Instinctively, I looked over at Alaric.

His expression didn’t change as he calmly said to his mother, “She’s been taking medication to regulate her body. We’ll try for a child soon.”

His mother, Leah Middleton, let out a cold laugh, slamming her chopsticks onto the table.

“If it weren’t for the old matriarch forcing your marriage, do you really think you'd be here? Now that she’s gone, it’s your duty as the Middleton Family’s daughter-in-law to bear children. So, wipe that long face, who exactly are you trying to guilt?”

Suddenly, Ruby covered her mouth and let out a dry heave.

Without thinking twice, Alaric reached out to catch her.

Leah’s sullen expression instantly brightened. Her eyes darted between the two of them.

“Don’t tell me, you two!”

Ruby lowered her head, feigning shyness.

Alaric cast a brief glance in my direction, only to be met with an unreadable expression.

Leah gave me a sharp, unfriendly look.

“Some people have been married for years without even a whisper of good news, while others are only here for two or three months and already proving themselves.”

Alaric pulled me aside.

“Eleanor, don’t overthink this. This proves Ruby really did help cure me. This is my first child! I can’t just abandon my responsibility. But we can raise the baby under our name, alright?”

Watching him lie so effortlessly, without even blinking sent a sharp pain through my chest.

Then Leah’s voice rang out, louder than before.

“Since it’s Alaric’s child, as his wife, she should be the one to take good care of it! That’s her duty!”

Late that night, we returned to the villa. Alaric looked like he wanted to say something, but before he could speak, a loud knock shattered the silence.

“Mr. Alaric! Miss Ruby isn’t feeling well, she needs you right away!”

We rushed to Ruby’s residence.

“The doctor’s already seen her,” the housekeeper said respectfully. “It’s nothing serious, just a bit of fatigue. He recommended some rest and warm foot soaks to help her relax.”

The room fell into a sudden hush.

Half-reclined on the sofa, Ruby suddenly looked up at me.

“Then could Eleanor help me with the foot bath?”

Alaric looked at me awkwardly, clearly torn.

“Ruby, don’t be difficult. There are plenty of maids here. Let them do it. If not, I’ll help you myself, alright?”

Ruby pouted and cast a suggestive glance at Alaric’s lower body. Her voice was sweet and coy, “But you’ve already worked so hard today.”

Alaric’s breath hitched slightly. Then he turned to me and ordered,

“Eleanor, she’s pregnant, it’s inconvenient for her. You do it.”

I clenched my fists so tightly my knuckles turned white.

Just as I picked up the towel, Ruby suddenly swayed and let out a piercing scream,

“What are you doing?!”

Alaric shoved me away with full force. My forehead slammed into the corner of the table. A nearby vase shattered, sharp shards slicing into my skin as blood began to pour.

“She’s trying to kill my baby!” Ruby shrieked, tears rolling down her cheeks.

“I didn’t. I didn’t do anything!” I cried, panicked and trembling.

At the hospital, medical staff swarmed around Ruby, tending to her as if she were royalty.

Leah burst in, rage blazing in her eyes. Without a word, she slapped me across the face.

“You can’t even bear your own child and now you want to harm the Middleton Family’s grandson?!”

Alaric stepped in between us, “Mom, don’t”

Leah’s voice rose even higher. “You’ve spoiled her rotten! Letting a woman walk all over you, what good has it done?!”

Her shrill tone drew stares from those nearby. Someone even raised a phone and began filming.

Alaric lowered his voice and turned back to me, “Go home.”

I pressed a hand to my bleeding forehead and made my way downstairs. But just as I reached the first floor, my vision went black and I collapsed.

A passing nurse rushed to help and had me taken to the ER.

When the doctor called Alaric, the background noise was filled with the sound of servants doting on Ruby.

“Miss Ruby, have some fruit.”

“Let me massage your shoulders.”

Alaric’s voice was cold over the phone.

“Reflect on your actions while you’re at home. The doctor said Ruby nearly suffered a miscarriage.”

I was hospitalized for three days. He didn’t visit me once.

Meanwhile, Ruby’s social media was flooded with posts flaunting her new yacht, mansion and luxury car, all gifts from Alaric. The entire Middleton Family treated her like she was some precious jewel.

I sat quietly by the hospital window, staring blankly at the rustling leaves.

My phone rang, but it wasn’t him.

“Hello, Miss. Regarding the baby welcoming party you booked, we’ll be using our finest 288,000-dollar package.”

I let out a bitter laugh.

“Contact Alaric. You don’t need to notify me.”

On the day I was discharged, I took a cab home by myself.

As soon as I stepped through the door, I saw Ruby lounging lazily on the sofa while Alaric gently peeled grapes for her, one by one.

He grabbed my arm and dragged me to the side, lowering his voice.

“Ruby’s pregnancy is finally stable. Don’t stir up trouble with her again, understand?”

“From today onward, she’s living here.”

Ruby shot me a smug, challenging glance. Her face said it all: I’ve won.

Late that night, a blood-curdling scream came from her room. When Alaric rushed in, he found her writhing in pain on the floor.

“Help! It hurts! Save the baby!”

At the hospital, the diagnosis was food poisoning.

Lying on the bed, Ruby looked at me with teary, wounded eyes. Her voice trembled.

“Madam, why would you do this to me? This is Alaric’s child.”

Alaric’s gaze turned ice cold.

