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.

The next day, sunlight streamed through the curtains into my room. What used to be my most anticipated event—trying on my future wedding dress—was now nothing more than a farewell ceremony.

It was a way to give all those tumultuous years a perfect ending and ensure I had no regrets. I used to wish I could wear a beautiful gown and stand next to the man I loved, walking down the sacred halls of marriage.

I waited for Sebastian at the villa entrance. In the distance, a luxury car slowly approached. I walked toward it, only to discover after Sebastian got out of the car that my designated passenger seat was occupied by Gina.

"Gina said she wanted to come along and look at wedding dresses. She promised not to disturb us."

Gina rolled down the window, smiling sweetly. "Mia, I want to help you choose your wedding dress. After all, it's a once-in-a-lifetime event."

I pressed my lips together, accepting her reason without saying anything more.

Throughout the journey, Sebastian was extremely attentive to Gina, constantly asking if she was tired or needed to rest, as well as carefully adjusting her seat to make her more comfortable.

Every word was like a knife, stabbing viciously into my heart.

When we arrived at the bridal boutique, Sebastian had me select wedding dresses first while he sat on the couch, keeping his eyes fixed on Gina, afraid she might have a mishap.

"Mia, you have the perfect figure, so you'll look good in anything. Go ahead and pick whatever you like."

I casually selected a few dresses and walked to the fitting room entrance, only to find that Gina had followed me over.

She pointed at the wedding dress in my hands and said coquettishly, "Mia, that wedding dress is so beautiful. I want to try it on too."

Sebastian looked over when he heard this. Seeing Gina's expectant expression, he hesitated for a moment before speaking up. "Mia, Gina just wants to try it on. Uh, do you mind letting her have it first?"

I gripped the wedding dress tightly in my hands, feeling a sharp pain in my heart, but I still obediently handed it to Gina. "Okay."

Gina triumphantly smiled and took the wedding dress into the fitting room. I watched her retreating figure, my heart filled with mixed emotions.

Sebastian remained oblivious to how each act of favoritism cut deeper into my heart. I had dreamed of wearing my favorite wedding dress for him and having him see me at my most beautiful. However, he had stripped away even that simple wish.

Gina had been trying on the dress for quite a while and had not come back out. Sebastian grew worried and called out to me, "Mia, go in and check on Gina. What's taking so long?"

I pressed my lips together, pushing down the bitterness in my heart, and turned to walk into the fitting room.

Gina had just finished putting on the wedding dress and was admiring herself in the mirror. When she saw me enter, she curved her red lips into a smile. "Mia, look. Doesn't this wedding dress suit me perfectly?"

I ignored her and turned to leave, but she suddenly grabbed a row of mannequins beside her.

Crash!

A row of mannequins fell down together, tumbling straight toward me. Gina screamed and rushed outside, but before leaving, she gave me a hard shove.

Bang!

I was pinned under a pile of mannequins. My right leg was trapped under their weight, causing me to gasp in pain.

I desperately protected my stomach, afraid that the baby inside would be harmed.

Sebastian heard the noise and rushed in. Seeing Gina looking injured, his face changed dramatically. He hurried over, scooped her up in his arms, and ran outside. "Gina, don't be afraid. I'll take you to the hospital."

He did not even glance at me.

"Sebastian, save me! My leg is trapped..." I desperately called for help, but they still left.

I gritted my teeth, trying to push the mannequins off me, but they were too heavy. I could not move them at all. I could only arch my back to protect the child in my womb.

Sharp pain shot through my arms and back, but none of that pain compared to the heartache I felt at that moment.

I curled up on the ground, my tears flowing freely, and slowly closed my eyes.