I thought she had finally backed off. I struggled to my feet, stumbled, and tried to flee.

But at the door, I was met by four glamorous women, standing tall and looking down on me with disdain.

"Mrs. Lincoln, we're here to lend a hand," one sneered.

Something felt off, and I tried to bolt, but one of them kicked me back to the ground.

Agony shot through my stomach... It was excruciating.

I lay there, my hair a tangled mess plastered to my bruised and unrecognizable face.

Frozen with terror, I crawled towards Elizabeth, shaking uncontrollably.

"Elizabeth, I'm James's wife, not some mistress. Please... don't harm my baby."

She kicked me away, her face a mixture of scorn and disbelief.

"Ha, you think I'd fall for that? You little tramp, James gets married and you think I wouldn't know? You're a damn good liar!"

She edged closer, and I sobbed, begging her to stop.

Suddenly, she turned to the other women, "Ladies, this is what your husbands are messing around with behind your backs!"

"Mrs. Lincoln, you can't be serious. My husband would never!"

"Mine neither!"

As she gripped my hair, Elizabeth glanced at their uneasy faces and scoffed.

"Doesn't it burn you up? This is the kind of trash they play with! Just look at her. She is younger than any of you! Bet she knows a trick or two about seduction!"

Her words ignited something in those women, their faces twisting into masks of anger.

Terrified, I tried to crawl away, but it was futile.

Passersby on the street paused, some stopping to look, but nobody stepped in.

A young woman seemed poised to help, and I desperately hoped she would.

But as she moved forward, an older woman yanked her back.

"This is the Lincoln family's business. Meddling in their affairs is asking for trouble, just like 20 years ago."

The young woman tried to resist, "What happened 20 years ago? She looks so pitiful!"

"Twenty years ago, when the new wife came into the picture, some of the original wife's friends tried to support her. The next day, their husbands' businesses went under."

"It was a disaster!"

"You can help if you want, but think about your dad's company!"

The young woman looked back at me, her eyes no longer filled with pity, now tinged with regret.

I didn't need her regret. I needed help. I pleaded, "Please, help me! Help me!"

She turned and fled, disappearing quickly.

My heart sank completely.

"You think you can call for backup, you bitch?" one of the women yelled as she lunged at me, swinging her purse.

She hit me repeatedly on my arms, neck, and face.

The edges of her purse were sharp, leaving my skin stinging with each blow.

Elizabeth grabbed my face, laughing mockingly before turning to the others.

"Mrs. Reynolds, didn't your husband just file for divorce over a mistress? She's just like her!"

Mrs. Reynolds's face changed instantly, and in a fit of rage, she threw her phone at my head.

The phone shattered, and blood trickled down my face.

I writhed in pain, sobbing uncontrollably from fear.

But Elizabeth wasn't done yet.

She smirked, then addressed the other two women, "Mrs. Harper, Mrs. Collins, aren't your husbands trying to broker deals with our family?"

Realization dawned on them, and they picked up scissors, approaching me slowly.

They chopped at my hair, leaving it in uneven shreds, but I clung desperately to my belly.

The pain was overwhelming. I felt nauseous.

But I still fought to protect my unborn child. James had cherished this baby so much. I couldn't let him see his child harmed like this.

"Baby, I'll protect you," I murmured, feeling a small kick. It is a tiny reassurance.

The baby was still alive.

Elizabeth noticed my protective stance and became even more furious. She viciously ripped my dress.

I was wearing a long white gown.

It was a gift from James, his favorite on me, now ruined by Elizabeth.

And it was blood-stained and dirty.

She tore at the straps, exposing me further, even ripping the fabric near my legs.

She ripped away the last shred of my dignity, leaving me nearly naked like a hollowed-out rag doll.

I cried out, "No, please, stop... I'm begging you..."

Overwhelmed by shame, I curled up as tightly as I could.

Now, I was left with barely anything covering me, just fragments of the dress clinging to me.

