Cassandra didn't even know how she managed to walk out. She only knew she was exhausted, physically and emotionally drained. Cassandra stared blankly out the taxi window.

She recalled what happened half a month ago at the birthday party of Samuel's close friend. Someone offered Francesca a toast during the party, but Samuel stepped in and drank on her behalf. When the others protested, he casually said it was because Francesca was pregnant. Rumours circulated that the child was Samuel's because her husband had died a few months earlier and he had been caring for her ever since. People even joked about it.

"Sam, is the baby yours?" someone teased.

Samuel simply smiled and replied, "It wouldn't be wrong to say that."

After the party, Cassandra confronted him, demanding to know why he would say such a thing. Samuel claimed that Francesca's child was his godson and there was nothing wrong with saying it that way. Besides, he hadn't married Francesca, so people would naturally assume he meant it that way.

Everyone knew that Samuel had harbored feelings for Francesca for five years. Still, in the end, she chose to marry a wealthy man in his forties instead. It was only after that that Samuel finally agreed to Cassandra's proposal. They got their marriage certificate and had a happy life together for a time.

They didn't hold a wedding, so the only people who knew about their marriage were the two of them and Samuel's parents.

After Francesca's husband died, she was forced out of her home. Samuel had been taking care of her ever since. To outsiders, Cassandra was the third party who ruined Samuel and Francesca's supposed love story.

***

Back home, Cassandra took off the jade safety pendant around her neck and placed it in the safe, along with her pregnancy test results. Her mind echoed the doctor's words, "Your body is weak. Getting pregnant this time was pure luck. If you don't keep this baby, you might never get another chance. Think carefully."

The timing couldn't be worse. She should terminate the pregnancy, but if she did, she might lose the chance to be a mother forever. She knew exactly why her health was so fragile.

Years ago, Samuel took her and his friends on a mountain camping trip. When it suddenly started raining, they had to evacuate quickly. On the way down, Francesca slipped and almost fell off a cliff. Cassandra instinctively reached out to save her. In the end, Francesca was fine, but Cassandra fell instead.

She barely survived. A rock had struck her stomach, damaging her uterus. The doctors had warned her that having children in the future would be extremely difficult.

After finally getting pregnant, she lost everything to Francesca again. No, Francesca didn't even have to take anything. All she had to do was lift a finger and Samuel would go to her willingly.

Cassandra shook her head, refusing to dwell on it. She could be a single mother. She had money, and her parents would dote on the child, too. With that thought, she comforted herself and drifted off to sleep.

At two o'clock in the morning, Samuel returned home and went to bed. Cassandra was a light sleeper. He often came home late because of his demanding job and she had gotten used to waiting for him. Habits indeed were hard to break.

At first, whenever he returned, he would hold her from behind, kiss her and share intimate moments with her. Ever since Francesca's divorce, he spent most of his time caring for that woman. He always said that he was tired every time he came home. Even so, he still hugged Cassandra. Unfortunately, she felt that the hug was half-hearted.

Then he just never came home; if he did, he would turn his back to her like now, and they no longer had any communication. She had long told herself to give up. Still, her breathing couldn't help but quicken after feeling his change.

Samuel heard the sound of her breathing and turned on the light, staring at her. "You're awake."

Cassandra met his gaze directly. "Yeah."

"Perfect. Francesca's health was awful. The doctor said she should drink some chicken soup for nourishment. She's picky and doesn't like restaurant food. She only likes the way you make it. Stay home tomorrow and make some for her. Bring it to the villa in the Westone Villa."

That villa was the place where she and Samuel had shared their happiest moments. Now, even that had been tainted.

Cassandra closed her eyes, her voice cold. "I don't have time."

Samuel frowned, displeased. "Why are you being so difficult? You're a housewife. Your time is the least valuable."

Cassandra felt her blood turn ice-cold. Her fists clenched tightly. When they first married, Samuel told her, "My woman doesn't need to work. You just need to enjoy life at home."

"But that makes me a housewife. I don't want to be one, I want to create my own value," she replied.

Samuel had playfully pinched her nose and said, "What's wrong with being a housewife? It's a real job, just a different kind of value. Besides, I make more than enough money for you. If you work, it'll make me look incompetent."

His charming words had totally deceived her. She even rejected an offer from a top-tier law firm to stay home for him, and now, he dismissed her so easily.

Suddenly, she thought of a popular saying on the internet. Before marriage, it's 'I'll support you', after marriage, it's 'I'm supporting you'.

"No matter how worthless my time is, I have no interest in raising someone else's child. If you want to be a stepfather, go ahead. I won't be a stepmother."

Samuel clenched his jaw. "You … " Then his eyes landed on her bare neck. "Where's the jade pendant I gave you? Why aren't you wearing it?"

Cassandra slowly opened her eyes and met his gaze. Her voice was calm but distant. "It no longer keeps me safe."

