Cassandra felt like she had heard a huge joke. Pregnant? Was that even possible?

Three days ago, she kept feeling sick and vomiting. At her mother’s suggestion, she went for a medical checkup. She never expected to find out that she was already carrying Oliver’s child.

She smiled, but tears kept falling. Why now? Why did she have to get pregnant at this moment?

Three years ago, she slipped and fell into the river and almost died. After she was rescued, the doctor said she would never be able to have children again.

Because of this, the Prescotts, Oliver's family, refused to accept her. Even so, Oliver insisted on marrying her. He got driven out of the family and endured great pressure just to be with her.

That year, Oliver became the biggest joke in their social circle. He got labelled as that man who gave up his family’s business and wealth for a woman.

Cassandra felt both touched and guilty. She tried everything to get pregnant. She even drank traditional medicine for three years, but nothing worked.

So why, at the moment when she regretted ever meeting Oliver, was she carrying his child? Why was fate so cruel to her?

Inside the bedroom, Oliver and Bianca were still holding each other closely, whispering sweet words.

Outside the room, Cassandra’s eyes changed from pain, to numbness and finally to coldness. She lowered her head, took out her phone and made an appointment for an abortion.

The doctor tried to persuade her. [Ms. Wolfe, you already have a condition that getting pregnant was greatly difficul. If you miss this chance, you may never be able to have a child again.]

Cassandra’s hand trembled as she held the phone. She touched her stomach and looked at the two people in the room.

She smiled bitterly. “If I cannot give my baby happiness, I would rather not have it.”

She was already broken and Oliver was destined to never give fatherly love for the baby.

After hanging up, she felt all her strength leave her body. She leaned against the wall, her nails digging into her palm until blood flowed.

She slowly lowered her head, then suddenly laughed. Her voice was hoarse as she whispered, “Bianca. Oliver. Since you want to be together, I will let you two have it.”

She then contacted a lawyer to ask about divorce procedures. The lawyer told her that even after filing for divorce, there would be a 30-day cooling-off period.

She couldn’t wait that long. But when she checked her personal records, her marital status still showed “single.”

Her face turned pale.

She once took out her marriage certificate to a city hall, but the staff said to her, “Ms. Wolfe, this marriage certificate is fake. Were you deceived into marriage?”

Deceived?

Cassandra forced a stiff smile. She didn’t want to believe it, yet she had no choice.

She knew Oliver had lied to her. But she never imagined that even their marriage was fake.

They weren’t even legally husband and wife.

It had all been a carefully planned trap. The love she believed was the most sincere now felt disgusting.

Thinking about being fooled for three years made her stomach churn. The nausea was so strong she almost vomited. Without realizing it, she walked to the entrance of Oliver’s company.

Back then, they were young and deeply in love. Oliver had built the company himself and named it after their names.

Cassandra and Oliver—O&C Enterprises.

Cassandra once felt extremely happy, believing it was proof of their love. Now, it felt like a cruel joke.

She opened her phone and signed up to be a volunteer teacher in a mountain village.

The staff asked her, “Once you go, you won’t be able to leave for three years from the area. Are you sure, miss?”

Cassandra replied calmly, “I’m sure.”

“Alright. A car will come to pick you up in seven days, Ms. Wolfe,” said the staff.

After hanging up, Cassandra took a deep breath and wiped the tears from her face.

Oliver... in seven days, will you feel regret after you realize I’ve already left?

When Cassandra returned home, the birthday cake was already badly ruined. In the end, she put it into the refrigerator.

The next second, her sister sent a message, [Sister, I was busy just now and didn’t see your message. Did you come over?]

Cassandra gave a cold, sarcastic smile.

She really wanted to reply that she did came over Bianca's place and that she had even seen her cheating with Oliver.

But reason stopped her.

[I had something come up, so I haven't been at your place,] she replied.

Bianca then sent back a smiling emoji. Cassandra didn’t reply again.

That night, Oliver and Cassandra organized a party specially to celebrate Bianca’s birthday.

Oliver came home as if nothing had happened and said with a smile, “Bianca doesn’t come back often. This time, we must make it special.”

Aiden, his assistant said, “Don’t worry, Mr. Prescott. I’ll take care of the banquet.”

