Sebastian Sterling was the CEO of the Sterling Group, ranked third among the world's wealthiest business leaders.

We had a five-year-long relationship, three years of which we lived together. He told me he loved me so much that he was willing to sacrifice himself for me, yet he never gave me the title of Mrs. Sterling.

During those three years of living together, he betrayed me three times, pushing me into hell with his own hands.

The first time, he secretly obtained a marriage certificate with his close friend's widow. However, he knelt before me, crying and begging me to believe that it was just for protection.

The second time, under the spotlight of media cameras and thousands of watching eyes, he held her hand and announced that she was his wife and the lady of the Sterling family. Backstage, he gripped my hand and swore in a low voice that he would marry me once everything ended.

The third time, he spent a passionate night with her and got her pregnant. I discovered the truth when I saw them at the hospital, attending a prenatal appointment together.

Loving him was death by a thousand cuts. I forgave him again and again, yet he betrayed me every time.

One day, I finally walked away. In my pocket was my positive pregnancy test—I was carrying the child he had always wanted.

Only then did Sebastian collapse to his knees in regret, crying out my name with a broken voice. However, he had lost not just me, but the heir he never knew existed too!

Outside the maternity ward, I clutched the positive pregnancy test in my pocket. My husband was accompanying another woman to her prenatal appointment.

I wanted to demand an explanation, but suddenly, Gina Nolan covered her stomach and cried out, "Sebastian, my belly hurts so much!"

Sebastian Sterling instinctively pushed me aside and turned to embrace her. I stumbled backward from his shove, hitting the wall hard. Sharp pain shot through my back, and my eyes instantly filled with tears.

Despite that, Sebastian only cared about Gina's condition.

"What's wrong? Does your stomach hurt? I'll take you to see a doctor right now."

He held Gina up carefully and only seemed to remember I was still standing there when he passed by me. He explained hastily, "Mia, Gina isn't feeling well. I need to take her to see a doctor. Can you go home by yourself?"

I looked at him without saying a word, then just nodded and silently stepped aside. He carried Gina past me without a moment's hesitation.

I stood alone in the corridor, leaning against the wall and watching their retreating figures as tears streamed down my face. My back throbbed with pain, but it was nothing compared to the ache in my heart.

I wiped away my tears and smiled bitterly at myself. I had come to the hospital today to confirm my pregnancy and tell Sebastian the news, but I did not want to say anything anymore.

This was his third betrayal, and it would be his last. I did not want to hear his explanations anymore, and I did not want to forgive him again.

Walking out of the hospital, I got into the car the Sterling family had sent for me. I closed the door, leaned back in the rear seat, and stared at the hospital entrance with a cold heart.

The driver asked where I wanted to go. After a moment of silence, I replied coldly, "Don't take me back home. I want to go to the immigration office."

Once there, I went in alone and applied for a passport and a visa for Astora. The visa would take seven days to process.

I walked out of the building, got back in the car, and watched the flowing scenery outside the window with complete calm in my heart.

Once the visa was granted next week, I would completely sever ties with Sebastian.

Back at the Sterling residence, I walked alone into the bedroom, closed the door, and began packing my belongings.

Sebastian had given me many gifts that filled almost the entire room, from delicate, expensive necklaces and jewelry, to limited-edition handbags and collectables.

I took everything out of the cabinets and put them on the bed, packing them all into one enormous cardboard box.

When I reached the nightstand, I froze. Inside the drawer were photos of Sebastian and me, along with crafts we had made together and clay sculptures we had molded.

These were memories from when we were in love, and they were once my most precious mementos. However, I could not bear to look at them now.

With tears in my eyes, I took the photos out of their frames, tore them into pieces, and threw them in the trash. I put the clay sculptures back in their box and put everything into the cardboard container.

Just as I finished sealing the box, I heard commotion downstairs.

