My husband, Cooper Armitage, and my father, Gaten Schnapp, had both fallen for a pair of mother and daughter.

To show his love for Dixie, on the night of our third wedding anniversary banquet, Cooper walked in with her, Dixie, dressed in a wedding gown, and right then and there, he asked me for a divorce.

My face held nothing but grievance, my eyes brimming with tears. Yet, he ignored me completely, allowing Dixie to snatch away the diamond ring that was rightfully mine. Blood soon spilled from my finger, staining my wedding dress a deep red.

Dixie had a terrible fear of blood. The vivid scarlet spreading across my gown made her faint on the spot.

Cooper, furious, stormed over, grabbed me by the neck, and threw me hard to the ground.

“Dixie only wanted your ring! She just accidentally scratched you. You’re just like your selfish mother! She fainted because of your drama!”

Very soon, Cooper, full of distress, cradled Dixie tightly in his arms and carried her into the lounge.

What he didn’t know was that I was already six months pregnant. After being thrown to the ground, the pain was so unbearable that I clenched my teeth, and cold sweat covered my forehead.

I wanted to call my mother to ask her to come pick me up and take me home. But instead, what came through the phone was the sharp crack of a loud slap.

“Annie, if you don’t like me, I beg you, don’t take it out on my child,” Dixie’s mother, Demi, cried, clutching her belly as she faked pain.

My father, distressed, rushed to lift Demi from the floor and turned on my mother with fury.

“Apologize to Demi! And give her that pearl necklace she likes. Or else, it won’t stop at just one slap!”

My mother collapsed to the ground, blood spilling from her lips. Seeing her lying there motionless, my father used me as a threat to force her hand. Only then, through gritted teeth and unbearable pain, did she tear off the necklace, my grandmother’s keepsake, and hand it to Demi, whispering an apology.

To prepare for Cooper and Dixie’s wedding, my father soon locked my mother and me in a dark, airless basement, not knowing we had already steeled ourselves for what was to come.

When flames engulfed the wedding hall, both my husband and my father lost their minds.

1

“Sabrina, even if you don’t like me, you didn’t have to make such a bloody scene, I…” The woman in front of me collapsed before she could finish her sentence.

“Dixie! Dixie, are you okay?” My husband, Cooper, rushed forward and caught her in his arms.

I stood frozen in place, stunned, as tears rolled down my face. I didn’t even feel the sting from the wound.

Today marked our third wedding anniversary. I had planned everything early, booked the most luxurious restaurant in the city, and with help from my friends, we decorated the entire venue.

In previous years, we had never appropriately celebrated. I had placed so much importance on today, because I was going to announce my pregnancy at the party.

“Sabrina, this setup should be perfect, right?”

“With how much effort Sabrina poured into this, once Cooper sees it, he’ll be moved to tears.”

“You two are unbelievable. Married three years and only now inviting me to the celebration, were you keeping quiet to surprise us all these years…”

The lively chatter of my friends filled the room, making the atmosphere more and more festive. All that was left was for the male lead to arrive.

To keep it a surprise, I had called Cooper earlier, deliberately speaking in half-hints, telling him to come over right away. But the smile on my face was instantly doused by a bucket of cold water.

“Got it, got it, I’ll be there later.” He hung up before I could finish, the impatience in his voice sharp, his tongue-click clear and dismissive.

“Do we have to go now? I haven’t tried enough yet,” Dixie said as she reluctantly put down the wedding dress she’d been admiring for ages.

Cooper gently patted her head with affection. “It’s fine, Dixie. Try as long as you like. Once you’re ready, I’ll take you home with me.”

“It’s about time we made it public anyway.”

I had thought Cooper’s coldness was due to work; lately, the company had been caught in a business war, with rivals slashing prices to steal clients. For months, he had been away on endless trips.

From morning till dusk, my friends began to grow drowsy. Five hours had passed since I last called him. In my growing anxiety, I dialed again, only for him to reject the call.

“Sabrina, he’s still not here? It’s already getting dark,” Ava asked, rubbing her sleepy eyes.

“Don’t worry. He’ll come. He’s probably just busy.”

But before I could finish, the private room door swung open, and it was Cooper.

I rushed forward, heart racing with excitement. But then, the woman behind him slowly came into view.

She was dressed to perfection, draped in a wedding gown. Standing beside Cooper in his tailored suit, the two looked like a couple ready to walk down the aisle.

“Hello, Sabrina. I’m Dixie. I’m going to marry Brother Cooper,” she said smugly.

Dixie had been Cooper’s childhood friend. She showed up at nearly all his social gatherings, and even Elsie Armitage was especially fond of her.

“What do you mean?” My face turned pale, but she smiled sweetly, blooming like a flower.