“No need. I’ll do it myself,” Oliver replied.

As soon as he said that, both Cassandra and Aiden froze.

Oliver immediately called a hotel receptionist and confirmed every detail of the party. He smiled gently, looking relaxed and happy. But both Cassandra and Aiden knew that Oliver hated organizing banquets. He always found them tiring.

Even for Cassandra’s wedding, Oliver only bought her the most expensive jewels. He never personally handled the wedding arrangements.

He always left everything to his trusted assistant.

Aiden glanced at Cassandra, her expression complicated. But then, he she smiled quickly and said, “Alright. I’m familiar with these things, Sir. I’ll help you out.”

The two of them acted as if Cassandra didn’t exist. They discussed the decorations and Bianca’s preferences, then left together laughing. Cassandra could only watch their backs. Her heart was already broken beyond repair.

So this was the difference between love and not loving someone.

She once believed Oliver loved her deeply. Now she finally understood that his love was obviously never for her.

She said silently to herself, “Cassandra, look at this man you loved for more than ten years...”

After they left, Cassandra took a taxi to the hospital. In the car, she gently touched her stomach. Her expression was soft and full of longing.

Lying on the operating table, Cassandra let the cold instruments turn her child into nothingness. When she felt the cold beneath her body, tears slid from the corner of her eyes.

She thought to herself: At this moment, Oliver was probably happily preparing Bianca’s birthday party.

If Oliver knew she had been pregnant and that she had ended the pregnancy, what would he feel?

Cassandra gave a cold smile.

After leaving the operating room, she rushed straight to the birthday party Oliver had prepared for Bianca.

But even though she hurried, she was still late.

Before she could apologize, Bianca angrily threw a torn dress at her.

“Sandra, I know you’re unhappy that I came back,” Bianca said tearfully. “But this is my favorite dress. Oliver gave it to me before. How could you ruin it?”

Bianca was full of grief. She looked like she was about to cry and made people feel sorry for her.

But Cassandra had done absolutely nothing about the dress! She would never do something like that. Even if she wanted to, she didn’t have the time.

So, she tried to explain, but no one believed her.

Oliver looked at her with certainty and said coldly, “Sandra, I know you’ve always been jealous that your sister is more loved. But you can’t do something like this.”

Their parents also looked at her with cold faces. “Since you were young, you always competed with your sister and lost every time. And now you'd do something this cruel? Hurry up and apologize to your sister!”

Cassandra clenched her fingers. “What if I don’t apologize?”

At that, her parents sneered. “Then don’t think about seeing Grandma Willow again. She’s the one who spoiled you and turned you into someone rude and uneducated. Compared to Bianca, you’re just a useless child no one wants.”

Cassandra laughed. “That’s right. Since my own parents don’t even want me, what’s wrong with turning into a real child with no parents?”

Alana, her mother, instantly blew up with anger. She raised her hand and slapped Cassandra hard across the face.

“Shut up! I should never have given birth to you!”

When Cassandra was born, Alana nearly died from heavy bleeding. Because of that, she always felt resentment toward her. So Cassandra was sent to live with Grandma Willow when she was young. She was only brought back when her grandma fell ill.

Even so, her parents always believed she was stealing Bianca’s affection. They bought Bianca beautiful clothes and jewelry and held a grand coming-of-age ceremony for her.

But for Cassandra, there was only distance and blame towards her. When she was young, she once said that her parents really did love her sister more. They remembered that sentence for years and labeled her as an envious kid.

Even now, Cassandra’s heart felt completely cold towards her parents. She had just undergone surgery. Her face was pale and bloodless. Yet they kept blaming her.

“Today is your sister’s birthday. You arrived late and caused trouble. Hurry up and apologize!”

Her sister? A sister who stole her husband?

Cassandra looked at Bianca with mocking eyes. Her expression was cold as she said clearly, “I won’t apologize, unless you show me proof.”

A loud slap echoed.

Oliver slapped her hard. His anger was so strong that the veins in his neck stood out.

“Cassandra,” he roared, “Since when are you like this?”

Cassandra’s ears rang and her head buzzed. But the pain in her heart was even worse than the pain on her face.