Elizabeth then started snapping photos, taking advantage of my vulnerability.

I covered my face, crying, never having felt such humiliation.

In school, if anyone dared to bully me, James was always my protector.

He'd taken beatings from thugs to keep me safe.

But now... James, they're hurting me.

One of the women hesitated, finally speaking up.

"Isn't this a bit much? She's supposed to be Mr. Lincoln's... affair..."

Enraged by her remark, Elizabeth threw aside the remains of my dress and stomped on my hand.

"A bit much? We're just getting started!"

"You're so young, yet you've mastered the art of seduction, haven't you? Using these little hands to lure my husband!"

Then, with a cruel force, she stepped on my hand.

"Ah!!"

The pain cut deep, my scream echoing as I clutched the now blood-soaked stones.

They were once pristine white, now a vivid red from my blood, spreading wider and wider.

At least I still have my baby, that's something.

No matter the pain, as long as the baby's okay, I'll hang in there.

I gritted my teeth, bearing it all for my baby.

Elizabeth wouldn't dare touch the baby. The Lincolns family values their heirs too much. She'd be in hot water if anything happened.

I kept believing she wouldn't dare harm my baby.

So, I endured the beatings.

But when Elizabeth's hand got too close to my belly, I caught her wrist with my blood-streaked hand.

Touch anything but my baby.

I gripped her wrist tight, causing her to yank her hand away with a hiss of pain.

"You little bitch! You dare grab me?"

"Just a little bump, huh?"

I shot her a glare, my eyes bloodshot.

"You dare give me that look!"

Elizabeth slapped me hard enough to turn my head.

"Stop looking at me like that! You're reminding me of James's tramp of a mother! If it weren't for her, my child... would still be here!"

She had no right to talk about his mom!

"It was you! You're the home wrecker! You destroyed his parents' marriage!"

I countered her, blood trickling from the corner of my mouth.

Suddenly, she squeezed my neck, cutting off my air. I gasped and choked, unable to speak.

All I could see were her furious, bloodshot eyes as she screamed at me.

"Say it again! I dare you!"

"Hahahahaha!"

Then, she laughed wildly, and the other women didn't dare to touch me, just watching in silence.

Elizabeth's manicured nails traced my belly, causing me to shiver. I quickly covered my stomach.

Gradually, she stood up.

She withdrew her hand and then raised her foot.

Her high heels, bright and blood-red, seemed to gleam menacingly.

I fixated on those heels, using every bit of strength to resist.

But I was too weak, and with a fierce stomp, she landed on my belly.

The pain erupted from deep within, like a knife slicing through me, leaving me breathless.

"...Ah!"

"It hurts! It hurts... so much!"

My body convulsed, my face pale, sweating profusely.

Suddenly, a warm gush came from my belly. Trembling, I reached down and found my hand covered in blood.

"Blood... my baby..."

I screamed, raw and desperate.

"Please, save me... save this baby. James's first child can't be lost."

Elizabeth, consumed by jealousy, appeared unfazed.

She casually tucked her hair behind her ear and picked up her phone.

"Elizabeth, take good care of Mary. After all, she's carrying a Lincoln."

Grasping for anything, I croaked, "Help... help me."

Elizabeth dismissed me, ranting on the phone.

"George, I'm pregnant too! How can you expect me to deal with your mistress?"

"What mistress? What pregnancy? Elizabeth, are you...?"

"Beep, beep, beep..."

Elizabeth hung up furiously, then smashed her phone to pieces.

I caught a sliver of information.

"You're pregnant too? Then you know what it's like to be a mother. Please, help me, my stomach... it hurts so badly..."

"Help you?"

Elizabeth sneered, looking down at me as I crawled, leaving a trail of bright red blood behind.

"Do you really think that's possible?"

I finally reached the discarded phone, trembling as I dialed James.

The moment the call connected. A flicker of hope surged.

James picked up.