The previous night's conversation had been unpleasant, so Samuel left early the following day.

Samuel always said he couldn't get up early when he was with her. Now that he's rekindled his relationship with his first love, he's up earlier than the chickens.

That morning, Cassandra called her birth father and requested a few things. Before she left, she wanted to repay Eric and Ariel for raising her. Though she had been financially independent since high school, taking on part-time jobs and barely spending their money, she still felt the need to express her gratitude.

Cassandra stopped at a law firm to draft a divorce agreement on her way to the Nolan Residence. Then, she took a cab to the house where Eric and Ariel lived.

Cassandra entered with a tiny gift box in her hands. There were the documents she had requested from her father, the property certificate for a villa, the registration papers for a Rolls-Royce, and one million dollars in cash inside it. She intended these as a thank-you gift for raising her all these years.

"Mom, Dad, I'm back," Cassandra said as she walked into the living room, but no one noticed her. She was used to it. After her adoptive parents found out that she liked Samuel, they wanted to send her away. It was Samuel who had stopped them, giving her the mistaken impression that he still cared for her.

To them, Samuel deserved to be with a high-society heiress, not an orphan they had picked up from a shelter.

Cassandra didn't let their indifference get to her. She placed the gift box on the table. "Mom, Dad, you guys raised me for over ten years. This is my way of saying thank you."

Eric continued reading his financial newspaper, not even sparing her a glance. Ariel, on the other hand, scoffed. "Cassandra, is there anything our family lacks? What cheap trinket are you bringing us this time? Handmade towels? Gloves? Or perhaps some homemade desserts?"

Those were the gifts Cassandra had given them before, things she had put her heart into making. Still, they were worthless and embarrassing for Ariel. "I've told you from the start, you were never good enough to be Sam's wife. You insisted on clinging to him shamelessly, and now you've gotten your wish. You're still so petty. Our family must be cursed to have ended up with such a useless daughter-in-law!"

Cassandra bit her lip, her voice trembling. "Don't worry. Soon, I won't be a part of this family anymore."

In just a few days, she would give them what they wanted, she and Samuel would be divorced, and she would disappear from their lives forever.

"But these things are … " Before she could continue, the gift box was flung to the ground, landing directly at the feet of a man wearing black leather shoes.

It was Samuel. He picked up the items from the ground, threw them into the trash can, and then wiped his hands with a tissue.

Only then did Ariel seem satisfied. "Don't bring garbage into our home again."

"Mom, that's not garbage, it's … "

Slap! No one expected Ariel to slap Cassandra. Her delicate skin immediately showed a red mark. "Stop looking so pathetic! Who are you trying to guilt-trip? If it weren't for you, Sam would have married someone better by now! You're nothing but a burden!"

Samuel stepped forward, not to defend her, but merely to state the obvious. "Mom, that was unnecessary. Anyway, Francesca wants some chicken soup. Ask the servants to make some."

Ariel huffed. "If I'd known she couldn't even bear children, I would've let Francesca marry into this family instead." She believed the child Francesca was carrying belonged to Samuel, which explained why she doted on her so much.

After Ariel left, Samuel turned to Cassandra with a detached expression. "I already told you, my mom doesn't like cheap gifts. Why do you insist on making things difficult for yourself?"

Cassandra let out a cold laugh. "Cheap? Let's hope you don't regret it."

She got up and left, asking a servant for an ice pack before returning to her room. Cassandra rubbed her face with the ice pack, took out the divorce agreement, and sent a message to Samuel. "Come to my room."

He arrived shortly after. Without emotion, she handed him a pen. "Sign it."

"Sign what … " Before he could finish, his phone rang. His expression immediately softened as he answered. "Don't be scared. I'll be there soon."

He turned to leave but suddenly spun back and grabbed the papers on the desk. "You want me to sign? Bring the soup to the Westone Villa first."

Before Cassandra could refuse, he was already gone. To finalize the divorce, she had no choice but to deliver the chicken soup herself.

When she arrived, Samuel took the food and went upstairs to be with Francesca. However, he had already signed and left the papers on the living room table. As she picked them up, she casually asked if he wanted to amend any terms.

Samuel barely glanced at the document. "Isn't this the business contract you mentioned last time? The one about opening a store? There's nothing complicated about it. I just signed it."

Cassandra froze for a moment. So, he had no idea he had just signed their divorce papers. It didn't matter. He would find out soon enough.

She gently placed a hand on her stomach and thought to herself. "Baby, from now on, it's just you and me."

Just as she was about to depart, an unexpected voice from upstairs interrupted her. "Cassandra Nolan, how dare you poison the soup!"

Francesca lost her baby at the hospital and Cassandra was accused of being the culprit. There were abortion drugs in the chicken soup. Ariel would never do such a thing, so the only suspect was Cassandra.

