Caesar's brows furrowed deeply—then, in the next second, his hand cracked across my face.

"Larissa," he snarled, "seems I've spoiled you too much. How dare you slander me and my sister-in-law like this? Apologize to her—now!"

I turned my head, the sting on my cheek searing straight into my heart.

It was the first time Caesar had ever raised his hand against me.

And it was for her. For Arlene!

Hot tears spilled uncontrollably down my face.

I stared at them both and forced each word out between trembling lips.

"You dared to do it, but you're afraid of me saying it aloud? Dream on if you think I'll apologize!"

Caesar rubbed his temples irritably, but when he saw my tears, a flicker of guilt crossed his eyes.

"Larissa, I... I lost control. I shouldn't have hit you. Let's just forget this ever happened, alright? Neither of us will bring it up again."

He reached out, trying to pull me into his arms like he always did when smoothing things over.

Once, I would have let him. I would have buried the hurt, convinced myself it was love.

But now—I stepped back coldly.

"Why is it that only you get to decide what's forgotten?" I demanded.

"Do you have any idea how much I've suffered this past month? Or do you just not care?"

"Caesar, I'm done. I want a divorce."

The air in the room froze, heavy and suffocating.

A fleeting spark of joy lit up Arlene's eyes, but she quickly masked it with a pitiful sigh.

"Larissa, please don't act on impulse. It's my fault you're upset. I'll move out today—I promise I'll never come between you two again."

"You're not going anywhere!"

Caesar's face darkened as he cut her off sharply, his tone unyielding.

"If you leave, how will I ever fulfill my promise to take care of you?"

Then his gaze swung back to me, filled with impatience.

"You've already brought up divorce twice today. My patience has limits, Larissa. Push me any further and don't blame me if I really turn against you!"

"Don't forget—you're nothing without the Chandler family. Just a divorced woman carrying a child. Aside from me, who else would want you?"

A hollow laugh slipped from my lips.

So that was why he dared to flaunt his intimacy with Arlene right in front of me.

He was certain I wouldn't leave—because of the baby.

I said nothing more.

I just looked at him one last time, then turned and walked out, heading straight to the hospital to book an abortion.

The doctor stared at me in shock.

"You just had a prenatal check-up this morning—the baby is perfectly healthy. Why the sudden decision? Don't act rashly!"

She sighed heavily, her voice soft with pity.

"You spent half a year on injections and endless medication to conceive this child. Are you really ready to throw it all away?"

My fists clenched so tight my nails dug into my palms. My heart ached with unbearable reluctance.

With trembling hands, I dialed Caesar's number.

"If you make Arlene move out now, and swear never to have anything to do with her again, I'll forgive you. One last time."

There was a long silence. Then his voice came through, cold and impatient.

"Larissa, my life belongs to my brother. He's gone. How can it be wrong for me to care for his wife? I will never drive her out. If you can't accept it, then leave yourself."

And with that, he hung up.

By then, my tears had blurred the world into nothing but gray.

I turned to the doctor and whispered hoarsely, "I love this child... but I can't bring him into a world where his father's heart will never belong to us."

The doctor sighed again, but said no more.

As I lay on the cold, sterile operating table, my hand instinctively caressed my swollen belly.

Five months of struggle and sacrifice.

No one cherished this child more than I did.

But I had no choice.

"I'm sorry, baby," I whispered silently.

"In our next life, let's never cross paths with Caesar again."

The anesthesia seeped into my veins.

My world grew heavy, blurred, and dark.

Within moments, I sank into unconsciousness...

When I opened my eyes again, a searing pain tore through my lower body.

I asked the doctor for the blood of my lost child. I had it made into a necklace—so that he could stay with me forever.

Just then, a message came from Caesar.

[Where did you go? Don't tell me you really moved out?]

[Your sister-in-law was so upset by you today that she had contractions. I've decided to take her out to relax—we'll be back in two days.]

Before, I would have thrown a fit, fought to keep them from going anywhere together.

But now... I didn't even reply. My heart was numb.

I lay weakly on the hospital bed, finally ready to rest, when my phone buzzed again.

It was a video from Arlene.

