At eight months pregnant, I suddenly received an emergency alert from my husband, Bolton Belanger’s car system.

Following the GPS location, I rushed to the parking lot—only to find Bolton and my stepsister, Shannon, making out inside his car!

“Bolton, if my sister ever finds out that all ten of her miscarriages happened because you sent her embryos to me for experiments… do you think she’d hate us to death?”

Bolton let out a cold laugh. “She’s nothing but a breeding mouse mother for our lab rats. So what if she finds out? Everything I have belongs to you and the baby. And once she delivers the one she’s carrying—once it meets your experiment’s requirements—I’ll have the doctor tie her tubes. Then I’ll use her infertility as the reason to kick her out with nothing.”

As he spoke, the movement of his body quickened.

I stood frozen, watching the scene unfold as tears streamed down my cheeks.

From the very beginning, my marriage was nothing but a lie. Even my children—every one of them—were nothing but experimental subjects to them.

If that’s how they want to play, I’m not going to let them get what they want!

Right then, I made three decisions.

First: Divorce Bolton, resign from his company, and leave him forever!

Second: Get an abortion and completely ruin Bolton’s plans!

Third: Uncover the truth, make Bolton and Shannon pay for what they’ve done, and avenge my babies!

But just as I signed the termination-of-pregnancy consent form and the doctor was preparing to proceed, my phone suddenly rang.

“Amybeth,” a man’s voice snapped, “the child in your belly is mine. I forbid you to abort my child!”

That voice… It wasn’t just anyone. It was Gibeon Chrest, my childhood sweetheart. He’d moved abroad before I entered college, and after that, we lost contact.

There was no way the baby in my belly could be his!

“Gibeon… Do you even hear what you’re saying?” My voice tightened.

On the other end, he chuckled.

“Amybeth, did you forget the night I came back eight months ago?” he asked.

“That night,” he explained, “you were the first woman I slept with. The baby is definitely mine. I already performed an amniocentesis paternity test. If you want proof, I can send it to you right now.”

Hearing the certainty in his voice, I finally breathed a sigh of relief.

“What are you planning to do, Amybeth?” he asked. “Listen. I’m not letting the woman carrying my child stay with another man.”

Hearing that, I replied with a serious tone.

“One month from now, I’ll be single. You can come pick me up. I’m leaving for Monaco… but I have two conditions.

“First, you must work with the Venus Group to go after the Belanger Corporation. I want Bolton’s company wiped off the map. I want him to lose everything!

“Second, investigate the truth behind Shannon’s experiments and make both of them pay. I want justice for my children.”

He let out a short laugh and agreed without hesitation. “Deal, I’ll give you one month to wrap up that worthless marriage. One month from now, I’ll come take you myself.”

He didn’t give me a chance to argue. He hung up immediately.

I tore the signed pre-abortion forms in half, canceled the appointment, and walked out of the hospital.

One month later, my resignation and divorce would both take effect. I would leave with Gibeon, but I wouldn’t leave quietly.

I would make them pay for hurting me and my children!

1

Amybeth’s POV

“Atty. Powell, I want to divorce Bolton and resign from his company. Please draft both agreements for me.”

The corporate lawyer frowned slightly, his tone heavy. “Ma'am, marriage isn’t easy, and you’re highly respected in the company. You and the CEO have always seemed deeply in love. Making such a sudden decision… Did Sir Bolton do something recently that upset you? Do you need me to talk to him? He still cares about you very much, you know.”

Hearing that, I let out a cold laugh.

Before I decided to divorce him and resign, I had genuinely believed we loved each other. Even though I’d been pregnant ten times and lost all ten, I never stopped wanting a child that belonged to the two of us.

Bolton had looked at me countless times with heartache, even blaming everything on himself.

I thought he loved me more than his own life.

But then yesterday, when an emergency alert popped up from his car system, I rushed to the parking lot—only to see him and Shannon making out in the car.

The truth unfolded right before my eyes.

I lost all ten babies simply because Shannon needed test subjects, practically lab rats. And their father handed those lives over without hesitation.

They didn’t even want to spare the one still in my belly.

