I was four months pregnant, but Granger's first love Scarlett shouted loudly and triggered an avalanche.

She just to let me witness that Granger chose to save her in the face of the avalanche.

"Call Granger quickly! You coward, dare not admit that Granger loves me more."

But I ignored her provocation.

I turned off my phone, wrapped myself tightly in my mountaineering clothes to keep warm, and waited for rescue silently.

Just because I knew that Granger would save me, and Scarlett would die.

On the day I gave birth, Granger buried me and the child under the iceberg for Scarlett, and froze to death.

"It's all your fault for triggering the avalanche! Otherwise, Scarlett would not have died at all. You and this child should pay the price for Scarlett's death!"

Granger's roar in the previous life is still ringing in my ears.

And I returned to the day of the avalanche.

1

The icy snowmelt soaked through my clothes, leaving me shivering uncontrollably.

The bone-chilling cold instantly jolted me out of my past life's memories.

Struggling, I pulled my phone from my ski jacket, but I didn't dial my husband's number, despite him being the rescue team leader.

Instead, I trembled as I dialed the public emergency number.

When the rescue team arrived, the first person I saw was Granger's familiar figure.

Only after he had lifted Scarlett from the snow onto the rescue stretcher did I feel safe enough to ask the others for help.

Those team members thought I was causing trouble, coldly scolding me for wasting public resources.

The ice and snow had nearly frozen me to the point of hypothermia, my lower body already numb.

My face was frozen red, but my lips were pale and bloodless, and I even saw stars dancing before my eyes.

Yet they seemed not to notice, all crowding around Scarlett.

When I painfully crawled out of the snowdrift, all the warming equipment had been used on Scarlett.

Granger couldn't even be bothered to glance at me, treating me like useless trash.

I was shaking violently from the cold, my breathing growing weaker, and I could feel the life of my child slowly slipping away from my body.In my previous life, at the very moment the avalanche struck, Scarlett and I simultaneously called Granger for help.

He rushed over alone, and for the sake of the child, chose to rescue me first.

However, when he returned to the snowy mountain, a second avalanche occurred, making further rescue impossible.

Scarlett froze to death under the snow, her body blue and purple, barely recognizable as human.

Granger not only didn't blame me, but also gently comforted me, telling me not to feel guilty for the sake of the baby.

To take care of my health, he even took time off work to stay by my side constantly.

But on the day I gave birth, he immediately took me and the baby to the snowy mountain where Scarlett had died.

Right in front of me, he threw our child into a bottomless crevasse.

Cold snowflakes splattered on his face, making his eyes appear even more indifferent.

"Felicity, do you know what it feels like to freeze to death? The agony Scarlett went through, I want you to experience it in every detail!"

Afterwards, he pushed me into the abyss with his own hands, burying me and our child in the snowy mountain.

In this reincarnation, I just wanted to run far away.

I never imagined he could be so cruel as to not even provide a single set of thermal equipment.

My lower body was already frozen stiff, to the point where I couldn't even feel pain, only endless numbness.Blood splattered across the pristine white snow, a shockingly vivid crimson.

I used my last ounce of strength to grab the nearest team member, weakly crying out a final plea:

"Please... save the baby... save my child..."

He turned to look at me, but let out a contemptuous laugh.

He kicked me lightly with his foot.

"Felicity, I'll call you that one last time. Give it up, stop the act."

"I'll give you credit for coming to such high altitudes while pregnant, but the boss has already gone to rescue Scarlett. He won't see your performance, so just give up."

Another team member tugged at him, eyes full of mockery.

"Why are you even wasting words on her? She's willing to risk her own life and her child's for a man, and try to harm others too. Women really are the most vicious."

"Let me tell you, you better pray Scarlett is okay. Otherwise, you'll pay dearly!"

I knew Granger didn't love me, but I never imagined even his team members would see me this way.

A fool who deliberately triggered an avalanche for a man.

The excruciating pain in my abdomen overpowered the numbness, robbing me of any ability to speak.

My skin had broken out in bloody sores from the extreme cold.

Everyone was busy reinforcing defenses against a potential second avalanche. No one paid me any attention at all.In a haze of semi-consciousness, I heard someone exclaim:

"Holy shit, why is there so much blood on the floor? Did something really happen to her? Is she actually miscarrying?"