Ariel wanted to call the police because she was convinced that Cassandra had murdered her grandchild.

Amidst the chaos, Samuel finally spoke, "Enough. Airing this dirty laundry will only bring shame to the Nolans."

Cassandra's eyes were bloodshot. She uttered each word with force, "I already said, I didn't do it."

"Cassandra, if it wasn't you, was it Francesca herself? Do you think that's even possible?" Samuel coldly retorted.

A hint of glee flashed across Francesca's eyes, but she quickly masked it, feigning weakness. "Sam, it's alright. I don't blame Cassandra. It's just … I'm heartbroken about my baby. Cassandra, I know you misunderstood my relationship with Sam, but we're truly just friends. Even if you resent me, you shouldn't have harmed my child. Forget it. You're still young and you're with Sam. I don't want to make a big deal out of it."

Cassandra's chest burned with rage. She pointed at Francesca and shouted, "Francesca! You know exactly how you lost that baby!"

Francesca evaded her gaze and turned to Samuel. "Sam, I can let this go, but my poor baby. I heard that babies who die like this need to be properly mourned at a church. I heard there is a sacred church on West Hill, to atone for her sins, she must confess her misdeeds, apologize, and pray for the departed while prostrating herself along the way. I know this might be a bit difficult for Cassandra, but ... "

Samuel cut her off, his eyes turning menacingly towards Cassandra. "Difficult? This is the least she can do to atone for her sins."

Cassandra stared out the window at the raging storm. Going out in this weather to perform that grueling thing would surely lead to a miscarriage. She had a gut feeling that Francesca knew something. This was deliberate!

Fearful of losing her own kid, Cassandra clutched Samuel's sleeve and pleaded for the first time. "Sammy, you promised you wouldn't let me suffer."

She didn't call him by his name but by his lovely nickname, hoping he'd remember the affection they shared as children and not be so cruel.

Samuel looked at Cassandra with a complicated expression. Still, he pulled her hand away eventually. "I also promised to protect Francesca and her child."

"Cassandra, you made a mistake. If you did something wrong, you have to pay the price." His voice was indifferent. After that, he ruthlessly let go of her hand.

Cassandra felt her heart shatter. She screamed, "Samuel! You can't do this to me! I … " Before she could finish, the bodyguards dragged her away.

At the West Hill.

Cassandra stared up at the endless steps, fear creeping into her heart for the first time. Rain pounded against her skin, mixing with the tears on her face. She turned to the bodyguards and begged, "Call Samuel. Tell him, I'm pregnant."

The bodyguard remained unmoved, replying like a robot, "Madam, Mr. Nolan said you must kneel and repent as you climb. If you refuse, he will cut off funding to the orphanage."

Cassandra froze. Samuel knew precisely where to hit her soft spot. The orphanage she once lived in relied heavily on the Nolans' funding, as government subsidies were meager. The children there often went hungry and cold. It was only after the Nolans' investment that their lives improved. If Samuel withdrew his support, their lives would become even more miserable.

She wanted to help the children because she had been through similar difficulties. Cassandra managed a smile amidst the rain, a mix of bitterness and regret. She knew she was trapped. Even if she refused, Samuel would find other ways to blackmail her.

"Madam, we will livestream your atonement to Mr. Nolan. Please begin."

Cassandra turned and stepped onto the first stair. She did what Samuel asked with mechanical precision. Lightning flashed across the sky, thunder mingling with the relentless rain. She had always been terrified of thunder.

Samuel used to cover her ears and tell her not to be afraid, but now he had another woman in his arms.

"Cassandra, you were wrong. You were wrong to love Samuel Nolan." With that thought, she knelt with a thud against the stone step.

Then, she forced herself to stand and continue forward. Her body trembled from the cold, but her back remained straight. "I was wrong … I was wrong to beg him three times to marry me. In the end, I deserved this."

Back at the hospital, Samuel felt a sudden pang in his chest as he watched the live-stream. It was as if he was losing something precious. Nevertheless, he quickly dismissed the thought and told himself Cassandra had brought this upon herself. That punishment was already light. Otherwise, she would have gone to jail. He was doing her a favor.

"I'm sorry. I was wrong. If I could have another chance, I would never fall in love with you." Cassandra knelt again, her knee now bleeding profusely. The coldness of her body was nothing compared to the chill in her heart.

At the hospital, Samuel couldn't bear it any longer. He turned to leave, but Francesca suddenly grabbed his arm. "Sam, my stomach hurts! Can you call the doctor for me?" In the end, Samuel chose Francesca.

At the foot of the hill, Cassandra had no idea how long she had been kneeling. The steps stretched endlessly before her. Then, just as she lost her balance and was about to fall, a pair of hands caught her from behind.

A deep voice whispered in her ear, "Do you really love Samuel that much? Enough to destroy yourself for him?"