“Don’t you get it? I wore this dress on purpose. You threw this party for us, didn’t you? Sabrina is as gracious and virtuous as everyone says.”

I ignored her provocation and looked straight at Cooper. In his eyes, there was only affection for her. Around us, my friends stared in stunned silence.

“Who even is she?”

“They say she’s Cooper’s childhood friend. And she just said she’s here to get married, what a joke. Sabrina and Cooper have been married for years.”

“A mistress showing up in a wedding dress? That’s outrageous. And that dress doesn’t look cheap, either.”

“Don’t tell me Cooper has been with her this whole time?”

The murmurs around us grew louder and louder, but under Cooper’s cold gaze, my friends could only fall silent.

“The dress is ready, the groom is ready, now all that’s missing is the ring,” Dixie said, her eyes fixed on the pigeon-egg-sized diamond on my hand. Cooper stood beside her and nodded without hesitation.

“Sabrina, you don’t need it anymore. Why not give it to me?”

Without waiting for an answer, Dixie stepped forward, grabbed my hand, and began yanking at the ring. Blood immediately welled up, staining the wedding dress with a splash of red.

Dixie’s sharp scream shattered the silence, and before she could finish her sentence, she fainted.

Her delicate, helpless appearance only made Cooper treasure her even more.

“Dixie just wanted the diamond ring! Did you have to be so petty?” he shouted at me.

I had never seen Cooper this irritable before. In the past, even if his tone wavered, he’d apologize right away. But now, even with my face full of grievance, he didn’t spare me a glance.

Only I knew the truth; Dixie had struck with vicious intent. Her long, sharp nails tore into my skin deliberately. She knew perfectly well that she couldn’t bear the sight of blood, yet she still attacked me without hesitation, just to make me suffer.

Cooper gripped my neck as he questioned me, then shoved me harshly to the ground. He snatched the diamond ring from my hand; blood continued to drip, and the deep mark left by the ring was etched on my finger.

“You are just as selfish as your mother. Once Dixie recovers, you can leave. The divorce agreement was already signed; our family doesn’t need a woman like you who can’t get pregnant.”

With a cold expression, Cooper wiped the blood from the ring, then turned and carried the unconscious Dixie into the lounge.

I remained on the floor, forcing back my sobs as tears clouded my vision. Ava Carpenter, witnessing everything, quickly dismissed the other guests, staying behind to comfort me.

“That bastard Cooper! He’s really divorcing you for Dixie,” Ava said, looking at me with distress.

As for the divorce agreement Cooper mentioned, I didn’t understand at first. But after a moment, I remembered, months ago, one night, at his mother’s request, Cooper said he wanted to give me medicine to help with pregnancy and handed me a document to sign.

It had been pitch dark. I couldn’t make out the words clearly. Cooper only said it was for my own good. I had longed for a child for so long without success, so half-trusting, half-doubting, I signed it. I never imagined it was a divorce agreement he had prepared all along.

I let out a bitter, helpless smile. The good news I had once looked forward to telling Cooper no longer needed to be said. My hand was still bleeding, and Ava quickly stood to find bandages and wrap the wound.

As silent tears streamed down from Cooper’s betrayal, pain crept into my lower abdomen. The throw had twisted my ankle, and now, the baby was in danger.

In my panic, I called my mother. “Hello, Mom… can you come pick me up and take me home?” But before I could finish, the sharp crack of a slap rang out from the other end.

“Apologize to Demi! Or it won’t stop at just one slap!” my father, Gaten, roared furiously.

That slap sent my mother to the floor, blood spilling from her lips. When she heard my voice, she reached out to take the phone, but my father knocked it out of her hand. I screamed into the line, but all I could hear was chaos, louder, harsher shouting.

“Gaten, my stomach hurts so much… Annie, please… even if you don’t like me, don’t take it out on the child,” said a woman’s unfamiliar voice.

My father held her in his arms, his eyes full of concern for her, yet he felt only cold disgust for my mother. When my mother still refused to apologize, his expression darkened with rage.

“If you still want to see Sabrina, you’d better apologize to Demi. And hand over that pearl necklace she likes, too.”

Hearing my name, the string in my mother’s heart instantly tightened. She had no choice but to remove the keepsake my grandmother left her and hand it over.

Only then did my father nod in satisfaction before leading the woman into the master bedroom to rest.

"Hello, Sabrina? Why are you calling me?"

"Mom, what just happened? Why was Dad yelling at you? And who was that woman?" I asked anxiously.

"Mom’s fine. Didn’t you say you were throwing a party today? It’s already so late, is it over? Mom’s a little busy here, so I won’t come."

