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.”

After I recovered, I returned home with my mother. As for Cooper, I had Ava keep an eye on him for me. Having grown up by my side, Ava didn’t even hesitate.

“Don’t worry,” she said with quiet confidence. “Since Cooper was heartless first, he can’t blame me for using drastic measures.”

But when we stepped into the house, I froze. The entire place had been turned upside down. The living room was in shambles, our family portrait shattered, the paintings of my mother and me ripped apart, and our clothes strewn all across the floor.

Standing in the center of the chaos, dressed in something skimpy and loud, was a woman I immediately recognized as Demi. She nestled in my father’s arms, her voice sweet as poison, fingers toying with what used to be my diamond ring and my mother’s necklace.

“This is lovely,” she cooed with a satisfied smile. “My daughter will look so pretty wearing it.”

“Don’t think about your daughter, you’ll look even better wearing it, Demi. At a recent auction in the capital, there was a set of emerald-green jewelry. I think it would look perfect on you.”

“After Dixie’s wedding, when we have ours, I’ll get it for you as your wedding gift,” my father said, tapping Demi’s nose with affection.

My mother stood frozen beside me, the already-signed divorce papers trembling in her hand. Anger and heartbreak made her shake.

When she married him, she didn’t even receive a diamond ring. My grandmother had only agreed to the marriage because she believed he had good character and the will to work hard.

“Annie, don’t worry. Once I have money, I’ll make it up to you with a diamond ring!” he had once promised, kneeling on one knee before her, his voice full of solemn sincerity.

But the truth was, my mother’s family had never cared about the cost of a ring; she only wanted honesty and love.

All these years, that promised ring never touched her finger.

Yet now, for Demi, my father was willing to spend without hesitation.

I couldn’t hold back my anger any longer and stepped forward to snatch the necklace back. Demi finally noticed me, and instead of being upset, she seemed delighted by my outburst. Pretending to be startled, she shrank behind Gaten.

“Give the necklace back to my mother!” I shouted.

Demi clung to Gaten with a pitiful expression, clutching her belly as if I had frightened her.

“Gaten, it seems they don’t welcome me or the child. I’ll just return the necklace and leave.”

My father, looking distressed, held her protectively. “Sabrina, go back. This is an adult matter.”

I refused to retreat, but he stepped in front of me again, shielding her.

“Is that how you speak to your elders? You’re married now, stop meddling in family affairs.”

Just then, a ringing phone cut through the tension. It was Dixie calling.

“Good daughter, don’t worry. I’ve already prepared everything. Just focus on your wedding with Cooper,” Demi said sweetly before hanging up, her gaze landing on my mother and me with a triumphant smile.

"Your daughter is about to get married, and you're still holding on to someone else's jewelry? That's pathetic," I said coldly.

Demi’s face turned red with anger, but she quickly looked at Gaten with a fake, sad expression.

He was already furious. Ever since he married my mom, people had said he was just a poor man living off her money.

Suddenly, my dad slapped me hard.

"How dare you talk to Demi like that! Her daughter’s getting married and I’ll be there with her!"

I looked at him in shock. The slap knocked me down, and I felt blood at the corner of my mouth. My mom rushed over and held me, her face full of pain.

Then, with shaking hands, she threw the divorce papers on the floor.

"Happy now? Gaten, I’m divorcing you!"

My mother had long seen through Demi’s act, playing the victim just to win my father’s sympathy. She let out a cold, bitter laugh.

My father picked up the divorce papers, gave a satisfied nod, and exchanged a knowing smile with Demi.

In an instant, Demi’s tone turned sharp. “Now that you’re divorced, pack up your things and get out. Don’t interfere with me and Gaten again.”

She made sure to tilt her head slightly, revealing the hickey on her neck like a badge of pride. My mother’s breath caught in her throat. That’s when she noticed the oil paintings, freshly hung, every one painted by my father for Demi, replacing the family portrait and wedding photos that once defined their life together.

Her asthma flared again. She fumbled for the inhaler in her bag, took the medicine, and swallowed it quickly.

Once she steadied herself, she gently wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth and tried to help me up so we could leave.

My eyes burned with refusal, my heart unwilling to let go. But for my sake, my mother still chose to walk away.

“It’s alright. It’s just a necklace. Having you is enough for me.”