The launch event was grand and bustling, with Crestville’s elite gathered.

Entering the manor, I was stunned to see Victoria Cross present as well.

She wore a moon-white evening gown, elegant and poised, radiating gentle maternal warmth.

Nathan stood beside her, his arm at her waist, greeting guests, while Victoria smiled softly and sweetly.

My mother-in-law held her grandson, chatting with several wealthy ladies. Everyone praised the boy’s broad forehead, saying he was destined for wealth and honor.

The moment I stepped into the hall, the chatter abruptly quieted, and all eyes turned to me.

Nathan released Victoria and walked toward me with composure.

“Catherine, come see the child, he’s really adorable.” Saying this, he took my hand, led me to my mother-in-law, and placed the child into my arms.

Looking at the plump, fair baby, a wave of sorrow swept through me. My fingertips brushed his soft cheek. If only he were mine!

I could have had him, too.

Many eyes fell on us—some pitying, some mocking, some detached…

Victoria hurried toward us through the crowd, her hands shaking with panic.

“Sister, Nolan, let me hold him.”

I froze, staring at her in disbelief.

“You said his name is Nolan?”

“Nolan Turner. Nathan said it means two hearts linked.”

“Wah!” A sharp cry pierced the air.

My fingers slackened instantly, my whole body sinking into cold darkness like falling into an abyss.

He actually gave our child’s name to someone else? Did he intend to link hearts with another woman? Nolan—that was the name he gave me on my eighteenth birthday, the day I offered myself to him. He hugged me in excitement and said that if we ever had a child, we’d name him Nolan, meaning our hearts would forever be joined.

Before I could gasp in anger, a crisp slap cracked through the hall. I snapped back to see the baby lying on the floor, blood trickling from his forehead. Nathan was holding him, glaring at me with fury.

Beside him, Victoria wept in anguish.

“Sister, even if you dislike my child, you can’t throw him in public! He’s Nathan’s child, too! How could you be so cruel?” She tried desperately to take the baby back.

“Nathan, let me go! I love you, I’m willing to stay hidden, but I can’t let my child’s life be toyed with.”

“How could you do this, sister? Just because I’m powerless, does that give her the right to throw Nathan to his death in public?”

Her sobs drove Nathan into a panic. He rushed to embrace her and the crying child.

“Victoria, look at me. Nolan is our precious son. I won’t let anyone hurt him. I love you, I love our child, and I’ll protect you with my life.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll get justice for you. I’ll make her kneel and apologize. I will promise you anything you want.”

Nathan’s words stabbed through my heart. He wanted me to kneel to a mistress and give her a promise.

What about my promise? Was it worthless? The boy’s bright eyes flashed in my mind again and again.

“Catherine, I love you. I’ll protect you for life. Anyone who dares bully you, I’ll fight them to the end.” Nathan grabbed my collar, swayed, and shoved me toward Victoria.

“Kneel and kowtow to Victoria and Nathan to apologize.”

“Swear on your late mother-in-law’s name that if you ever dare feel jealous again or scheme against Victoria and her child, may she suffer frying oil and burning fire in the afterlife, never finding peace.”

I stared at Nathan, stunned. Before my mother passed, she treated him as her own son. He used to kneel at her grave, calling her “Mom” over and over. Now, for a mistress, he cursed her so viciously.

I wiped away my tears and straightened my back.

"Nathan, I will never kowtow to a mistress unless I'm dead."

Nathan narrowed his eyes, gestured, and a bodyguard stepped forward, seized my shoulder, and kicked my knee. I fell before Victoria with a heavy thud. Before I could even bow, whispers erupted:

"Look, the dignified Wallace heiress kneels to a mistress! What a shame to all women!"

"Truly, she'd be better off dead. Living like this is humiliating." "If William Wallace saw this, he'd be furious in his grave." I tilted my head, eyes bloodshot, glaring at Nathan.

"Nathan, have you forgotten the vow under the oak tree?" He grabbed my chin fiercely.

"Catherine, I haven't forgotten. It's you who has been ruthless, insisting on driving Victoria and her children away. Today, I must teach you a lesson." Then he slammed my head to the floor, blood trickling down my forehead, seeping into my eyes, blurring everything.

Just as he was about to strike again, a thin figure rushed in and punched him hard across the face.

