knew beforehand?"

"He wouldn’t have," Elise replied evenly. "So, Fleur’s suicide attempt actually handed me a perfect opportunity."

"Did you predict she would attempt suicide?"

"Not exactly." Elise pursed her lips and continued, "I did see through her feelings for Dylan early on, and I assumed she would use her depression to play the victim to get sympathy. But I didn’t expect her to actually be cruel enough to hurt herself."

"In that regard, Fleur is definitely a tier above Quinn!" Zoey scoffed. "Her status as a widowed sister-in-law really grants her a massive advantage! Throw in Robin and her depression, and she is holding quite a few trump cards!"

"But despite all her calculations, the one thing she didn’t count on was that I—the wife who was supposed to be jealous—would just bluntly lay everything out on the table. Her suicide attempt may look ruthless and desperate, but in reality, wasn’t it just because I backed her into a corner?"

Hearing this, Zoey couldn’t help but laugh out loud. "She must have watched too many drama shows and viewed you as the primary rival wife to fight for favor. She wanted to step on you to climb her way up, but she never expected that you, the actual wife, had been planning your escape all along! Hahaha!"

Elise smiled. She had always seen right through Fleur’s tactics and schemes; she simply hadn’t deigned to care. If she hadn’t intentionally given her the opportunity, Fleur wouldn’t have even had the chance to stay over that night.

"Oh right, the reason I called is to tell you that Dylan likely knows your location by now." Zoey paused for a few seconds before adding, "But it’s so strange. I’ve been observing things these past two days, and it looks like Dylan doesn’t have any immediate plans to come looking for you?"

"It’s better if he doesn’t."

At the mention of Dylan, Elise’s voice remained flat. "Even if he comes, it doesn’t matter. My contract is already signed. No matter how powerful Dylan is, can he really force me to breach a legal contract?"

"Setting aside how powerful he is, what if he uses the Harper family to threaten you again?"

"He won’t." Elise gently stroked her stomach. "At the very least, I am certain now that he values the child in my womb. This is also my leverage to push back against him."

"True!" Zoey paused, then added, "There’s one more thing. The matter we were looking into earlier has some leads. My friend called me yesterday and said they actually spotted Aaron in the Eastern District."

"Aaron?" Elise frowned. "What is he doing in the Eastern District?"

"It looks like he’s in contact with the heavyweights of that area? And he was completely alone," Zoey said. "Didn’t Aaron retire from the peacekeeping forces before?"

Elise knitted her brows in thought.

Aaron had spent five years in the peacekeeping forces. The situation in the Eastern District was a bit murky and complex; given his background, it wasn’t impossible for him to have connections with some people from that side. But hadn’t he claimed he returned to the country to inherit his family business? He couldn’t possibly be planning to dabble in the gray market industries, could he?

Elise’s delicate brows furrowed tighter, instinctively sensing that there was more to this story than meets the eye.

"Zoey, ask your friend to keep a close eye out. Let me know the moment they discover anything."

"Will do." Zoey then asked, "Are you okay over there by yourself? Do you want me to find someone to go over and keep you company?"

"No need. The people here are very kind, and the guesthouse owner is a friend of my third sister. They take great care of me."

"Alright then. Contact me anytime if you need anything."

"Okay."

After hanging up, Elise set her phone down and turned to look out the window.

The azure sea and blue sky merged seamlessly at the horizon. She watched quietly, and her slightly furrowed brows gradually relaxed.

After a moment, she pulled her thoughts back, picked up her pencil, and continued sketching on her pad.

The fetus in her womb gave another light flutter. The fetal movements had become much more noticeable over the past few days. Perhaps it was because Elise spent so much time alone now, allowing her to feel every single movement with absolute clarity. The frequency of the kicks was also becoming quite regular.

With one hand sketching, she used her other hand to gently stroke her belly. The pencil tip rubbed against the sketching paper, making a faint, scratching sound.

At this very moment, her heart was peaceful and her mind was at ease. A life without Dylan was even more beautiful and tranquil than she had ever imagined.