Just then, the doorbell rang. A delivery man stood at the door, his arms full of packages from high-end boutiques on Fifth Avenue, all for Jennifer.

She didn't even bother to glance at me as she rushed forward, tearing open the boxes one by one.

"Brynden picked all of these for me personally. He said pregnant women must be in a cheerful mood. I swear, if I hadn't stopped him, he would have brought the entire mall home. Oh, this must be a free gift. My baby won't need it, you can have it." She tossed the expensive blanket at my feet as if it were trash.

Brynden frowned. "Jennifer, that's enough," he warned.

But instead of backing down, she pouted, wrapping herself around his arm, her fingertips tracing lightly over his chest.

"Brynden, you know how important a pregnant woman's emotions are. The doctor said if I'm unhappy, the baby will be affected too. You're always so harsh with me, you'll scare the baby."

It was a clumsy performance, but Brynden bought it. The annoyance on his face vanished, replaced by a hint of concern. He even reached out to gently caress her stomach.

Right, because a fetus can feel scared.

I watched the sickening display, a cold knot tightening in my stomach, before turning back to the bedroom.

At that moment, the child I had once longed for had become my greatest sorrow.

Brynden followed close behind, closing the door after him. He looked down at me, his gaze sharp.

"Amelia, you know Jennifer's situation. If I don't help her, her snobbish parents will force her to have an abortion, maybe even kick her out of the house. You're my wife. You should understand me. If there was anything between Jennifer and me, you and I wouldn't be married right now."

I remembered a charity gala where Jennifer was hounded by gossip. She had burst into tears and thrown herself into Brynden's arms, a picture of perfect, trembling fragility.

Brynden immediately softened, defending her and quelling the rumors. Back then, I thought he was a man of integrity. Now, I saw it was just the beginning of his foolish devotion.

"Amelia, no matter what the world thinks, as long as I know you're carrying my child, that's enough. Is a name really that important?"

I felt a gash tear open in my heart, but I still forced out the question that was stuck in my throat.

"If she's so afraid of the shame, why can't she just get rid of the child herself?"

"Jennifer wants to keep the child; it's her own flesh and blood. But she's afraid people will call her child a bastard, so..."

"So now her child is the legitimate Hawthorne heir, while my child becomes the shameful bastard who can't see the light of day. Is that what you mean?" I wasn't crying anymore. I just looked at him with a mocking smile.

Brynden's jaw tightened. A storm was brewing in his eyes.

"No matter what anyone says, this is still my child. And you are my wife. That will never change. Amelia, can't you just be a little more considerate?"

"Jennifer is as delicate as crystal. She can't be expected to suffer through vicious rumors," Brynden said.

I finally understood. She was the crystal, I was the stone. And when a stone is crushed to dust, no one cares.

Despair washed over me like a tidal wave. I took a deep breath, my face set with determination.

"Then I'll get an abortion," I stated, my voice devoid of emotion.

"No!" Brynden immediately rejected the idea, his voice laced with anger and accusation. "Don't be so selfish. Jennifer and her child are innocent. Why would you resort to harming a life just to get back at me?"

"But my child and I are innocent too! Have you ever thought about the kind of life he'll face? Being called a bastard? Being trampled on by Jennifer's child?"

"I'll handle it. How many times do I have to say it? Amelia, you always find a way to disappoint me." With that, Brynden slammed the door and stormed out.

The next day, I woke up to find a dozen bodyguards stationed around the apartment.

Brynden called it "protecting a pregnant woman," but it was house arrest. My phone and laptop were gone, and the landline had been disconnected. My connection to the outside world was completely severed.

He was afraid I would get an abortion.

I was trapped, locked in this gilded cage until my belly began to show, until I was past the three-month mark, when an abortion would be riskier.

That day, there was a commotion downstairs. Jennifer and her parents had arrived with a moving company.

The moment Brenda saw me, she shot me a look of disdain. "The nerve of you, still hanging around while carrying a child of questionable origin. Utterly classless."

"Jennifer is just too kind. If it were me, I would have kicked you out long ago," Roger added. He turned to me, his eyes filled with contempt.

"That's enough. Don't waste your breath on a shameless woman like her. Go help Jennifer settle in."

The Vaughn family prided themselves on their righteousness and strict moral standards. But now, the whole family was helping their daughter become another man's mistress. It was laughable.

Meanwhile, movers were carrying luggage upstairs, bag after bag.

Jennifer hovered near me, a triumphant sneer on her face. "So what if you're Brynden's wife? It's just an empty title. You and that bastard in your belly are nothing compared to me. Soon, it will just be me, Brynden, and our child here. We'll be a real family of three."

A red haze of fury descended. I grabbed a glass of water from the table and threw it hard in her face.

But even that wasn't enough. I grabbed her by the hair, yanked hard, and slapped her across the face.

Jennifer shrieked in pain until Brynden rushed in and shoved me away. I stumbled and hit the wall, a dull ache spreading through my abdomen.

Brenda raised her hand and slapped me hard. "Brynden, this madwoman dared to hit Jennifer! If you don't throw her out, I'm taking Jennifer home. And then, the Hawthorne family won't have a legitimate heir!"

Jennifer looked up, flashing me a victorious smile.

However, Brynden didn't do as Brenda demanded. He let go of Jennifer and strode toward me.

"Amelia is my wife. I won't have her leave. Jennifer can live here too, but I don't want to hear that kind of talk again. They are both my children. They are equally important to me," he said.

Brynden didn't abandon me, but he didn't defend me either. He simply stood by and let them humiliate me.

For Jennifer's "peace of mind," Brynden wanted me to compromise.

And so, my sun-drenched master bedroom overlooking Central Park was taken away. I was forcibly moved to a shabby room in the basement.

"It's just a different place to sleep, to avoid conflict. You'll still have your meals on time and be taken care of," Brynden said.

I sat on the narrow bed, looking at the bare walls. In that moment, any love I had left for him died.

I had made my decision. I had to leave this place. I would never let my child be born into such a twisted environment.