"What could possibly go wrong? There are so many people around, and she can't speak? She's just trying to get the boss's attention. Don't you understand women? Whatever, go get the boss. This has been going on long enough."

But instead of Granger's concern, all I got was his emotionless interrogation:

"Felicity, wake up. I'm here now. What are you still pretending for?"

"You're truly stupid, aren't you? Causing an avalanche and ending up in this miserable state. What, didn't think about the consequences when you did it?"

Seeing no response from me, he even slapped me twice across the face.

The ice-cold gloves struck my face, but I felt light as a feather. Only a buzzing sound resonated in my ears.

Even at this point, he still thought I was jealous and throwing a tantrum, deliberately causing the avalanche.

I wanted to explain and call for help, but my mind was too foggy to utter a single word.

My stomach felt like it was being ripped apart.

With all my remaining strength, I clutched at a tiny bit of his clothing, hoping he would understand my meaning.

But he hesitated for only two seconds before forcefully shaking off my hand. The momentum slammed me hard onto the ground, causing a second impact to my abdomen."You really missed your calling as an actress. If Scarlett hadn't spilled that you'd already wrapped yourself up in warm clothes and hidden, I might have actually believed you."

With those words, he left without hesitation.

"Wait, boss, there's blood, so much blood!"

"She didn't actually miscarry, did she...?"

"Come on, why are you all joining in on the commotion? The boss already said she staged it herself, don't tell me you actually bought it."

"Scarlett said she had prepared the blood bag beforehand. Working at the hospital makes it easy for her! Besides, she's a doctor herself, so she definitely knows the baby is far enough along to pull this off safely!"

Hearing these malicious speculations, I completely lost consciousness.

In my dream, I seemed to return to when I first met Granger.

He was a senior at a neighboring school, and by chance, I met him at an exchange event.

Even with his icy demeanor, his professional charm was undeniable.

Like many starry-eyed girls, I fell for him at first sight, seeking out any information I could about him.

Back then, I was just an ordinary student, not worthy of his attention.

To be worthy of him, I studied hard and got into the most prestigious graduate program.

During my internship, due to a major breakthrough in my pharmaceutical research, I was even offered an early permanent position at the hospital.After obtaining the status of attending physician, I mustered the courage to confess my feelings to him.

I could sense that his gaze upon me had changed.

A house, a car, even a diamond ring.

As if our roles were reversed, I prepared everything typically expected of the man.

Finally, my wish came true; he accepted my proposal.

I thought this was the beginning of happiness, but little did I know it was the start of my nightmare.

After agreeing to marry me, he became increasingly distant, spending less and less time with me.

I kept reassuring myself that he was just too busy, that as a first responder, he had a responsibility to the public.

I never doubted him until our wedding day.

An email from abroad shattered my beautiful dream completely.

Scarlett detailed their childhood sweetheart days, revealing they were still entangled even now.

All the times Granger had stood me up, he had been by her side.

In the photos, their smiles were radiant – smiles I had never received.

But I didn't dare confront him, let alone lay it all out in the open.

The one who falls in love first is the loser, and I lost my right to choose long ago.

More than him not loving me, I fear him leaving.

In my past life, when Scarlett passed away, his cold demeanor even made me smugly satisfied.

I once thought I was the winner.

He took care of me tirelessly to ensure the child's safe arrival.

The immense love made me lose my mind, and I indulged in this beautiful time.

Until after I gave birth, when he personally carved open the bloody reality, did I understand.

I had lost completely.

All his love for me was revenge.

He was punishing me with what I thought was love.

The only one in his heart was Scarlett.

When I woke up, I was lying in a hospital bed, with the familiar smell of disinfectant in my nose.

By the bedside wasn't Granger, but an unfamiliar face.

"You're awake? I'm a snow mountain climbing enthusiast. I was planning to make a wish on the mountain after the rescue team left, but who knew I'd find you lying alone on the ground when I got up there. My friend and I rushed you to the hospital right away. Are you alright? Is there anywhere you're feeling uncomfortable?"

She asked while handing me a cup of warm water.

"Those rescue team members must be blind. If my friend and I hadn't gone up and seen you..."I grasped the water glass, listening to her venting, my smile freezing as my hand touched my belly.

"My condolences... When we brought you in, the doctor said the baby couldn't be saved..."

I forced a smile, tears silently rolling down my face:

"Thank you for bringing me to the hospital."

"I guess this child and I weren't meant to be."