She had grown up with Oliver since childhood. After marriage, they had been together for years. Yet, Oliver believed Bianca more and so easily.

Cassandra looked at him and suddenly laughed. “Oliver, I am your wife. Aren’t you afraid people will laugh at you for doing this?”

His face darkened instantly. He grabbed her arm and dragged her away. “I’ll give you one last chance. Will you apologize to your sister?”

Cassandra looked at him and asked, “Do you remember what you said at our wedding? You said you would protect and love me for life. What are you even doing now?”

For a moment, something moved in Oliver’s eyes.

But then Bianca’s voice came from behind them. “Oliver, what are you doing?”

All the hesitation in his eyes disappeared instantly. Oliver looked at Cassandra and suddenly pushed her into a small room.

“Sandra, you once told me you are afraid of the cold. I'll put you in this freezer for frozen meat. If you apologize, I will let you out.”

Cassandra’s whole body turned cold. The wounds from her recent surgery began to hurt again.

Even so, she did not give in. “I will not apologize. Even if I die, I will not apologize.”

“Good. Very good,” he said with a cold laugh. “Then stay there until you're dead.”

With a loud bang, he slammed the freezer door shut.

Inside, Cassandra could not open the door at all. Every second felt like her flesh was freezing solid. Even breathing hurt.

She kept banging on the door. “Oliver! Let me out! This is murder! This is a crime!”

But no one cared. Sometimes people passed by, but no one came in. After an unknown amount of time, her mind became blurry. Her heart felt like it was turning into ice.

She lost consciousness. When she opened her eyes again, pain woke her up.

Bianca slapped her across the face and looked down at her with open malice.

“Sister, how does it feel to almost freeze to death?” Bianca said with a smile. “I can’t let you die so easily. I still want you to watch my wedding with Oliver.”

Cassandra’s voice was weak as she asked, “Why? I’m your sister, Bianca! Why are you treating me like this?”

Bianca laughed loudly. “Sister? What a joke. Do you think I would like a sister who competes with me for our parents’ love?”

“To be honest, I saw you yesterday at my place. I thought you would lose control, but you stayed calm.”

So Bianca had known all along. She had even done it on purpose. That was why the door was left open.

Cassandra was in so much pain that her eyes looked empty.

Bianca smiled lightly. “Sister, you should thank me. If it weren’t for me, Oliver wouldn’t even look at you.”

“He said you are like plain water, tasteless. And I am like a strong rose.”

“I only said I wanted to lock you in this frezer and he really did it! What a surprise! Sister, how pitiful you are.”

“Oh, and that old Grandma Willow of yours,” Bianca continued sweetly. “She wants to leave all her inheritance to you. Should I change her medicine and let her die sooner?” Her words were full of hatred, yet she smiled beautifully.

Cassandra could endure anything, but not this. She would never allow anyone to hurt Grandma Willow. In rage, almost crazed, Cassandra stood up and grabbed Bianca by the neck.

Bianca suddenly smiled smugly. “You’re finished.”

The next second, Oliver appeared at the door, his face full of anger. With a loud thud, Cassandra was thrown heavily to the ground. Her stomach hit a sharp corner.

She let out a terrible scream. “Ah—!”

No one helped her.

Cassandra saw blood covering her body. She felt cold all over, as if she were about to die.

But she couldn’t die. Grandma Willow still needed her.

Tears burst from her eyes. She lifted her head and begged them to save her. But no one looked at her.

Bianca cried as she hugged Oliver’s neck. “Oliver, I only wanted to let my sister out. I didn’t expect her to think you treated her badly because of me. She tried to strangle me. I’m so scared.”

She cried as if her heart were breaking.

Oliver’s heart ached for Bianca. When he looked at Cassandra, it was like he was looking at a dead person.

Their parents were also alarmed.

Alana kicked Cassandra hard and shouted, “Cassandra! Bianca is the child I carried for nine months. How dare you hurt her!”

Cassandra’s eyes turned red. “Mom, I was also carried by you for nine months. Am I not your daughter too?”

Alana laughed coldly. “I don’t have such a cruel daughter.”

Cassandra felt her chest tighten. Her vision went black.

She completely lost consciousness.