They planned everything—stripping me of everything I had and kicking me out with nothing.

But now that I know the truth, the ones left with nothing will be them!

Thinking of that, I nodded firmly. “Atty. Powell, there’s no need. I’ve thought everything through. As for the divorce and the resignation, he’ll agree.”

“But before both become official,” I added, “I need you to keep this confidential from everyone else.”

The lawyer hesitated, but soon, he placed the drafted resignation and divorce agreement in front of me.

I thanked him and took both documents into the CEO’s office.

I didn’t knock. When I walked in, Bolton and Shannon were hugging each other.

The moment they lifted their heads, their lips had just separated.

Shannon gave me a fake smile, explaining, “Amybeth, don’t misunderstand. I almost slipped just now. Bolton just supported me a little.”

Bolton immediately walked over, naturally pulling me into his arms.

“Babe, I missed you so much. Don’t stay out so long next time.”

They were perfectly coordinated. After speaking, Shannon headed toward the door, her lipstick almost completely worn off.

It was all so obvious. I had simply been too blind to ever notice.

Before she reached the door, she turned back, mockery in her eyes. “Oh, right, Amybeth—your baby is already eight months along. The Venus Group project you’ve been handling should be handed over to me. Bolton already agreed. After all, I did spend quite a bit of effort persuading him.”

As she spoke, she hinted suggestively and deliberately licked her lips.

Bolton’s body stiffened as he held me, and I clearly felt his arousal.

They were flirting right in front of me!

I couldn’t hold it back anymore; I shoved Bolton away.

He frowned, irritation flashing in his eyes, but quickly smoothed into a smile.

“Amybeth, Shannon has a point. You can’t overwork yourself in your condition. And she is the internationally renowned perfumer—Queen. As a perfumer yourself, you should know how extraordinary Queen is. Venus Group only agreed to work with us because of her.”

“So you should hand the project to her,” he continued. “Honestly, you’re not that gifted in perfumery. You should focus on taking care of the baby.”

A hint of contempt flashed through his gaze.

I almost burst out laughing.

Shannon actually dared to impersonate me?!

I am the one and only Queen!

If I hadn’t joined the Belanger Corporation back then and brought my own formulas, the company would’ve gone bankrupt long ago.

Because I didn’t want to burden Bolton, I never told him my true identity.

But I never expected him to believe her nonsense so easily.

What he didn’t know was that Venus Group knew privately that I am Queen. Once I resign, they will cancel the partnership without hesitation.

Conveniently, the signing date is in a month. When the contract falls through, I hope he won’t be too shocked.

“Fine. She can come take over tomorrow.” I sneered and agreed without hesitation.

At that moment, Bolton’s phone buzzed.

It was a text message. When he opened it, it was photos of Shannon wearing lingerie.

He quickly turned off the screen, but I’d already seen everything.

As his gaze shifted toward me, I acted as though I hadn’t seen a thing and handed him the resignation and divorce documents.

“These need your signature,” I said calmly.

“What documents?”

Just as he reached to flip them open, his phone rang again.

He answered, and Shannon’s flirtatious voice came through loud enough for me to hear.

“Bolton, didn’t you look at the photos I sent? I’m waiting for you at our usual place. If you don’t come soon, someone else might take your spot!”

Hearing that, he hurriedly scribbled his name on the documents without even glancing through them.

The next second, he shoved me aside without hesitation.

My back slammed into the sharp edge of the table. A wave of pain shot straight to my head.

My vision blurred from the pain, but he didn’t spare me a single glance.

“I’ve signed everything, Amybeth. I have something to take care of. I’m leaving now.”

Just like that, he rushed out the door.

I knew where he was going—back to Shannon to fool around with her again.

Sure enough, a few minutes later, my phone buzzed with a message from an unknown number.

It was a photo of Bolton lying on top of another woman.

I didn’t bother reacting. I just saved the photo and booked an appointment for an abortion.

I had conceived this child out of love for Bolton.

But now that I no longer love him, I cannot bring this child into the world to suffer.

While I was signing the pre-procedure documents, my phone suddenly rang.