In two lifetimes, I couldn't keep him.

Even strangers would lend a hand to a pregnant woman lying in the snow, yet my husband could turn a blind eye.

Seeing my silence, the girl who brought me in became more upset than I was.

"These rescue teams are so irresponsible nowadays, how could they miss a whole person lying there!"

"If my friend and I hadn't had a sudden idea to check, you'd be dead, along with your baby!"

"And where's the father of your child? You've been unconscious for so long, and not even a phone call! Men are just unreliable."

"Can you give me a number? I'll help contact your family. You can't be alone right now."

"Oh, and I've already reported that rescue team. Who knows how many more people they'd let die if left unchecked!"

I lowered my head, my eyes complex:

"The baby has no father. He's dead."

At my words, the girl's face filled with regret and sympathy, repeatedly apologizing to me.She volunteered to take care of me until my family arrived.

I politely declined her offer.

It's not safe for a young woman to be alone outside. After transferring her the medical fees and a thank you payment, I encouraged her to leave.

Though she left, the online discussions were fermenting.

The news that the mountain rescue team's inaction nearly cost a pregnant woman and her unborn child their lives struck a nerve with many.

It quickly topped the trending headlines on various apps.

The girl posted my photo (with identifying details blurred) in the comments section, vividly describing my pitiful condition.

It instantly sparked heated debate across the internet.

Many criticized the rescue team, questioning if they were rescuing thin air while ignoring people's lives and safety.

This time it was me, but next time it could be any one of the commenters.

I scrolled through the flood of supportive comments, each one condemning and cyber-bullying Granger.

I felt that even this punishment was too light for him.

I opened our pinned chat, intending to send him a divorce message.

But Scarlett's gloating message popped up first.

Seeing the familiar decor, I realized she was in the same hospital, in a VIP room upstairs.

In the photo, Granger was carefully blowing on a spoonful of porridge, his eyes full of tenderness.I've seen their intimate photos countless times.

Such photos no longer stir any emotion in me.

I silently closed the chat window and called Granger.

On the seventh call, after five rings, he finally answered.

Before I could speak, his impatient voice crashed over me:

"Felicity, you have the nerve to call me? Do you know how much you've hurt Scarlett?"

"What, are you wondering if Scarlett's dead? Let me tell you, she's perfectly fine. She'd be fine even if you died!"

"You poisonous woman, do you know what you're doing? This is attempted murder! You're insane, all your education wasted!"

"I'm giving you one hour to get over here and apologize to Scarlett, or don't blame me for divorcing you!"

As his words faded, Scarlett's weak, pitiful voice came through the phone:

"Brother Granger, don't blame Felicity. She's pregnant, she can't get upset. I'm sure she didn't mean it. Let's just drop it, I'm fine."Granger sighed helplessly, his face full of indulgence:

"Scarlett, you always think too highly of people. You're too kind, that's why you keep getting bullied."

"We met first, yet you've always been so accommodating. Stop trying to persuade me, I'm going to teach her a lesson this time!"

Their voices quickly became sticky sweet. Fighting back nausea, I interrupted:

"Granger, let's get divorced. I've had my lawyer send you the agreement. Make sure you sign it."

Granger clearly hadn't expected me to bring up divorce first. He was stunned for a moment.

Taking advantage of his shock, I quickly hung up before he could explode in anger.

Before I could block his number, a barrage of messages flooded my inbox.

"Felicity, what madness are you up to now? Where are you? Don't think I won't lose my temper just because you're pregnant!"

"If it weren't for Scarlett persuading me that a child shouldn't be born without a father, I would've divorced you long ago. Don't be ungrateful! When you're in difficult labor with no one to sign for you, you'll come to your senses!"

"Also, did you stir up that news online? You'd better send a message to clarify immediately, or don't blame me for exposing your true colors without mercy!"He sent numerous messages, each word piercing straight to my heart.

I couldn't bear to read any further, decisively deleting all the texts and blocking his number.

Even with the bloody lessons from my past life laid bare before me, facing his betrayal once again still left my heart aching unbearably.

The nurses who came to change my dressings cast pitying glances my way. Seeing me pretend to doze with my head turned, they began chatting quietly among themselves:

"This poor patient, she's lost her baby and now she's all alone here. The child's father hasn't even bothered to visit once."

