Three days later, Trudy was discharged from the hospital.

　　She barely made it to the front entrance before a bodyguard intercepted her, there to escort her to a gala.

　　She didn't want to get in the car. The bodyguard hauled her in anyway.

　　Inside the banquet hall, guests raised their glasses to Serena.

　　"Director Mason Fox is truly in a league of her own. She enters one little competition and the piece is already extraordinary. The whole collection sold out in three days."

　　"Director Mason and Mr. Simmons look so perfect together. Only a woman of her caliber deserves to stand beside him. I don't know how that plagiarist had the nerve to cling on for so long."

　　"And she actually showed up to the celebration? Disgusting."

　　Trudy swirled the wine in her glass, unmoved.

　　She'd heard every variation of this for five years. It bored her now.

　　She slipped outside the banquet hall. The cool night air brushed against her skin, and she closed her eyes, savoring the brief silence.

　　"Trudy. I'm surprised that little bastard in your belly was tough enough to survive."

　　"All that trouble, and it still didn't die."

　　Serena's venomous voice cut through the quiet.

　　Trudy frowned, stepping back. "What do you want?"

　　"If you know what's good for you, stay away from Zachary."

　　"You're an orphan. You never had the right to stand beside him. His wife can only be me."

　　Trudy let out a dry laugh. "So because you're the billionaire's daughter, that makes you better than everyone else?"

　　Serena lifted her chin. "Obviously."

　　She tapped the sapphire necklace at her throat. Under the night sky, the stones blazed with light.

　　"See this?"

　　"Every gem on this necklace is worth tens of millions. You're an orphan. If it weren't for Zachary Simmons, you'd never have laid eyes on something like this in your life."

　　Trudy had once asked her father whether there was anyone named Serena in the Mason family.

　　Her father said no such person existed.

　　There was, however, a servant's daughter living in the Masons' estate. Her name was Serena.

　　The thought curled Trudy's lips into a cold half-smile. She looked Serena up and down. "Miss Mason, stolen things always have to be returned."

　　"When the day comes that everyone finds out you're a fraud, I wonder if you'll be any better off than an orphan like me."

　　Panic flashed through Serena's eyes. She forced herself steady.

　　"What's that supposed to mean?"

　　"If you dare run your mouth, I will make you regret it."

　　Trudy just smiled and said nothing.

　　On the wedding day, the truth would come out for the whole world to see.

　　Let Serena have her few days of glory. After all, the higher the climb, the harder the fall.

　　Serena stared at her, the unease in her chest growing wilder.

　　Her eyes darted. Then she pulled something from inside her dress and dangled it in front of Trudy's face with a smug grin.

　　"Miss Wren, I believe this belongs to you?"

　　Trudy's heart seized.

　　It was the protective charm Matron Grace had given her. Every child at the orphanage received one, and every child treasured it. Trudy was no different.

　　Because it was one of the few pieces of genuine love she'd ever received.

　　Looking at it felt like having Matron Grace right beside her.

　　"That's mine. Give it back."

　　A cruel smile spread across Serena's face. She glanced toward the pool nearby.

　　She raised her arm and hurled the charm into the water.

　　"You want it? Go fish it out yourself."

　　Trudy turned and dove in without a second thought.

　　She was grateful, in that moment, that she knew how to swim. But the instant her fingers closed around the charm and she turned back toward the edge, a hand shot up from below and locked around her right ankle, dragging her down.

　　"Help!"

　　Trudy screamed.

　　Serena watched her thrash, arms folded, the malice in her eyes barely concealed.

　　Zachary saw it happen. His pupils contracted.

　　"Trudy!"

　　He lurched forward, ready to jump in after her.

　　Then Serena let out a sharp cry of pain.

　　"Ah! Zachary, my stomach hurts so bad..."

　　"The baby. What if something's wrong with the baby?"

　　Zachary's expression changed instantly. He spun around and pulled Serena into his arms.

　　"Don't worry. I'm taking you to the hospital right now."