“Amybeth, the baby in your belly is mine. I won’t allow you to get rid of my child!”

The man on the other end was Gibeon, my childhood friend. He went abroad before I started college, and we lost contact.

How could the baby I was carrying be his?

“Gibeon, do you understand what you’re saying?” My voice was serious.

On the other end of the line came his chuckles.

“Amybeth, did you forget the night I came back eight months ago?” he asked.

“That night,” he explained, “you were the first woman I slept with. The baby is definitely mine. I already did an amniocentesis paternity test. If you want proof, I can send you the results right now.”

Hearing the certainty in his voice, I finally exhaled in relief.

“What are you planning to do, Amybeth? Listen. I can’t let the woman carrying my child be with another man.”

Hearing that, I spoke seriously into the phone.

“After one month, I’ll be single. You can come pick me up. I’m leaving for Monaco… but I have two conditions.

“First, you must work with Venus Group to go after the Belanger Corporation. I want Belanger Corporation wiped off the map. I want Bolton to lose everything!

“Second, investigate the truth behind Shannon’s experiments and make both of them pay. I want justice for my children.”

He let out a short laugh and agreed without hesitation. “Deal, I’ll give you one month to wrap up that worthless marriage. One month from now, I’ll come take you myself.”

He didn’t give me a chance to argue. He hung up immediately.

I tore the signed pre-abortion forms in half, canceled the appointment, and walked out of the hospital.

One month later, my resignation and divorce would both take effect. I would leave with Gibeon, but I wouldn’t leave quietly.

I would make them pay for hurting me and my children!

Amybeth’s POV

When I returned to the villa, I hadn’t even stepped through the door before hearing Shannon’s high-pitched moans echoing inside.

Her voice was flirtatious, mixing with Bolton’s low, rough breaths. The sound filled the entire villa.

The “usual place” Shannon mentioned… turned out to be the house I shared with Bolton!

They were actually making out on my favorite bed!

Shattered pieces of our wedding photos were scattered all over the bedroom floor.

Everything that once proved Bolton and I had loved each other had become props in their affair.

Just then, still lost in her pleasure, Shannon sensed my presence.

She looked straight at my furious face and flashed a triumphant smile.

Then she moaned even louder, as if deliberately putting on a show for me.

My fists tightened. I desperately wanted to storm in.

But right now, the divorce papers had only just been submitted to the clerk’s office

If I made a scene and tipped him off, getting out cleanly would be much harder.

With that in mind, I turned around and headed back downstairs to the villa’s entrance.

Her smug expression still floated in front of my eyes as I expressionlessly dialed Bolton.

He picked up after three rings.

“Bolton, I’m back. Can you come get me at the door? I think I’m running a fever.”

He cursed under his breath on the other end, and I could hear Shannon whining unhappily beside him.

But in the end, he still agreed.

“Fine. Wait for me downstairs. I actually have something to tell you.”

Soon, he rushed down the stairs.

He was clearly in a hurry—marks on his skin barely covered, his shirt half-buttoned.

The moment he saw me, he said bluntly, “Shannon’s not feeling well. She needs new data for her experiments. Since we still have your old fragrance studio here, I told her she could stay for a while.”

As he stepped closer, the scent that belonged only to Shannon hit me—thick, cloying, suffocating.

They had cheated in front of me again and again, treating me like a fool.

And now they wanted her to move in?

Before I could respond, Shannon appeared at the top of the stairs—her body covered in red marks—walking toward us openly and without shame.

With a smug smile, she said, “Amybeth, your husband really is so kind. He’s letting me stay here for a bit. I’ll be sure to… properly return the favor.”

Her voice dripped with seduction, and the way she looked at Bolton was downright provocative.

I clearly heard Bolton swallow beside me.

“I don’t agree,” I said coldly. “My fragrance studio isn’t for other people to use. Shannon can just rent a place outside.”

Bolton’s expression darkened instantly.

Shannon hurried downstairs and clung to his sleeve, pretending to be deeply wronged.

“Bolton, did I do something wrong? Why is my sister treating me like this? Maybe… Maybe I should just leave.”