"It's true, comparing people really makes you want to scream. You know that VIP patient upstairs? I've never seen a couple so perfectly matched - both talented and good-looking. I heard they're even childhood sweethearts!"

"Oh, I know who you mean! And Mr. Frost takes such meticulous care of his wife, even insisting on doing little things like wiping her hands himself."

"That's nothing. You should smell the chicken soup Mr. Frost makes for his wife by hand - it's absolutely heavenly! There aren't many men who can cook these days. That wife of his is so lucky!"

"If only my husband could be as thoughtful as Mr. Frost in the future... I'd die happy!"

...I listened to their envious words as tears silently soaked my pillow.

The back of my hand was bruised and purple from needle pricks, devoid of warmth.

After they left, I gasped for air like a fish returning to water.

I curled up under the blanket, but couldn't get warm no matter what.

That evening, the doctor came to check on me. He said that because I had lain in the snow for too long, my uterus was damaged by the cold. It would be very difficult for me to have children in the future.

Being a doctor myself, I had already anticipated this.

Yet tears still flowed uncontrollably down the corners of my eyes.

What followed, surprisingly, was a sense of relief.

Perhaps someone like me was never meant to have children in the first place.

Whether born or not, they would have to suffer along with me.

Innocent lives deserve better destinies.

The online attacks had escalated to an uncontrollable degree, forcing the rescue team to issue an official statement.

However, the official reason given was that everything had been staged by me - I had brought this upon myself.

It was because I was jealous, they claimed, that I had deliberately triggered the avalanche.

Not only did it waste public resources, but it also implicated innocent people.

It even tarnished the good reputation of the rescue team.

While claiming to smooth things over, every word pointed the blame at me.

To add credibility, they even released my marriage certificate with Granger.

How could a husband not save his own darling?

This move completely nailed me to the pillory of shame.

The online backlash, originally aimed at the rescue team, swept towards me.

My explanations were drowned out by the curses of internet users.

They even tracked down the hospital where I was staying and sent me a room full of white chrysanthemums.

Even the medical staff's looks towards me turned hostile.

As soon as my paid fees expired, they politely but firmly asked me to leave.

Faced with all this, I endured it silently, without much explanation.

Only on the day of my discharge did I unblock Granger and send him a message.

"Let's go to the registry office tomorrow and finalize the divorce."

He seized the moment my message was sent successfully and called me back.

"What? Finally can't take it anymore? You've got some nerve showing up! I'm telling you, I warned you long ago. You didn't listen to me, and now even if you beg me, it's useless!""If it weren't for Scarlett pleading on your behalf, and considering you're still pregnant, I would've called the cops on you already! Divorce? Don't you dare regret it later when the kid's crying for their daddy! Don't come begging me then! It'll be your fault if he grows up to be a fatherless bastard!"

Before I could speak, I had already hung up the phone.

Silently, I opened the local files on my phone and copied the recording from that day with Scarlett.

In my past life, I lost my phone in the chaos. This time around, with no one watching me, I managed to keep the evidence.

Early the next morning, I packed my things and headed straight to the registry office with my documents.

But when the time came, it was Scarlett who showed up.

"I told you before, you can't beat me. Your dear husband only loves me."

Looking at my flat stomach, she feigned surprise:

"Where's the little bastard gone? Poor thing, killed by its own father in the last life, and now killed by its own mother in this one..."

"You're really unlucky to be stuck with her. Even if it had been born, it probably would've been short-lived anyway."

So she was reborn too?

Before my brain could process this, my hand had already grabbed her collar.

Seeing this, Scarlett shoved me hard.I've just had a miscarriage, and my body is so weak I barely have any strength. Her push sent me stumbling back several steps before I could barely steady myself.

By the time I came to my senses, I realized Scarlett had already fallen to the ground.

"Scarlett!"

Granger rushed past me from behind, running straight towards Scarlett.

He bumped into me, causing me to lose my balance and fall down the steps, aggravating old injuries and adding new ones.

The wound in my lower body was also torn open, causing me so much pain I couldn't straighten up.

Granger held her in his arms, then suddenly seemed to remember something and looked sharply at my belly.

Seeing my now flat abdomen, his face turned deathly pale.

"Where's the baby?!"

I struggled to my feet, my movements as stiff as rusty metal.

I turned slightly to block his view, my eyes full of mockery as I looked at him:

"The baby? Well, well. You're holding another woman in your arms, yet you can still think about a fatherless bastard. How touching. No wonder you're such a great captain of the rescue team."