　　"The baby will be fine."

　　Trudy watched their silhouettes shrink into the distance, and despair swallowed her inch by inch.

　　She was carrying his child too.

　　For one fleeting moment, she wanted to stop fighting. Just let the water take her.

　　But she had finally found her real parents. And inside her was the baby she'd longed for.

　　She didn't want to die.

　　She refused to.

　　Fury and will surged through her. She kicked harder, legs thrashing beneath the surface, and the grip on her ankle broke loose.

　　Her right foot free, Trudy clawed toward the edge with everything she had.

　　Only when she hauled herself onto the tiles did she let herself breathe.

　　But the figure below surfaced after her. A man, climbing out of the pool, closing the distance step by step.

　　"Miss Wren, I admire your willpower."

　　"Too bad you crossed the wrong person. So tonight, you die here."

　　His hand was inches from her throat when someone burst from the shadows and drove a savage kick into his ribs.

　　The man flew backward into the pool.

　　"Who the hell are you?"

　　He clawed at the edge, trying to pull himself up, but a hand shoved him back under.

　　He struggled until his strength gave out and his body sank beneath the surface.

　　"Miss Wren, I was sent by your fiancé to protect you. You can call me Assistant Fox."

　　Trudy froze. Since when did she have a fiancé?

　　But before she could ask, her vision went black and she collapsed.

　　Zachary sat at the edge of the hospital bed, staring blankly at the woman lying before him, her face drained of color.

　　The doctor had just told him the baby was gone.

　　It was the outcome he'd wanted. So why did something twist, sharp and sudden, behind his ribs?

　　Just then, Trudy's phone lit up with a notification.

　　Trudy, everything you asked for has been compiled and sent over. Also, in two days we'll meet at the airport...

　　The rest of the message was cut off.

　　Zachary's pulse spiked. He reached for the phone on instinct, but he didn't know her passcode.

　　Then he remembered. Trudy had once told him her password was the date they first met.

　　His fingers tapped the screen. The numbers went in. Password incorrect.

　　He frowned and tried several other dates.

　　Every single one failed.

　　Trudy opened her eyes. Her hand drifted to her stomach. It was flat. Empty.

　　"The baby..."

　　"Where's my baby?"

　　Zachary's knuckles were white around the phone. His voice came out low and rough. "Gone."

　　Trudy closed her eyes. The pain in her chest was so absolute she couldn't breathe.

　　If someone had pulled her out of that pool in time, the baby might have survived.

　　But Zachary had chosen. Between her and Serena, he'd chosen to let his child die.

　　She'd given up on this man long ago. She knew that. But the baby was different. The thought of what he'd cost her carved through every wall she'd built.

　　She closed her eyes and let the tears run.

　　"Get out."

　　Zachary's face went pale. "Trudy, Serena is the billionaire's daughter. If anything happened to her, her father would crush the Simmons family. We wouldn't stand a chance."

　　"I sent someone to save you. They just... got there too late."

　　Trudy didn't want to hear it.

　　She opened her eyes and fixed them on Zachary. Nothing but hatred.

　　"I said get out!"

　　"I don't want to look at you!"

　　Zachary's face cycled between white and gray. He looked at her, at the bloodless skin and hollow fury, and guilt crawled through him like something alive.

　　"Fine. Get some rest. I'll come check on you later."

　　He set down the phone, turned, and left like he was fleeing a fire.

　　Trudy pressed both hands over her face. The sound that came out of her was ragged, suffocated, barely human.

　　A long time passed before the shaking stopped.

　　She picked up her phone and opened the files her father had sent.

　　The truth about the car accident. Evidence of the plagiarism frame-up. And every filthy thing Serena had done over the years.

　　She forwarded everything to one person.

　　In two days, make sure all of this appears at Zachary's wedding.

　　Done.

　　When it was finished, Trudy closed her eyes, wanting just a moment of rest.

　　Her phone rang. Urgent, shrill.