Then, she turned around as if to walk out.

Bolton quickly pulled her back and looked at me with disappointment.

“Amybeth, when did you become so petty? Shannon just wants to stay for a short while. Why won’t you agree? If you really care that much, then you can move out for now. Your due date is coming up anyway. I’ll arrange a hospital for you.”

His tone was calm, but the meaning was crystal clear.

If I didn’t let Shannon move in, I could get out. And with me out of the way, dealing with the child in my belly would be even easier for them.

“Okay,” I said quietly. “I’ll leave now.”

Temporary tolerance was the first step toward revenge anyway.

The more arrogant they were today, the more miserable they would be a month from now.

I didn’t look at either of them again. I turned and went upstairs.

The bedroom was a mess—rumpled sheets, overwhelming stench.

Acting as if it didn’t bother me, I began packing.

That was when I realized all the gifts commemorating our seven-year marriage had been smashed or torn apart and tossed aside.

A stabbing pain shot through my chest.

Even if he no longer cared about me, I never imagined he’d use our memories as props while having sex with Shannon!

They came upstairs as I continued packing, silently watching.

Seeing my expression, Shannon rushed to mock me.

“Oh, I’m sorry about this, Amybeth. This was all my dog’s fault. I didn’t expect it to cause such trouble. I feel so bad! If you want, I can go beat it for you later.”

She casually pushed all the blame onto her toy poodle.

I ignored her and kept packing.

When I reached the last drawer, I realized the emerald pendant my late father gave me was gone.

I jerked my head toward Bolton.

“Where’s my emerald pendant?”

He frowned impatiently. “Amybeth, haven’t you caused enough trouble? Shannon’s dog didn’t do it on purpose!”

“And besides, these things aren’t important,” he added. “If they’re damaged, they’re damaged. Why make such a big deal?”

He lumped all our memories—our entire marriage—into a pile of “unimportant things.”

But I didn’t look away. My eyes stayed locked on him, and his brows tightened further.

Then Shannon suddenly said, “Amybeth, maybe check under the bed? Maybe earlier… things got a little intense, and it fell there.”

I shot her a vicious glare.

She knew perfectly well that the pendant was the only thing my father gave me.

I swept under the bed with a broom, and the broken pieces of my emerald pendant rolled out!

The moment I saw it, something in me snapped.

I lunged forward and slapped Shannon hard across the face.

“How dare you?! How dare you smash it?!”

Bolton immediately grabbed my wrist. His voice dropped cold.

“Enough!”

He shoved me away roughly, and I stumbled back and fell onto the bed.

He hurried to help Shannon up, and when he turned to look at me, his eyes were filled with disdain.

“Amybeth, I must’ve treated you too well before, letting you develop such an arrogant temper. You even raised your hand against your own younger sister!”

Then he suddenly turned off the bedroom lights. My heart lurched instantly.

“For the next few days, stay in the bedroom and reflect. I’ll have the power cut.”

I stared at him in disbelief.

“Bolton! You know I have claustrophobia!”

But he glanced at me indifferently.

“I know. That’s exactly why this counts as a lesson for you.”

He continued, “When you finally realize your mistake, apologize to Shannon, and agree to let her stay here, I’ll let you out.”

With that, he mercilessly grabbed my phone and then helped Shannon to her feet, turning to walk away.

Out of his sight, she shot me a mocking look, her smile flickering as she pressed close to him.

I struggled toward the door, but the bodyguards behind him suddenly slammed it shut.

The room was instantly swallowed by darkness. I trembled and sank to the floor, my breathing quick and shallow.

“Let me out… I won’t bother you… Help… Someone… Please…”

But no one heard my faint cries.

The last thing I felt before passing out was the taste of my own tears sliding down my cheeks.

Amybeth’s POV

The pitch-black room made it impossible for me to feel time passing.

I had no idea how many days I’d been locked up. All I knew was that every time I woke up crying, I would pass out again, and that cycle repeated ten whole times.

Just when I thought I was going to die in there, the bedroom door clicked open. I instinctively shut my eyes.