"Don't bully my sister!" Through my haze, I saw my younger brother, Samuel, trembling as he stood protectively before me.

Nathan steadied himself, wiped the blood from his lip, and glared coldly.

"Move."

"No!"

"Brother Nathan, you can't hurt my sister like this! You promised to protect her forever—why force her to kneel to a lowly woman?"

Nathan’s voice turned icy.

"Samuel, you're young. You don’t understand. This is for your sister’s own good, to stop her from harming others."

"You're lying! My sister would never hurt anyone! You're framing her!"

"Nathan, I’m eighteen now, not a child. If you can't protect my sister, I will." His youthful face was filled with grief and fury. He turned to pull me away.

Nathan waved his hand; the bodyguards blocked us.

"Catherine, you must take responsibility. You haven't apologized to Victoria." My brother shoved the bodyguards in anger, but they seized him. Seeing them grab my arm, he roared,

"Don't touch my sister! I'll apologize to her! I’ll beat her, I'll scold her, I'll do anything!"

Then he fell to his knees with a thud and kowtowed repeatedly toward Victoria.

"I'm bowing to you to apologize! Don’t treat my sister like this! She's a girl! Don’t humiliate her…" Tears instantly blurred my vision. I kicked the bodyguard’s leg and rushed to pull him into my arms.

"Samuel Wallace, I’m sorry! It’s my fault, I’m so sorry…" His tears slid down my neck, scorching my heart.

His hoarse, trembling voice choked out:

"Sister, I've burdened you. I won’t study anymore. Let’s go." People around us looked on with mixed expressions. In high society, everyone is cunning; they all know the Wallace family’s secrets. But no one dared expose anything or offend a business partner.

Seeing the tension deepen, our father stepped out, angrily shouting,

"Shameful child! You can’t live a peaceful day because of jealousy!"

He smacked my brother on the head,

"You're a man! Instead of calming your sister, you join her mess. How will the Wallace Group ever be yours?"

"When will you be half as sensible as your brother? Only then could I die in peace."

Seeing the father about to hit him again, the mother-in-law stepped forward and said with false concern,

“Father-in-law, please don’t hit him. He grew up without a mother’s guidance, so it’s normal that he’s immature. You can teach him later.”

She then looked at Nathan,

“Hurry and take Alex to the hospital for a checkup. Don’t let his head get injured.”

Victoria rushed forward and said,

“Mom, the guests are already here. I can go by myself. You stay with Nathan and greet everyone. Don’t delay the important event.”

She then forcefully lifted the child and moved to leave. Nathan immediately embraced her guiltily,

“Victoria, you’re always so considerate and gentle. Thank you for everything.” Victoria smiled softly,

“As your wife, it’s what I should do. Take good care of everyone. I’ll call if anything happens.”

With that, she picked up the child and strode off.

The father immediately grabbed Nathan’s arm and, facing the guests, loudly announced the cooperation.

Nathan, holding the microphone, declared that the two families would always be united and support each other in the future.

The guests laughed and cheered, but I stood quietly in a corner, my heart drowning in bitterness.

Dragged by Samuel, I went to the hospital.

Turning a corner in the corridor, Victoria approached. Seeing the bandage on my forehead, her usual gentleness vanished, replaced by a raised, arrogant chin.

“Catherine, now you finally know who Nathan loves, right?”

She leaned closer, lowering her voice.

“Nathan and I weren’t an accident. We got together a year before your wedding. He only married you out of pity.”

“Do you know why he had a vasectomy? I was the one who asked for it. Marriage was fine, but I refused to have children with you, or I’d leave. To keep me, he knelt and swore he wouldn’t have kids with you, then immediately went to get a vasectomy.”

Victoria clicked her tongue, stepped back, and glared at me sharply.

“Catherine, from now on, the Turner Enterprises belongs to my son. You’d better disappear, or I’ll make sure you and your brother die miserably.”

She laughed loudly.

I walked away.

Seeing the boy running toward me with medicine at the end of the corridor, I took out my phone and dialed a familiar number.

“Henry Harper, I’m willing to go to the US. I have one condition: arrange everything for Samuel.”

An excited voice came through.

“Catherine, you’ve finally come to your senses! I’ll arrange everything and pick you up tomorrow.”