　　"Trudy, it's bad. Matron Grace just took a turn for the worse. She needs a blood transfusion. You have the same rare blood type. You're the only match."

　　Trudy ripped the IV needle from the back of her hand. "I'm coming."

　　She rushed out of the room, hailed a cab, and raced to Matron Grace's hospital.

　　She found a nurse and told her she was there to donate blood for the patient.

　　The nurse took one look at her ashen face, and concern flickered in her eyes.

　　"Ma'am, you look quite weak. Are you sure you want to do this?"

　　Trudy nodded without hesitation. "However much she needs. Take it."

　　When the thick needle pierced her arm, her whole body shuddered.

　　But she thought of Matron Grace getting better, bit down on her lip, and held still through the pain.

　　Bag after bag was drawn. Trudy's vision blurred and her thoughts turned to static.

　　She forced herself to stay conscious. "The patient. How is she doing after the transfusion?"

　　The nurse's voice was quiet. "Much better. One more bag and her condition should stabilize."

　　Trudy exhaled. When the nurse pulled the needle out, she didn't stay seated.

　　She pushed herself up, wanting to see Matron Grace with her own eyes.

　　She made it two steps before the world went black and her knees hit the floor.

　　When she came to, she grabbed her phone and called her friend immediately.

　　"How's Matron Grace? Is she doing better?"

　　The other end went silent. One beat. Two. Then Trudy heard it: someone crying, muffled and low.

　　Her heart seized.

　　"Is she still not stable? I can give more blood. I'll tell the nurse to come draw it right now."

　　"Stop pretending!"

　　The voice on the other end was shaking with fury.

　　"Matron Grace is dead. Because you refused to give blood."

　　The world detonated.

　　A roar filled Trudy's skull and the phone nearly slipped from her fingers.

　　Her voice came out broken, barely recognizable. "No. That's not possible."

　　"You're lying. I know you are. I was there, I..."

　　A cold laugh cut her off. "Enough!"

　　"You're Mrs. Simmons now, too good for the rest of us orphanage kids. Fine. But I never thought you could be this heartless. You sat there and let Matron Grace die."

　　"Don't contact us again. You go be Mrs. Simmons. We'll take care of the orphanage ourselves."

　　The line went dead.

　　Trudy didn't understand.

　　She had given blood. The nurse had said Matron Grace was improving.

　　So why was Matron Grace dead?

　　She left the hospital in a fog.

　　By the time her mind surfaced, she was standing outside the Simmons family home.

　　She turned to leave, then remembered her documents were still in the storage room inside.

　　She pushed the door open.

　　And walked straight into Serena, who was on her way out.

　　Serena froze for a split second when she saw Trudy. Then her eyes lit with something vicious and pleased.

　　"Well, if it isn't Miss Wren. That old hag finally croaked. One less burden dragging you down. So why the long face?"

　　Every muscle in Trudy's body locked. She clenched her teeth. "What did you do?"

　　Serena covered her mouth and giggled.

　　"Oh, nothing much. I just flushed all your little blood bags down the toilet. Who knew the old bat was so fragile? Died just like that."

　　The blood in Trudy's veins turned to ice.

　　So that was why.

　　That was why she'd given everything she had and Matron Grace still hadn't gotten better.

　　Serena.

　　Serena had killed Matron Grace.

　　Trudy shook with a rage so consuming she wanted to lunge forward and tear the woman apart.

　　She bit the inside of her lip until she tasted copper and forced herself still.

　　One more day. In one more day, Serena would lose everything.

　　But Serena wasn't done.

　　"I have to say, I'm impressed you had that much blood in you."

　　"Flushing it all was honestly exhausting."

　　Trudy's hand moved before her mind caught up. She slapped Serena across the face so hard the crack echoed off the walls.

　　"Trudy, what are you doing!"

　　Zachary appeared in the doorway. His eyes landed on the red handprint blazing across Serena's cheek, and he strode forward, planting himself between them.

　　"I was going to surprise you today. I was going to propose."