On the screen, Caesar knelt on the floor, gently helping her put on a pair of brand-new designer heels.

The tenderness in his eyes—I hadn't seen that look in a long time.

"Caesar said these were originally a surprise gift for you," she said sweetly through voice message.

"But I only mentioned they looked nice, and he immediately gave them to me. Tell me, Larissa—who do you think matters more in his heart?"

Even though I had resolved to let go of Caesar, her words cut deep, a sharp ache spreading in my chest.

I replied back coldly, [Stop provoking me. Or don't blame me when I expose your filth and make sure the whole world knows. It won't be pretty.]

[We're adults, Arlene. Drop the fake act.]

I thought that would silence her.

But instead, she took a screenshot of my message and ran crying to Caesar.

Soon, his assistant appeared at my hospital ward, expression grim.

"Madam, this is Mr. Chandler's order. Please record a video, kneel down, and apologize to Madam Walton."

When I refused to move, his tone hardened.

"Don't make this difficult for us. Just do as you're told."

I still didn't budge.

So two bodyguards stormed in, dragging me out of the ward.

My hospital gown was yanked apart in the scuffle, leaving me disheveled and humiliated.

"This is illegal!" I shouted, clutching at my clothes. "I'll call Caesar right now!"

The assistant sneered.

"No need, Madam. Mr. Chandler already instructed me. Once the video is done, I'll take you to him. Your sister-in-law has been admitted to the hospital thanks to your cruelty—she needs a blood transfusion immediately."

A chill crept through my veins.

Before I could react, a bodyguard kicked me hard.

I collapsed to the ground, clutching my abdomen as waves of stabbing pain radiated through me.

They forced me onto my knees, holding me down until the assistant recorded my "confession."

The shame was unbearable. My whole body trembled as I fought to break free.

But the next moment, a blow to the head sent me into darkness.

When I came to, I was in another hospital.

Caesar loomed over me, brows tightly furrowed.

"Was kneeling and apologizing really that hard? You've been pretending to faint for so long while your sister-in-law is waiting for a transfusion. If we're too late, it'll be your fault!"

A bitter laugh escaped me.

"Look at me—do you really think I was pretending? Caesar, I won't donate blood. Give up already!"

From the start, he knew I suffered from a severe clotting disorder.

Even a small wound could put my life at risk.

And I had just undergone an abortion. Blood donation could kill me.

I thought that would make him stop.

But instead, his eyes hardened.

He dragged me into the blood-draw room and coldly ordered, "Take as much as you can. Her blood type is rare—store it for future use."

I stared at him in disbelief. "You know my condition. Why are you forcing this?"

His eyes flickered with something unreadable, then settled into blame. "If you hadn't cursed her, she'd never be in the hospital. This is your fault, Larissa. Pain is the only way you'll learn."

The next instant, the largest needle was plunged into my arm.

A scream tore from my throat as my blood drained away, leaving me faint and shaking.

At last, Caesar told them to stop.

He glanced at my deathly pale face, a flicker of guilt passing through his eyes, and reached out as if to help me.

But at that moment, the door burst open.

"Good news—Madam Walton has woken up!" the doctor announced.

Caesar's hand dropped instantly.

He rushed past me into the ward, gathering Arlene into his arms right before my eyes.

"Thank God you're safe," he whispered hoarsely. "If anything had happened, I would never forgive myself."

From the doorway, Arlene met my gaze.

Her lips curved as she mouthed silently, "You've lost."

Then, without hesitation, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.

Don’t worry,” she cooed, “even if something really had happened, I’d never blame you

Caesar stiffened, but he didn't push her away.

He turned toward me, flustered.

"Larissa, don't misunderstand. She's just overjoyed. Please don't make a scene."

But I didn't feel jealousy anymore—only emptiness.

"Don't worry," I said evenly. "Even if you end up in her bed, I won't cause a fuss again."

And with that, I turned and walked out.

Step by step, down the sterile corridor, out of that suffocating hospital.

One hand pressed against my still-bleeding wound, the other dialing Dexter.

My voice trembled. "Can you... come pick me up earlier than planned?"