I walked to the top of the stairs and saw the maids moving things into the living room. There were many boxes, both big and small, filled with jewelry and accessories.

Gina sat on the couch, pretending to be humble. "Sebastian, why did you buy me so many things? I can't possibly use all of this."

Sebastian affectionately stroked her hair and said gently, "I'm not short of money. As long as you like something, I'll buy you as much of it as you want."

He looked up and saw me standing on the second floor.

He froze, instinctively released Gina, and explained urgently, "Mia, you're back. Gina wasn't feeling well today, so I accompanied her home. Don't misunderstand."

I looked at him, not speaking.

He seemed a bit flustered and added, "There's a famous auction in a couple of days. I'll take you to buy something then. I heard there's a sapphire necklace. Your favourite is sapphire jewelry, right?”

Gina leaned weakly against him, yawning. "Sebastian, I'm a bit tired. I think I got carsick from the ride."

Sebastian immediately tensed up, carefully supporting her. "If you're tired, go rest. Come on, I'll help you."

He supported Gina as they walked toward the bedroom.

I watched them, my heart pierced with pain once again. That master bedroom was the one Sebastian and I had chosen and decorated together to suit my preferences, yet another woman was living in it now.

I dejectedly withdrew my gaze and turned back to my small bedroom at the end of the second floor.

This place used to be Sebastian's study. On the first day I moved in, he held me and said, "Mia, the size of the room doesn't matter. Being the closest to me is what matters most. Once our new house is finished being renovated, we'll get married."

Back then, I thought the day we got married would come soon, but five years down the line, I was still living in this cramped study while our master bedroom had become another woman's room.

I tamped down the bitterness in my heart, opened my suitcase, and continued packing my clothes. I had just folded a few pieces when the bedroom door was pushed open. Gina walked in with her belly protruding, acting all high and mighty.

She looked around and feigned surprise. "This place isn't even a thousand square feet, is it? I can’t believe you live in such a tiny room!

"Well, I suppose that makes sense. After all, you don't even have a proper title. You're not really part of the Sterling family. Being given a room at all was generous enough of them."

She walked up to me, her eyes triumphant. "Do you know why Sebastian is in such a hurry to marry me? Because once I give birth to this child, he'll be the heir to the Sterling Group.

"Meanwhile, you’ll be nothing. You're just Sebastian's mistress. You can't even be shown in public. When it comes down to it, you're just the other woman."

I looked at her, suppressing the anger in my heart, and said coldly, "Are you finished? If so, get out."

She didn't expect me to remain so calm. She immediately grew furious with embarrassment and reached out to push me. "Mia Shaw, you..."

Before she could finish speaking, her face suddenly turned pale, and she fell as she cried out, "My belly hurts so much! Mia, how dare you push me!"

I stared at her in shock, unable to react. Sebastian rushed in urgently. "Gina!"

He pushed me aside and nervously picked up Gina. With red-rimmed eyes, he roared at me angrily, "Mia, how could you be so vicious? Gina is pregnant! How dare you push her!"

I staggered backward several steps, explaining with panic, "I didn't push her! She fell down by herself. It had nothing to do with me!"

However, Sebastian did not believe a single word I said. He glared at me angrily, grabbed my arm, roughly pulled me off the bed, and then carefully lay Gina down on it.

After doing all this, he picked up his phone and urgently contacted the family doctor. "Doctor, come quickly. Gina's belly hurts badly. I'm worried the baby might be in danger!"

Gina leaned against him, looking at me triumphantly with a cold smile curving her lips.

My whole body trembled as I stared at Sebastian in disbelief. How could he not believe my words?

The doctor arrived quickly. After an examination, he breathed a sigh of relief and said, "It's nothing serious. Ms. Nolan just had some pregnancy complications. Bed rest will be fine."

Sebastian nervously asked a bunch of questions about pregnancy precautions and even took out a small notebook to jot down notes before seeing the doctor out.

