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?"

Cassandra had been in a coma for seven whole days. When she finally woke up, she learned that her uncle had saved her.

Samuel's family was just a tiny part of the Nolans, while Trevor Nolan was the head of the central family. She had seen him a few times as a child when she visited the main house with Samuel, but they had never really interacted. So, why did he suddenly appear to save her? Could it be that he also couldn't stand what the Nolans had done?

Cassandra's mind was a mess. Trevor had saved her and left, arranging for a caregiver to look after her. The caregiver told her that the baby was still there, but she couldn't take any more stress.

After everything that had happened, Cassandra was utterly heartbroken. She took out her phone, booked a plane ticket, and informed the doctor that she wanted to be discharged the next day.

She would go back tomorrow to pack her things. Her condition had stabilized, so the doctor didn't stop her. Cassandra wouldn't let this go so easily, but now was not the time for revenge.

The room Trevor had arranged for her was a VIP ward, the kind even Samuel couldn't get.

Cassandra sent Trevor a message thanking him and also asked if Samuel knew about her pregnancy. His response was cold. "No, he doesn't."

Cassandra let out a sigh of relief. She could take the child with her as long as he didn't know.

In the evening, Cassandra felt a bit hungry and wanted food from the stall outside the hospital. She went downstairs in her hospital gown. When she got there, there was only one pack of food left. Coincidentally, Samuel also arrived with Francesca.

In just a few days, Cassandra looked like someone who had suffered a miscarriage, while Francesca looked radiant and full of life.

"Cassandra, are you okay?" Samuel's expression was a little uneasy.

Cassandra replied flatly, "Thanks to you two, I managed to survive."

Samuel felt like she always ruined the mood. He was trying to show concern, but this woman just didn't appreciate it. "Cassandra, you have doctors taking care of you, but Francesca only has me. You don't have to be so sarcastic. If you hadn't done something wrong in the first place, none of this would've happened. You're spoiled because I indulged you too much."

"Take this as a lesson. Hopefully, you won't do something so self-destructive again." Samuel rattled off his accusations without a second thought.

Cassandra hadn't recovered her strength and didn't want to argue with him. She turned to the seller and said, "I'll take the food."

Yet Francesca tugged at the corner of Samuel's shirt, whining softly, "Sam, I want one too."

Samuel simply threw down a hundred dollars and snatched the food like a robber. "Francesca is still weak. It's just a snack, you can go without."

Samuel took Francesca away and Cassandra gave a bitter laugh. "But I haven't eaten all day."

She had initially planned to be discharged tomorrow, but the thought of staying in the same hospital as them made her sick to her stomach. So, she left that very night.

When she got home, she took down the wedding photo. Samuel had said he didn't like taking pictures, so they had never taken a photo together. It wasn't even a wedding photo, it was just her alone in the picture. She then cleaned the closet, throwing all her clothes and everything that belonged to her into the trash can.

She finally placed the divorce agreement inside the safe, along with her pregnancy report and a lucky charm for the baby. Once she was gone, she would tell Samuel about the pregnancy. He had the right to know, but he could never find her again.

Cassandra took only her ID card and passport, not even a suitcase. She placed the house key on the dining table. Then, she walked out and closed the door behind her.

Cassandra had been staying in a hotel for the past few days. On the day she was about to board her flight, Samuel's men found her. His assistant barged into her room with a group of bodyguards. "Madam, Mr. Nolan has been looking for you for days. He wants to see you."

Cassandra's heart sank. Did he find out she was pregnant and trying to run away? She quickly grabbed her phone, intending to contact the person her father had arranged for her in Hathern, but someone snatched her phone away before she could make the call. The next thing she knew, she was being dragged to the hospital.

She looked like a mess when she arrived, while the Nolans and Francesca were all dressed impeccably. "Samuel, why won't you just let me go? You already chose to be with Francesca. What more do you want?"

Samuel didn't answer. His gaze was unreadable as he looked at her. "Cassandra, Francesca's kidneys are failing. Yours are a perfect match."

Cassandra's mind went blank. "What do you mean?"

A flicker of pity crossed Samuel's eyes. He knelt down and held her. "Cassie, both of Francesca's kidneys are failing. If she doesn't get a transplant, she'll die. It's just one kidney. You're a housewife, you don't need it. You'll still live a normal life."

It had been a long time since he had called her "Cassie", but this time, it was for her kidney. Cassandra felt like she didn't even know this man anymore. She shoved him away, her voice shaking with fury. "I refuse! That's my kidney! Who gave you the right to decide for me?"

Samuel would normally be enraged, but this time he was unusually calm. "Cassie, I promise you. After this, we'll start over and live a good life together. You always suspected something between me and Francesca, but she's just a close friend to me. That's all. If it makes you uncomfortable, I'll distance myself from her in the future."

Francesca sobbed behind him. "Cassandra, your kidney is my only hope. Please, I'm begging you."

Ariel chimed in, "Cassandra, we raised you for so many years. It's time for you to give back."

"Cassandra, this is about saving a life. If you refuse, you're no different from a murderer!" Eric added.

Pain gripped Cassandra's heart. Her voice trembled. "Mom, Dad. I'm your daughter too. Why do you treat an outsider better than me? There are so many kidneys in the world. Why does it have to be mine?" A wave of exhaustion washed over her.

Ariel's face showed no guilt, only entitlement. "Cassandra, Francesca can get pregnant, what about you? A hen that can't lay eggs, can it even be called a hen?"

Cassandra blurted out, "What if I'm pregnant? Does that mean I don't have to give up my kidney?"

"Cassandra, it's been a year, and you still haven't gotten pregnant. You think giving your kidney to Francesca will suddenly make a difference?" Ariel scoffed.

Impatience flashed across Samuel's face. "It's just one kidney. It won't kill you. Since when did you become so selfish?"

He had hoped to convince her to agree so they could do the surgery right there at the hospital, but since she refused, he had no choice but to take her to a private facility. "Cassie, I promise. After this, I'll come home, and we'll live happily together."

Cassandra was terrified. She bolted for the door, but the bodyguards knocked her out.

***

Three hours later, Francesca's condition worsened. To save time, the doctors skipped the tests and sedated Cassandra for surgery immediately. Tears slipped from the corners of her lifeless eyes.

Francesca sneered from the side. "Cassandra, you've lost. No matter what, Sam will always choose me. How could you get pregnant? Since you won't get rid of it yourself, I'll help you."

Cassandra's pupils shrank in horror. "You knew everything. This was all your plan!"

Francesca smirked. "That's right. So what? In an hour, your child will be gone."

The cold glint of a scalpel hovered over Cassandra's abdomen，The next second the knife went straight to her stomach!