Monica's POV

On the other end of the phone, my mother's voice was frantic.

"Monica, I've been in a car accident. I'm at the hospital. Hurry up and come pay the bills. If you don't come soon, they'll throw me out!"

Panic shot through me.

Ignoring the ache in my body, I forced myself to get up and rushed toward the hospital. As I ran, I checked my card balance, praying I wouldn't have to face another humiliating scene like the last time.

At that time, when an emergency arose, I asked Ashton for three hundred dollars to cover my phone bill.

Carmen, still just his assistant then, had turned me down coldly.

"How does the vice president not even have $300? At least come up with a better excuse. Don't embarrass yourself like this."

My request was denied outright.

Ashton had not questioned it at all, as he allowed Carmen to take full control of his finances.

When I finally reached my mother's hospital room, my steps faltered.

Sitting there, to my surprise, was Ashton.

I pushed my shock aside and rushed straight to my mother's bedside.

"Mom, how are you? What did the doctor say?"

My mother, usually so commanding, looked fragile against the pillows.

She let out a deep sigh and shook her head. "You finally show up, huh? You useless girl. If I'd waited for you, I'd be six feet under by now. Look, your future son-in-law was here the second I called."

Ashton gave a slight, nervous touch to his nose. I recognized that gesture well.

It was guilt. But I didn't say anything.

"Mom, this is what I should do," Ashton said smoothly, his tone warm, almost ingratiating. "If you need anything, just tell me. If I'm not around, call my assistant. How could I ever leave you unattended?"

It was as though all the filth between us had never happened.

But my mother's sharp eyes immediately turned to me.

Her frown deepened with concern.

"What's wrong with you? You look worse than I do, and I'm the one lying here sick. You better not be cutting off my source of fortune, Monica!"

She glanced at Ashton, as though giving him a silent warning.

Ashton ignored it, answering her patiently, "Monica's been working nonstop with me these past few days. She's just a little run-down. That's on me. I'll arrange for a full check-up right away, so you can see your daughter in perfect health."

He smiled warmly, then added, "And don't worry about expenses. I've already paid all your bills and even prepaid a little extra. Just relax and stay here."

After that, he excused himself, saying he had calls to make and would handle my check-up arrangements.

...

Later, outside the hospital room, I found myself standing in the hallway, facing Ashton.

For a moment, I hesitated.

My words caught in my throat before I finally asked, "How much are my mom's treatment costs? I'll transfer the money to you. We should keep things clear just in case."

His expression hardened instantly.

The warmth on his face vanished.

"Do you really think so little of me? I can handle the treatment costs. Besides, we're about to be married. What's mine is yours."

The air between us grew heavy, the words lingering.

For the first time, I wondered if we could actually go through with this marriage.

I stayed silent, and within minutes, the doctor that Ashton arranged for appeared.

He guided me through a series of tests while Ashton remained in the VIP lounge.

When the check-up was done, the doctor entered the lounge with a thick stack of reports. Ashton was busy, stubby cigarette in hand.

He hastily put it out and shifted in his seat.

The doctor flipped through the pages and started, "Miss Wright, your test results show no major issues, but just earlier…"

Before he could finish, Ashton raised a hand, cutting him off.

His phone was already pressed to his ear.

"Hello? Carmen, what's wrong?"

As he listened to the soft voice on the other end, his face grew more serious by the second.

He grabbed his jacket and stood abruptly.

"Don't cry. It's nothing serious. I'll be there right away. Just stay where you are and wait for me."

Just like that, he was gone, rushing off and leaving me alone with the doctor.

We exchanged uncertain glances, and the silence settled between us.

Monica's POV

By now, Ashton's reactions didn't even faze me anymore.

I had become numb to them.

I had lost count of how many times he had abandoned me without a second thought.

The first time, he stated there was an emergency meeting at the company, but in reality, Carmen had locked herself out and called him for assistance.

The second time, he told me he was flying to Europe on business, but he was actually taking Carmen on vacation.

The third time, it was 1 a.m. when Carmen got drunk and insisted Ashton pick her up.

He left without hesitation, brushing me off with a casual, "I've got a gathering."

The pattern was clear.

The sound of the doctor clearing his throat broke through those bitter thoughts.

His voice was gentle, but filled with concern. "Miss Wright, are you okay?"

I quickly wiped my tears, shaking my head to clear the fog.

I forced a small, reassuring smile for him.

He hesitated before speaking again. "From the looks of it, you've just had a miscarriage. You need to take better care of yourself, or it might be difficult to conceive again."

His words struck deep, but I knew he meant well.

I nodded, grateful for his honesty.

After leaving the lounge, I headed back to my mother's hospital room. She was scrolling absentmindedly through her phone, but when she saw that Ashton wasn't with me, her brow furrowed.

"Where's your fiancé? Did you chase him off again?"

I froze. It wasn't the first time my mother had made a snide remark about Ashton.

She always valued money over anything else, and it made me feel like I was invisible.

"He probably had something to take care of," I said, keeping my voice steady. "He left early."