"Granger, they don't call you the internet's most enviable good man for nothing. Too bad though, the baby's gone. It happened the day of the avalanche."

"Oh, and congratulations by the way. You two really are a 'match made in heaven'. Love prevails in the end, doesn't it?""I don't know how many more good days you'll have left, so cherish them while you can. Before long, your beloved woman will only be able to see you through iron bars!"

Granger's face contorted at my words, his eyes filled with fury.

"Felicity, can't you think before you speak? As the rescue team leader, not only did I not blame you for deliberately causing the avalanche, I also saved Scarlett for you, helping you avoid prison time. Instead of being grateful, you're turning this around on me?"

"Search your conscience and see if you have any right to speak to me like that!"

With trembling fingers, she pulled out her phone and dialed a number she knew by heart. As the line connected, she took a deep breath, steeling herself for the conversation ahead.

"Mom," she said, her voice barely above a whisper, "I've got something to tell you."

The pause on the other end of the line felt like an eternity. Emily could almost hear her mother's breath catch, sensing the weight of the words to come.

"What is it, sweetie?" her mother's concerned voice finally broke through.

Emily closed her eyes, letting the sounds of the city wash over her. The honking of taxis, the chatter of passersby, the distant wail of a siren – all seemed to fade into the background as she focused on this moment.

"I'm... I'm pregnant," she finally said, the words tumbling out in a rush.

The silence that followed was deafening. Emily's heart pounded in her ears as she waited for her mother's response. She could almost picture her mom, sitting in their family home back in Ohio, processing this life-altering news.

"Oh, Emily," her mother's voice was soft, a mix of surprise and concern. "Are you sure?"

Emily nodded, forgetting for a moment that her mother couldn't see her. "Yes, Mom. I took three tests. They were all positive."

Another pause, this one shorter. "And the father?"

Emily's throat tightened. This was the part she had been dreading. "It's... it's complicated, Mom. I don't want to talk about him right now."

She could hear her mother's sigh, could almost feel the worry radiating through the phone. "Alright, honey. We don't have to discuss that now. How are you feeling? Have you thought about what you want to do?"

The question hung in the air, heavy with implications. Emily found herself at a loss for words. She hadn't thought that far ahead yet, her mind still reeling from the discovery itself.

"I... I don't know, Mom," she admitted, her voice breaking. "I'm scared."

"Oh, sweetheart," her mother's voice softened, filled with love and understanding. "It's okay to be scared. This is a big thing. But remember, you're not alone. We're here for you, no matter what you decide."

Emily felt tears welling up in her eyes, a mix of relief and gratitude washing over her. "Thanks, Mom," she whispered.

As she ended the call, Emily looked up at the sky, the setting sun painting the clouds in shades of pink and orange. The city around her continued its relentless pace, oblivious to the life-changing moment she had just experienced.

She placed a hand on her still-flat stomach, a small smile tugging at her lips. Whatever challenges lay ahead, whatever decisions she would have to make, she knew one thing for certain – she wasn't alone. And for now, that was enough."Also, what's really going on with the child? Don't try to lie to me, it won't work! I'm not going to start caring about you just because of a few words you say!"

"Are you wearing a corset? Does the child know how his mother is treating him? I'm the child's biological father, you can't hide anything from me!""I will not fight you for custody even if the child is born!"

I never imagined that after being married for so long, this is how he saw me in his heart.

This marriage was simply ridiculous and absurd.

After throwing those harsh words at me, Granger carefully helped Scarlett up, intending to come over and check on my belly.

Scarlett let out a timely cry of pain, immediately making him stop in his tracks.

"Scarlett, are you alright? Did you hurt yourself somewhere? Let me take a look."

"I told you already, your body hasn't fully recovered yet. You should have stayed in the hospital to rest, but you insisted on coming to help me persuade her."

Scarlett blinked, tears of grievance rolling down her cheeks one by one, like a frightened rabbit.

"I'm fine, don't blame your Felicity. I shouldn't have gone with her to the ski resort that day. It's all my fault."

"I've always known she doesn't like me. I shouldn't have appeared in front of her to be an eyesore. It's all my fault, boo-hoo."

Granger immediately became so distressed that even his hand trembled as he wiped away her tears.

The intimate display between the two of them, completely disregarding my presence, made me feel nauseous.