　　"And instead you pull this? You actually put your hands on Serena?"

　　Serena cupped her cheek, eyes glistening. "I don't know what got into her. She just rushed at me out of nowhere."

　　"Zach, don't be angry. I'm sure she didn't mean it. Maybe she's just having a bad day."

　　Zachary scoffed. "A bad day doesn't give you the right to hit people."

　　"Raised in an orphanage, and it shows. No manners whatsoever. That Matron Grace of yours was probably the same. Otherwise, how did she raise someone so savage?"

　　Crack.

　　Before the last word left his mouth, Trudy's palm connected with his face.

　　The sting was sharp enough to stun him into silence.

　　"Trudy!"

　　Serena grabbed his arm.

　　"Zach, let it go."

　　"The proposal is more important."

　　She blinked at him, a slow, deliberate flutter.

　　Zachary inhaled through his teeth and swallowed his rage.

　　"This little tantrum of yours is just about the divorce papers, isn't it? That's what's got you so worked up."

　　"I said those things in the heat of the moment. I've been planning the wedding all week to surprise you."

　　He lifted the roses in his hand and dropped to one knee.

　　"Trudy, I know you've always dreamed of having a wedding of your own. So, will you marry me again?"

　　Trudy looked down at the man kneeling before her, at the carefully rehearsed tenderness in his eyes, and felt nothing but contempt.

　　And those roses.

　　She had dressed in white today to mourn Matron Grace.

　　The garish red blooms against her mourning clothes made her stomach turn.

　　But she smiled. She even let her eyes glisten with tears.

　　"Yes."

　　Zachary exhaled, visibly relieved. He stood and produced a wedding gown.

　　"I had this custom-made just for you. The venue is all designed too. You're going to love it."

　　He pressed the gown into her arms, his voice earnest. "Tomorrow morning. Be there. Promise me?"

　　If she hadn't already known the truth, she might have actually fallen for this performance.

　　She kept smiling. "I'll be right on time."

　　Her fingers traced the fabric. Nothing stirred inside her.

　　Because she knew: Zachary had indeed commissioned a gown. A couture piece. What he'd just handed her was the complimentary bridesmaid's dress that came with it.

　　"Zach, I have a surprise for you too."

　　She looked at him, and as the thought of what she'd prepared crossed her mind, her smile turned genuine.

　　Something about that smile caught Zachary off guard.

　　He couldn't remember the last time Trudy had smiled like that.

　　He leaned in without thinking, wanting to kiss her cheek.

　　Trudy tilted her head away, still smiling. "Serena's watching."

　　Zachary blinked, thrown. He hadn't expected her to dodge.

　　But he glanced at Serena, recovered, and stepped back half a pace as if nothing had happened.

　　"Right. Serena and I have some things to take care of. Get some rest tonight, and don't forget to be there tomorrow."

　　After a night's rest, Trudy gathered her documents early the next morning and headed for the airport.

　　On the way, she pulled out her phone.

　　She'd been added to a group chat at some point without noticing.

　　Zach, the private video is all set, right? I can't wait to see the look on Trudy's face when it plays.

　　You think she'll break down on the spot?

　　Zachary: Serena's handling the video. We just stick to the plan.

　　Wait. Is there an extra person in this group?

　　Trudy screenshotted the entire conversation. Then she watched Zachary fire off a string of exclamation marks.

　　Trudy's in the group! Who added her?!

　　The next second, she was kicked out.

　　Five minutes passed before Zachary cautiously sent her a message.

　　Trudy, did you happen to see anything weird just now?

　　She snapped a quick photo out the car window. The hotel where Zachary's wedding was being held happened to be visible in the distance.

　　No. I'm almost at the hotel.

　　Zachary looked up instinctively, but all he saw was the endless stream of traffic outside.

　　A hollow feeling settled in his chest, sudden and unexplained, like something important was about to slip through his fingers.

　　Trudy watched the scenery slide past her window, perfectly calm.

　　Zachary. Serena. I hope you're ready for my gift.