“What a disgusting mess. Bolton said he cut your power, not your water. How could you not keep yourself clean? Go wash up in the bathroom right now. Don’t come out until you’re presentable!”

A voice dripping with revulsion filled the room.

I lifted my head and saw my mother.

She stood in the doorway looking regal and elegant, but the way she stared at me was like I was trash.

She only cared about whether I met her standards—never about the fact that I had claustrophobia.

I looked at her numbly. I knew that if I didn’t obey, she’d just send people in to pin me down and force me to comply.

That had happened more times than I could count.

After I finally cleaned myself up and came out, she narrowed her eyes, gave me one quick, displeased once-over, then coldly ordered the bodyguards to drag me to the living room.

The villa’s living room was huge, yet my gaze landed immediately on the body lying in the center—a dead dog. It was Shannon’s poodle.

Next to the dog’s corpse, someone was kneeling. I frowned, surprised to see it was one of the servants who’d always been kind to me.

Mom swept a cold look over the servant. “Tell me. Who told you to do it?”

Off to the side, Shannon was crying as if her heart were breaking, while Bolton held her gently, comforting her.

The servant glanced at me, terror flickering with a trace of guilt in her eyes. Under my mother’s threatening stare, she finally raised a shaking finger—pointing at me.

“M-Ma’am Amybeth told me to do it… She said the dog destroyed something important to her and had to pay with its life. Please, I’m begging you, spare me. I was only following her orders! I didn’t mean it.”

She rambled in panic, practically ready to bang her head against the floor at their feet.

The moment Shannon heard that, she let out a sharp sob. She sniffled pitifully and said, “Amybeth, if you were upset with me, you could’ve just come at me. Why did you take it out on my dog? I know the little one did something wrong, and I already apologized to you. If you really needed a life in return, you could’ve taken mine. Why did you have to hurt him?”

Her tears flowed even harder.

Bolton’s and my mother’s eyes immediately hardened as they stared at me.

After Bolton finished soothing Shannon, he finally turned toward me with a cold expression.

“Amybeth! I thought locking you in the room would make you calm down and reflect. I didn’t expect you to actually hire someone to hurt a dog!”

Disappointment clouded his eyes. “I’m your husband. I can’t watch you keep making mistakes. Take responsibility for what you’ve done. Apologize. Apologize to Shannon’s dog and make up for what you did.”

My mother glared at me with the same disgust.

“I knew from the beginning you were no good. You always targeted your sister, and now you won’t even spare her dog! I agree with Bolton—if you don’t get properly punished, who knows what you’ll do next!”

Their words and their stares cut into me so sharply it felt like I couldn’t breathe.

I tugged at the corner of my mouth. “Let me get this straight—while I was locked in a room with no phone, terrified because of my claustrophobia… I supposedly instructed someone to kill Shannon’s dog?

“I’ll say this once: I didn’t do it. And I’m not apologizing to a dog!

“As far as I’m concerned, the dog wasn’t at fault. Someone else was.

“Bolton, if you don’t believe me, check the surveillance footage!”

I didn’t even look at my mother. Even if she knew the truth, she would still blind herself and take Shannon’s side.

My mother always had.

I stopped hoping for anything from her a long time ago.

My words seemed to shake Bolton for a moment. He frowned, as if weighing whether I was telling the truth.

Sensing that, Shannon quickly tugged on his sleeve, her voice dripping with false concern. “Forget it… if Amybeth doesn’t want to apologize, then let her be. My poodle was with me for years, but my sister is still more important. I know I can’t compare to her. If she wants to hurt my dog, I can’t stop her. If she wants to hurt me, I guess I deserve it.”

The moment she said that, Mom snapped toward me. “Look at what you’ve driven your sister to say! First her dog, then who knows what’s next? If Bolton doesn’t want to punish you, then I will do it as your mother!”

Her face twisted with rage. “Today, you’ll apologize whether you want to or not!”

Bolton frowned at me. “Mom’s already said her piece. Just do it. It’ll calm her and Shannon down.”

“I will never admit to something I didn’t do.” I let out a cold laugh and turned to leave without hesitation.