She didn't press further, her eyes dropping back to her phone.

"Alright, alright. Go home. Look at yourself. You're as pale as a ghost, and I'm the one stuck in a hospital bed. Go home and rest."

Satisfied that she was fine, I left the hospital.

On my way out, I checked my social media feed. One new post caught my eye.

[Had a little mishap. Someone's beloved car is wrecked again. Feeling grateful to the one who came to clean up the mess despite everything.]

Attached was a photo of Ashton, looking exhausted, his face drawn with worry and care.

The post had gone up just half an hour ago, and already the comments were piling in.

[Carmen's incredible. Ashton does whatever she says now.]

[That car is his baby, and he let you wreck it? This must mean something big is coming.]

I stared at the screen, my eyes dry and burning.

Maybe I'd cried so much that there was nothing left.

Ashton had never shown me that kind of affection before. He wouldn't even let me eat in his car, insisting it would leave a smell. He also wouldn't allow me to drive it, claiming that I wouldn't be able to afford the repairs if something happened.

When I finally got home, strange noises drifted from the living room.

My heart skipped a beat. Ashton shouldn't have been home yet.

Could it be a thief?

I pushed the door open and froze.

Carmen sat casually on the couch in a revealing outfit. Ashton was there too, bare-chested and wearing only pants.

They both turned to look at me, their faces completely guilt-free.

My anger flared. "What the hell are you two doing here? Get out of my house! Did I invite you in?"

Ashton didn't flinch.

He lowered his head, speaking calmly. "Carmen was covered in dirt and dust. This place was the closest, so she came here to clean up. Nothing happened."

Carmen, clinging to him, added sweetly, "Yeah, Monica, don't be mad! Ashton's just helping me out. I'm sure you understand."

I sneered. "Ashton, don't disgust me. You own countless properties, but you brought your mistress here? Do you enjoy this? Does cheating excite you?"

His expression hardened, irritation flashing across his face. "Looks like the pregnancy hormones are messing with your head. Why are you being so unreasonable? Didn't I warn you before? You never listen."

He turned to Carmen, signaling her to leave. "Carmen, let's go. Don't waste your time on her."

Monica's POV

The door slammed shut with a deafening crack, but I could still hear their voices carrying down the hall.

"Monica misunderstanding us like this isn't fair. Ashton, you should explain it to her," Carmen said, her voice dripping with false sweetness.

Ashton responded with nothing more than a sharp, dismissive snort. "Explain? Does she even deserve it? What more does she want from me? She eats my food, wears my clothes, uses my things."

"Oh, Mr. Kincaid, don't say that," Carmen cooed, her voice thin and insincere. "Your wife is still pregnant, and getting angry isn't good for the baby…"

Their voices faded as their footsteps disappeared, but the burning anger in my chest only intensified.

Fueled by adrenaline, I tore through the room, shoving Ashton's shirts and cufflinks into bags.

Every piece I touched carried the sting of betrayal, a reminder of how deep the bitterness ran inside me.

I thought bitterly: 'Wasn't it you, Ashton, who once claimed you felt sorry for me when I got pregnant? You were the one who pushed me to quit my job. And now you twist it, calling me the burden. Do you even have a heart?'

That's right...the baby is gone.

The thought consumed me.

After days of strain, grief, and exhaustion, my body finally succumbed to fatigue, and I collapsed into a deep sleep.

...

The next morning, I woke groggy, blinking against the sunlight, only to jolt upright when I saw Ashton lying beside me.

"Ashton, what are you doing here?"

He smiled gently, straightening his shirt as if nothing were wrong. "You can't be serious about last night. Didn't we agree to play along with the "propping her up' plan for Carmen? The higher she climbs, the harder she'll fall. Did you forget? You wouldn't believe it—Carmen was over the moon last night."

I stared at him, the familiarity of his face feeling distant now, as if something inside me had shifted.

My voice came out low, like I was pleading for something I knew I could never get.

"And you? Were you happy?"

Ashton didn't notice the shift in my tone.

He chuckled lightly, his usual self, carefree and casual. "Of course, I was! We're one step closer to our plan. Now get up. I made you breakfast to make up for last night. Our child shouldn't go hungry."

With light steps, he left the bedroom.

I watched his retreating figure, whispering under my breath, "You keep hiding behind this 'propping her up' excuse, but you can't even see your own heart. And there's no child anymore."

In the dining room, Ashton had set out a steaming bowl of porridge.

He smiled, pushing it toward me.

I bent closer, and a strange scent hit me.

I frowned. "What's in this?"

"Nothing special. Just rice, shrimp… and yams," he replied.

But then his face turned pale. I saw the flicker of guilt as he remembered that I was allergic to yams.

"Monica, I've been so busy I forgot. I'll make you noodles instead."

He stood quickly, trying to cover his mistake.

I cut him off sharply. "That's enough, Ashton. What is it you really want from me?"

His hand froze mid-air, the spoon still dripping porridge.

He looked at me, confusion tightening his voice. "Do you really not trust me? When did it get like this between us?"

