"You knew she had asthma and couldn't stand the smell of smoke, yet you still brought her into the kitchen. You're such a cruel woman."

I trembled, my voice weak. "It's not like that. She insisted on coming to the kitchen to see the secret recipe. I didn't expect anything to go wrong."

"The doctor is here now. Please, let him check on me first. I'm really in pain … " My vision started to blur.

Colin sneered, "The doctor is a specialist I brought from the provincial hospital to assess Selena's health. He's not here to help you with your little act! Do you have any idea how much it costs to get him here? Don't think you can gain sympathy with a mere scratch."

Lana narrowed her eyes, her voice icy. "You're Colin, the manager of Fortune Eatery in this area, right? This is your wife. She got seriously injured saving me and now you're quibbling over medical expenses? Are you even human?"

Colin looked at her dismissively. "And who are you to interfere in my family's business? Charlotte, you're getting better at staging these dramatic acts."

Lana stood up. "How much are the medical expenses? I'll cover them all!"

Colin glanced coldly at me and then at Lana. "You'll pay? Who do you think you are? You must be in cahoots with Charlotte. Huh, I've seen this kind of trick before. Even if we had the best doctor here, I wouldn't let him treat her."

I clutched my abdomen, breaking into a cold sweat from the pain. "Colin, even if you don't care about me, you should care about the baby in my belly. It's your own flesh and blood!"

I originally wanted to wait until the food festival was over and tell him the good news when he was in a good mood, but who knew it would turn out like this?

Colin's expression froze instantly. "What baby?"

Before he could say more, Selena let out a pained cry and collapsed into his arms. "Colin, I can't breathe. I feel so uncomfortable. It's all because Charlotte insisted on dragging me into the kitchen to see her recipe. I told her I have asthma, but she still pulled me into the smokiest part."

Selena's words twisted the truth. I stared at her in disbelief. "You're lying! You tricked me into showing you the secret recipe and then pushed me towards the boiling oil!"

Coughing pitifully, Selena looked at Colin. "Charlotte, why are you saying such things? Colin, she's always been targeting me, probably because you're always concerned about my health. Did she … did she try to kill me just now?"

Colin's eyes turned sinister. "Charlotte, you're a lunatic! You actually tried to kill Selena. How could you be so wicked? You vile woman!"

I shook my head, tears blurring my vision. "Say whatever you want. You don't believe me anyway."

I felt the bleeding worsen and gripped Lana's hand tightly. "Miss Bennett, please take me to the hospital. I'm afraid the baby won't make it."

Lana nodded immediately. "Don't worry. My car is right outside. I'll get you to the hospital now." She moved to help me up.

"Stop right there!" Colin blocked the doorway, clutching a contract and pointing at me. "You've always been jealous of Selena and now you've resorted to this despicable tactic to harm her. You must apologize to her in front of everyone right now. Only when Selena forgives you can you leave. Otherwise, you'll kneel here until she does."

I glared at him in disbelief. "Are you out of your mind? Just because of her one-sided story, you're willing to forsake your own child?"

Selena leaned weakly against Colin, speaking softly. "Charlotte, as long as you admit your mistake, I'll forgive you right away."

"Why do you insist on lying? You know you've made a mistake, yet you come up with this pregnancy lie to deceive Colin. That's just too low, isn't it? Didn't the check-up last year reveal that you're infertile? How can you suddenly be pregnant? Why bother lying to Colin? You know how much he hates being lied to," Selena mumbled.

Colin looked at me with disgust. "It's been five years. You've never been pregnant and now you suddenly say you are? Do you really think I'll believe you? Apologize to Selena immediately!"

Why was I infertile? Colin knew the answer better than anyone.

During my first pregnancy two years ago, he compelled me to accompany clients for cocktails to save his business. I was forced to drink so much alcohol that I not only lost the baby but also became infertile. Now, he actually said such words.

Suddenly, a warm liquid flowed down my legs. My face instantly turned deathly pale.

A manager who had been observing the situation couldn't bear it anymore and whispered a reminder, "Mr. Zaleski, your wife seems to be seriously injured. Shouldn't we take her to the hospital immediately?"

Colin sneered coldly, "Hmph, you don't understand! This is just one of her tricks to gain sympathy! A little injury like this won't kill her!"

My heart turned cold. Even an outsider could see the severity of my situation, yet he was so heartless.

The female assistants Colin brought along whispered, "We've been watching out for Miss Stroud every day, but a woman like Charlotte should've been divorced long ago."

"Exactly, Miss Stroud is gentle and caring, and she even studied abroad. Not like her, always acting high and mighty as the CEO's wife."

"What's the point of keeping a woman who can't have children? They should have made Miss Stroud the official wife long ago."

Selena looked at me smugly, her eyes full of ridicule.

I felt the whole world spinning as Lana struggled to support me. My blood had already stained the floor beneath me.

Colin's eyes were red and he kicked over the first aid kit. "Don't even think about leaving here if you don't apologize!"

Lana was furious. "Do you know who I am? How dare you treat a pregnant woman like this?"

Colin straightened his back. "Anyone who helps this crazy woman today is going against Fortune Eatery!"

Lana calmly pulled out a business card. "I'm Lana Bennett, the Chairman of your headquarters. Is this how you treat your guests?"

Selena suddenly laughed, snatched the card, and mocked, "Chairman? You? Without even an assistant? Did you buy this fake card online?"

As she said that, she tore the business card into pieces and threw it on the ground, then covered her chest and coughed violently. "Colin, I can't breathe. Please take me to the hospital now." Then she collapsed into Colin's arms.

Colin picked her up and rushed out, turning back to glare at me. "Charlotte, if anything happens to Selena, I'll make sure you never work in this industry again."

"Security, seal off all the exits and let them find their own way out!" After he said that, he disappeared down the hallway with Selena in his arms.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Stark." The security chief looked at me apologetically. Then he locked all the exits, turned off the emergency elevator, and followed them out.

I lay on the cold tiles, trembling.