Before I could press her further, she began coughing violently. Her health had always been poor, and with her asthma, just a few coughs left her gasping for air.

"Mom... can you come get me, I..."

The pain in my stomach became unbearable. Cold sweat covered my forehead, and everything faded into black.

As I wrapped the bandage around my arm, Ava noticed my face turn ghostly pale, and my eyes squeezed shut.

"Sabrina! What’s wrong with you?" Ava was completely flustered.

Hearing my voice grow weak, my mother anxiously asked what was happening on my end.

"Shut up! Demi needs to rest! If you keep yelling, get out!" my father barked, swinging the door open.

“You’re finally awake, Sabrina!” Ava sat by my side, gripping my hand tightly.

Ever since I had fainted in the restaurant’s private room, I had been unconscious. When I finally opened my eyes, I found myself lying in a hospital bed. Beside me sat Ava and my mother.

“Daughter, you’re finally awake,” my mother said, her voice filled with worry. “If Ava hadn’t gotten you here in time, your life might have been in danger.”

“Sabrina, why didn’t you tell me you were pregnant?” Ava handed me the medical report. “Luckily, the baby is fine, but you scared me.”

I had planned to keep it a secret and surprise everyone. But instead, it had turned into a fright.

“There’s no need anymore,” I said calmly. “Cooper is determined to divorce me. There’s no point in keeping the child.”

The doctor had already bandaged my hand and ankle. When my mother saw my pale face, her eyes welled up with tears.

“It’s all my fault for letting you marry that bastard Cooper,” she cried, clutching me tightly as tears streamed down her cheeks. “Now he dares to abandon his wife and child.”

“He’s made his choice. Since he’s so determined to marry Dixie, I don’t want anything more to do with him either,” I said, trying to soothe her.

It had been so long since I’d last seen her, and now she looked completely worn down. Her face was gaunt, and a clear slap mark stood out on her cheek. After my repeated questioning, she finally broke down and told me the truth.

“The voice you heard was Demi Collins, Gaten’s lover. He’s set on divorcing me. While you weren’t home, he kept giving me the cold shoulder. He flirted with Demi over the phone inside our house, and even brought her over...”

“Demi heard that I owned a pearl necklace worth a fortune and wanted it for her daughter’s wedding. So she came today to take it. That necklace was the most precious gift your grandmother left me. When I refused, Gaten slapped me hard.”

At that moment, my mother’s sobs finally broke free, raw and uncontrollable.

For my sake, she gave up the necklace. From her tearful account, I learned the truth: Demi and Dixie were mother and daughter.

After losing her husband early, Demi began searching for a new partner. By chance, she and my father had been long-time business associates. She knew exactly how to play him; she saw that he loathed business conflict and admired all things artistic.

To my father, my mother had been nothing but a tool for profit, someone he married to secure wealth and shares. Demi, however, was his so-called “soulmate.”

“Sabrina, if your father and I separate, it’ll affect you too. But I’ll manage,” my mother said gently, shifting the conversation. “Your baby will be born soon… I’m truly looking forward to that.”

As I spoke, my eyes lingered on the scar at the back of her neck.

She had never wanted me to worry. Even when Dad beat and belittled her time and again, she chose silence, enduring everything just so I wouldn’t be burdened.

Tears welled up in her eyes, her emotions finally spilling over. After a long pause, she nodded. “In that case, I’ll make things clear with Gaten and reclaim what’s rightfully mine.”

While I was still recovering in the hospital, the attending physician came in to check on me. His gaze landed on my mother’s tired face, and his voice slowed in surprise. “Annie Simmons ? Is that you? You don’t look well.”

My mother turned around, startled.

“Tanner Timberlake? Is it really you?” A faint light returned to her weary expression. “Thanks to you, my daughter’s safe.”

For the first time in days, there was a trace of warmth on her face.

My mother explained everything about Tanner. He had once been her classmate and later her colleague at the hospital. They both studied medicine, and after graduation, Tanner stayed behind, continuing in the same field alongside her. But after marrying my father, my mother gave up that job.

My grandmother had never approved of her becoming a doctor. With her fragile health, she often fainted during her shifts. It was always Tanner who stepped in and helped her avoid serious accidents.

Even after leaving the hospital, my mother remained in touch with her old colleagues. Every year, Tanner never failed to send her New Year’s greetings.

That day, Tanner called her outside. “You haven’t looked well lately. Are you alright?” he asked gently, concern softening his voice.

“It’s just the old illness acting up again. Nothing serious. My daughter, she’s alright, isn’t she?” Her only worry was me. Once he reassured her, she finally eased a little.

“Let’s meet up sometime. It’s been so long.”

“Definitely next time. I’ve got more pressing matters to take care of now.”