The moment lingered before he recovered, his voice soft and coaxing. "Monica, I know I haven't been attentive to you and the baby lately. Don't be upset. Things will get better once this phase is over."

I cut him off, my voice as cold as ice. "I'll say it again. The baby is gone. And your things are packed. Leave."

For a moment, his expression darkened.

Then, to my surprise, joy suddenly appeared on his face.

"I knew you still cared about me. I'll be back, I promise."

Before I could answer, he grabbed his phone and dialed.

"Carmen, Monica finally agreed to let me move out. But once we're married, I'll definitely have to go back home, or she'll throw a fit. Just wait for me, I'll be there soon."

On the other end, Carmen's voice rang out, smug and sweet. "Monica, if you need anything, just call my assistant. I'm pretty busy right now."

Without so much as a glance my way, Ashton slung the bag I had packed for him over his shoulder and walked out.

I forced down the storm rising in my chest, turned, and dialed a familiar number.

My voice was steady when I spoke.

"I want to invite you to my wedding in seven days. But this time, I want you to be my groom."

Monica's POV

The door slammed shut with a deafening crack, but I could still hear their voices carrying down the hall.

"Monica misunderstanding us like this isn't fair. Ashton, you should explain it to her," Carmen said, her voice dripping with false sweetness.

Ashton responded with nothing more than a sharp, dismissive snort. "Explain? Does she even deserve it? What more does she want from me? She eats my food, wears my clothes, uses my things."

"Oh, Mr. Kincaid, don't say that," Carmen cooed, her voice thin and insincere. "Your wife is still pregnant, and getting angry isn't good for the baby…"

Their voices faded as their footsteps disappeared, but the burning anger in my chest only intensified.

Fueled by adrenaline, I tore through the room, shoving Ashton's shirts and cufflinks into bags.

Every piece I touched carried the sting of betrayal, a reminder of how deep the bitterness ran inside me.

I thought bitterly: 'Wasn't it you, Ashton, who once claimed you felt sorry for me when I got pregnant? You were the one who pushed me to quit my job. And now you twist it, calling me the burden. Do you even have a heart?'

That's right...the baby is gone.

The thought consumed me.

After days of strain, grief, and exhaustion, my body finally succumbed to fatigue, and I collapsed into a deep sleep.

...

The next morning, I woke groggy, blinking against the sunlight, only to jolt upright when I saw Ashton lying beside me.

"Ashton, what are you doing here?"

He smiled gently, straightening his shirt as if nothing were wrong. "You can't be serious about last night. Didn't we agree to play along with the "propping her up' plan for Carmen? The higher she climbs, the harder she'll fall. Did you forget? You wouldn't believe it—Carmen was over the moon last night."

I stared at him, the familiarity of his face feeling distant now, as if something inside me had shifted.

My voice came out low, like I was pleading for something I knew I could never get.

"And you? Were you happy?"

Ashton didn't notice the shift in my tone.

He chuckled lightly, his usual self, carefree and casual. "Of course, I was! We're one step closer to our plan. Now get up. I made you breakfast to make up for last night. Our child shouldn't go hungry."

With light steps, he left the bedroom.

I watched his retreating figure, whispering under my breath, "You keep hiding behind this 'propping her up' excuse, but you can't even see your own heart. And there's no child anymore."

In the dining room, Ashton had set out a steaming bowl of porridge.

He smiled, pushing it toward me.

I bent closer, and a strange scent hit me.

I frowned. "What's in this?"

"Nothing special. Just rice, shrimp… and yams," he replied.

But then his face turned pale. I saw the flicker of guilt as he remembered that I was allergic to yams.

"Monica, I've been so busy I forgot. I'll make you noodles instead."

He stood quickly, trying to cover his mistake.

I cut him off sharply. "That's enough, Ashton. What is it you really want from me?"

His hand froze mid-air, the spoon still dripping porridge.

He looked at me, confusion tightening his voice. "Do you really not trust me? When did it get like this between us?"

The moment lingered before he recovered, his voice soft and coaxing. "Monica, I know I haven't been attentive to you and the baby lately. Don't be upset. Things will get better once this phase is over."

I cut him off, my voice as cold as ice. "I'll say it again. The baby is gone. And your things are packed. Leave."

For a moment, his expression darkened.

Then, to my surprise, joy suddenly appeared on his face.

"I knew you still cared about me. I'll be back, I promise."

Before I could answer, he grabbed his phone and dialed.

"Carmen, Monica finally agreed to let me move out. But once we're married, I'll definitely have to go back home, or she'll throw a fit. Just wait for me, I'll be there soon."

On the other end, Carmen's voice rang out, smug and sweet. "Monica, if you need anything, just call my assistant. I'm pretty busy right now."

Without so much as a glance my way, Ashton slung the bag I had packed for him over his shoulder and walked out.

I forced down the storm rising in my chest, turned, and dialed a familiar number.

My voice was steady when I spoke.

"I want to invite you to my wedding in seven days. But this time, I want you to be my groom."