“Eleanor, have you lost your mind?!”

Without giving me a chance to explain, he had someone forcibly send me to a secluded villa on the outskirts of the city.

I sat on the floor of that vast, empty villa, heart twisting in agony.

Three years of marriage and I had never warmed his heart. All I’d done was expose how little I truly meant.

I texted him.

[Let’s get a divorce.]

His call came almost instantly, his tone forceful.

“I don’t agree! How long are you planning to keep this up?”

I answered calmly, “Alaric, your heart belongs to someone else and now she’s carrying your child. Divorce will set us both free.”

“Think carefully before you speak again.” He hung up on me.

I shook my head with a bitter smile. He’d married me for the Middleton Family’s reputation.

And now he refused to even let me go. This hollow, hypocritical marriage, I didn’t want it anymore.

Three days later, he suddenly showed up at the villa. His tone had softened.

“Eleanor, today’s your birthday. I prepared a surprise just for you.”

Before I could say a word, he pulled me into the car and brought me to a high-end private club.

He opened the door to a luxurious private room, inside stood a towering champagne fountain and an exquisite eight-tier cake.

His friends all shouted in unison, “Happy birthday, sis-in-law!”

Alaric gently placed a birthday’s hat on my head, his voice warm but edged with warning.

“You’ve been through a lot lately, I know. But remember, you’ll always be my wife. So, stop being stubborn, alright?”

Just then, the private room door swung open.

Ruby walked in gracefully. The mood shifted in an instant.

She leaned close to Alaric, whispering just loud enough for only me to hear, “I’m not wearing anything underneath.”

Alaric’s expression changed immediately. Without a word, he turned to me. “I’ll be right back.”

Then he followed her out.

And never returned.

The guests exchanged awkward glances before making excuses to leave, one after another.

Suddenly, I felt a forceful shove from behind I crashed into the champagne tower. Glass shattered around me, slicing my arm open in dozens of places.

Slumped on the floor, I scooped up a piece of ruined cake with trembling fingers and took a bite.

The cake was sweet. But my heart was bitter.

As I staggered out of the room, I overheard sharp whispers from the restroom:

“Eleanor Sinclair, how pitiful.”

“Mr. Alaric just ditched her to go fight it out upstairs with Ruby? Judging by the sounds, it’ll be two or three hours!”

“Even while pregnant, still that intense? Alaric’s stamina is something else! What a player!”

Clutching my chest, I fled.

Back at the villa, I packed my bags through the night. By the time my tears had dried, dawn had barely broken. Dragging my suitcase to the door, I was ready to leave.

When the door was kicked open violently. Alaric stormed in and slapped me so hard I collapsed to the ground.

“Tell me! Where the hell did you hide Ruby?!”

Holding my burning cheek, I stared up at him, stunned.

“What are you talking about? I don’t know anything.”

His eyes were bloodshot as he roared, cutting me off, “Eleanor! You used to be obedient and gentle, when did you become this vicious? Where’s your kindness? Your Sinclair Family upbringing?!”

At the mention of the Sinclair Family, I snapped. My voice rose.

“I already told you, I didn’t do it!”

Suddenly, my phone buzzed. A message popped up from an unknown number, an address.

He snatched the phone before I could react, fury igniting in his eyes.

“So it was you!”

“I don’t even know that address!” I tried to explain, desperate.

But he wouldn’t listen. He yanked me by the wrist and dragged me out.

The car sped all the way to the sea. He threw me out like trash onto the jagged rocks.

The rough surface tore my palms open, blood gushed instantly.

“I’ll ask you one last time, where is Ruby?”

He loomed over me, voice like a blade.

I looked up at the man I once loved with all my heart.

“I don’t know,” I said, every word slicing through me.

Two bodyguards stepped forward. I backed away in fear.

“Alaric! What are you doing?!”

He turned his face away. His voice was devoid of warmth.

“Ruby is carrying my child. You shouldn't have gone this far.”

The iron rod came crashing down.

I heard the crack, my arm breaking, clear and sharp. Pain ripped through me and I collapsed to the ground. Cold sweat drenched my clothes. I didn’t even have the strength left to scream.

“Still won’t talk?” He stared down at me, eyes full of contempt.

Then a faint cry came from beneath the cliff.

Alaric lost his mind and sprinted over. He personally dragged Ruby up from the edge.

“Don’t blame her, please.” she whispered, breathless and pitiful in his arms. “Madam was just confused for a moment.”

He cradled her tenderly.

“Don’t talk, baby. You’re freezing.”

Then he turned to me, voice like ice.

“Since you like throwing people off cliffs, let’s see how you like it.”

Ruby cast a concerned glance toward me.

“Madam, will she be alright?”

“She’s a great swimmer,” Alaric said with a cold smile.

And just like that, my heart completely shattered.

He’d forgotten that I almost drowned once while saving him. Since then, I’d never gone near deep water.

He threw me off the cliff without a trace of hesitation.

Night fell. The freezing seawater slowly stole my warmth.

I screamed hoarsely for help, but only crashing waves answered me. My phone signal flickered in and out. Hope dimmed with every passing second.

Just as I began to lose consciousness, my phone rang.

With trembling hands, I answered. A low, familiar voice came through the receiver.

“What took you so long to answer?”

I used the last of my strength to whisper, “You once said that you wanted to have a child with me. Does that still count?”