After he left, Gina immediately sat up in bed and smiled at me mockingly. "Mia, did you see that? Look at how much Sebastian cares about me and this child.

"Who do you think you are? Do you think you're worthy of competing with me for a man?"

I was shaking with anger, but I could not be bothered to deal with her anymore. I turned to leave, but she suddenly said, "Actually, this child isn't Sebastian's at all. I drugged him and planned to sleep with him, but nothing happened that night. The child belongs to someone else."

I jerked my head up, staring at her in shock. "What did you just say?"

She curved her red lips, laughing arrogantly. "I said this child isn't Sebastian's. He’s just a fool I’m taking advantage of."

"You’re shameless! How can you treat him like this? I'm going to tell him right now!"

She covered her face but showed no fear. "So what if you know? You can't change things. Do you think he'll believe you?

"If you're smart, get lost now. Don't interfere with Sebastian and me."

I was shaking with anger as I gritted my teeth. "Do you think you can threaten me? You're wrong. I will definitely tell Sebastian!

"When that happens, he'll make you pay for what you did!"

Gina showed no fear and laughed softly. "You want to tell him? Go ahead. Do you really think he will believe you? In his eyes, I'm just a fragile, weak woman, and you're the vicious, ruthless one.

"I'd like to see whether Sebastian believes you or me."

After saying this, she suddenly burst into tears, crying as she struggled to get out of bed.

"Sebastian, I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have gotten pregnant with your child. I shouldn't have interfered with your relationship. I'll go get an abortion right now," she said while sobbing.

I stared at her in shock, unable to react, as the bedroom door was pushed open and Sebastian walked in nervously. "Gina, what's wrong? Is your stomach hurting again?"

Gina threw herself into his arms, crying heartbrokenly. "Sebastian, Mia doesn't like our child. She even told me to get an abortion."

Sebastian's face darkened as he looked at me coldly, his eyes full of dissatisfaction. "Mia, how can you be so unreasonable? Gina is pregnant. How can you tell her to abort the child?"

I hurriedly explained, "Sebastian, don't listen to her nonsense. That's not what she said at all just now. She also said this child isn't yours..."

"Mia, I know you've never liked Gina, but I didn't expect you to stoop so low as to slander her reputation. Don't you know that a woman’s reputation is the most important thing to her?

"I'm warning you: stop targeting Gina. Once she gives birth to the child, I'll send the baby to my parents to raise. Then, I'll fulfill my promise to marry you."

Gina leaned against him, triumphantly curving her red lips with a flash of cold laughter in her eyes. She pretended to be fragile as she spoke, "Sebastian, don't blame Mia. It's my fault for putting you in such a difficult position. Once the child is born, I'll leave and absolutely won't disturb you two again."

Sebastian held her with concern, comforting her gently. "Gina, don't say that. During this time, just focus on taking care of yourself and the baby. As for Mia, I'll remind her to treat you better.

"Mia, did you hear me? You need to treat Gina well while she’s carrying my child. Don't let me catch you bullying her again."

I looked at them, my heart aching as if it was being cut by a dull knife. Sebastian had truly disappointed me.

However, knowing that I would be leaving soon, I did not want to argue anymore. I just silently wiped away the tears from the corners of my eyes.

Sebastian, what would you think when you discovered that the child she gave birth to was not yours? How could you cope with knowing that you drove away both me and your own biological child for the sake of a malicious woman and someone else's baby? Would you regret it then?

Seeing my silence, Sebastian assumed I had compromised. His expression improved, and he brought up preparing for our wedding. "Mia, I've already had people start preparing our wedding. Once Gina gives birth, we'll get married.

"Tomorrow you'll come with me to try on wedding dresses. Choose the most beautiful one. I'll definitely give you the most perfect wedding you could ever dream of."

I lowered my head, hiding the coldness in my eyes, and answered quietly, "Okay."

Little did Sebastian know that I would never make it to that wedding.